🌊 About the Project
Inspiration
Our team wanted to build something meaningful — not just a game, but a message.
We were inspired by how ocean pollution continues to affect marine life and human health.
We thought, “What if people could feel the impact through a game?”
That’s how Clean Ocean Routes began — a small browser game that lets players collect plastic waste, fight pollution monsters, and learn why cleanup matters.
What We Built
We created a 2D ocean cleanup game using React and Phaser 3.
The player pilots a small ship that collects floating plastic and avoids storms.
Every three stages introduce a boss battle, representing large-scale pollution events.
After each round, the player can choose a perk upgrade (speed, energy, or weapon) — blending learning with classic arcade fun.
How We Built It
- React 18 for the interface and game container
- Phaser 3.80 for the main game engine and physics
- TailwindCSS for UI and layout
- Fully client-side: everything runs in the browser with zero backend
We built it in less than 48 hours, collaborating on GitHub and testing together through shared builds.
Challenges
- Integrating Phaser inside React was tough — we had to carefully manage rendering and avoid reinitializing the game every time React re-rendered.
- Time pressure: balancing game design, art, and logic within two days was challenging.
- Debugging async loading and event timing in Phaser took longer than expected.
- Finding the right mix between education and fun gameplay also took discussion and iteration.
What We Learned
- How to combine React and Phaser effectively for web-based games
- The importance of clear teamwork and version control during a hackathon
- That even simple visuals can carry a strong message when paired with purpose
- And, most importantly — that coding for a cause can be both fun and meaningful.
🌎 Message
We hope players realize that cleaning the ocean isn’t just a mission — it’s a responsibility.
Even small actions, both in the game and in real life, can make a big difference.
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