Block Tap

Tap directional blocks to slide them off the board. 9 levels, 27 stars, progress saved. Think before you tap, wrong moves cost hearts!

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Inspiration

Block Tap was inspired by classic "slide-away" and logic puzzle games that look simple at first glance but require careful thinking and planning. I wanted to create a minimalist puzzle experience where each move matters, while also designing a game that encourages players to return over time through progression and replayability. The idea was to focus on direction, blocking, and timing, rather than speed or reflexes.

What it does

Block Tap is a level-based puzzle game where players must clear all blocks from the board. Each block contains an arrow indicating the direction it will move (up, right, down, or left).
When a block is tapped, it slides in its direction — but only if nothing is blocking its path.

To progress:

  • Players must clear all blocks in a level
  • Levels are unlocked sequentially
  • Each level can earn up to 3 stars based on performance
  • Players can replay levels to improve their star rating

The game features 9 unique levels, each with a different puzzle layout and increasing difficulty.

How I built it

Block Tap was built entirely using Lens Studio with TypeScript.

Key systems include:

  • Directional movement logic with path detection
  • Block interaction and collision handling
  • Sequential level unlocking
  • Star-based scoring system
  • Persistent storage to save:
    • the highest unlocked level
    • star ratings per level
    • total stars collected

All progression is saved, allowing players to leave and return without losing their progress.

Challenges I ran into

One of the main challenges was designing puzzles that feel fair but challenging, especially on a mobile screen.

Another challenge was managing game state correctly:

  • ensuring blocks only move when their path is clear
  • handling edge cases where a wrong move could block progress
  • maintaining consistent progression data using persistent storage

Balancing difficulty while keeping the experience enjoyable on a vertical interface required several iterations.

Accomplishments that I'm proud of

  • Building a complete long-form puzzle game in Lens Studio
  • Implementing persistent progression across sessions
  • Designing 9 handcrafted puzzle levels
  • Creating a replay system that encourages optimization and mastery
  • Delivering a clean and focused UX suitable for mobile play

What I learned

Through Block Tap, I learned how to:

  • Design long-term gameplay loops on Snapchat
  • Manage persistent data safely and effectively
  • Create logical puzzles with increasing difficulty
  • Balance simplicity, challenge, and replayability

This project deepened my understanding of game design and state management in Lens Studio.

What's next for Block Tap

Future improvements could include:

  • Additional puzzle levels
  • New block mechanics (rotating blocks, teleporters...)
  • Daily or timed challenges
  • Visual themes and cosmetic variations

Block Tap has strong potential to grow into a larger long-form puzzle experience.

Built With

  • hapticfeedbackapi
  • lensstudio
  • persistentstorageapi
  • typescript
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