Combo Energy

A fast-paced 2D reaction game on Snapchat where perfect taps and swipes build unstoppable combo energy

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⚡ Combo Energy

Snapcode / Lens Link: 👉 https://www.snapchat.com/unlock/?type=SNAPCODE&uuid=75c163e7ec74474a8cfab32cefaff068&metadata=01

Platform: Snapchat Built With: Lens Studio (JavaScript, 2D UI)

🧠 Overview

Combo Energy is a fast-paced 2D arcade reaction game built as a Snapchat Lens. Players must respond to rapid on-screen prompts using taps and directional swipes, chaining perfect actions together to build high-energy combos and climb the leaderboard.

Designed specifically for Snapchat’s short-session, social gameplay style, Combo Energy turns quick reflex challenges into friendly competitions between friends. Each round lasts under a minute, making it easy to replay, share scores, and challenge others instantly — all without leaving Snapchat.

The game focuses on clarity, speed, and satisfaction, delivering an experience that feels native to the Snapchat platform rather than a traditional mobile game port.

▶️ How to Play

  1. Scan the Snapcode or open the Lens link in Snapchat
  2. Tap Start to begin
  3. Follow the on-screen action prompts:
  • Tap when shown
  • Swipe in the correct direction (up, down, left, right)
    1. Perform actions quickly and accurately to build your combo
    2. Missing or reacting too slowly breaks your combo
    3. The game ends when time runs out or the energy meter is depleted

At the end of each run, players can:

  • View their final score
  • See their combo performance
  • Replay instantly or share their score to challenge friends

🕹️ Gameplay Mechanics

  • Input Types: Tap, swipe (up / down / left / right)
  • Session Length: 20–40 seconds
  • Difficulty Scaling: Prompts appear faster as combos increase

  • Scoring System:

    • Base points per correct action
    • Combo multipliers for consecutive perfect inputs
    • Bonus points for fast reactions

  • Replayability: Designed for quick retries and score chasing

🧩 Tracks & Eligibility

Combo Energy is designed to align with multiple Lensathon tracks:

✅ 2D Games (Primary Track)

  • Fully 2D, UI-driven gameplay
  • No AR camera dependency
  • Short, replayable sessions
  • Score-based competition
  • Leaderboard-ready structure

✅ Turn-Based Multiplayer (Optional Extension)

  • Supports asynchronous friend challenges
  • Players compete by attempting to beat shared scores
  • Designed to integrate Snapchat’s Turn-Based features

✅ Longform Games (Optional Extension)

  • Structure supports persistent best scores
  • Daily challenges and streaks can be added
  • Encourages repeat engagement over time

The project is submitted under 2D Games, with design support for Turn-Based and Longform extensions.

💡 Inspiration

Combo Energy was inspired by:

  • The fast, gesture-based way users interact with Snapchat
  • Casual arcade games that are easy to learn but difficult to master
  • The excitement of chaining perfect actions into high-scoring combos
  • Snapchat’s social culture of sharing, competing, and replaying

The goal was to create a game that feels natural, fun, and instantly playable inside a messaging platform.

⚙️ How We Built It

  • Built using Lens Studio
  • Implemented with JavaScript
  • Uses full-screen 2D UI elements

  • Modular architecture handling:

    • Game states (Start, Play, End)
    • Gesture input detection
    • Combo and scoring logic

  • Designed for future expansion:

    • Leaderboards
    • Daily challenges
    • Persistent player data

The game intentionally avoids heavy AR features to keep gameplay fast and accessible across devices.

🧱 Challenges We Ran Into

  • Designing touch-based gameplay that feels responsive inside Snapchat
  • Balancing difficulty so the game feels challenging but fair
  • Maintaining visual clarity during fast gameplay
  • Structuring the game to support multiple tracks without overcomplicating the core experience

🏆 Accomplishments We’re Proud Of

  • A complete, playable 2D game published as a Snapchat Lens
  • Gameplay that feels native to Snapchat’s interaction model
  • A strong core loop built around combos and quick reactions
  • A project structured to scale into multiple Lensathon tracks

📚 What We Learned

  • Snapchat is a powerful platform for casual competitive games
  • Short session design is essential for replayability
  • Clear visual and audio feedback greatly improves player performance
  • Planning extensibility early makes adding features much easier

🚀 What’s Next for Combo Energy

  • Add global and friends leaderboards
  • Introduce daily challenges with unique modifiers
  • Expand asynchronous friend challenges
  • Add visual themes and cosmetic rewards
  • Further refine difficulty scaling using player data

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