Connect

A multiplayer turn-based strategy game with a vibrant neon theme where players compete to dominate the board with their color by strategically placing and exploding balls.

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Inspiration

Connect was inspired by classic chain reaction strategy that combine simple mechanics with deep strategic gameplay. I wanted to create a vibrant, engaging multiplayer experience that could bring people together on a single device while also providing challenging AI opponents for solo play. The neon-themed aesthetic was chosen to give the game a modern look.

What it does

  • Play against AI or with friends (2-5 players) on a 6x6 grid
  • Each player is assigned a different color (blue, pink, green, yellow, or purple)
  • When a player taps an empty grid cell, a ball of their color appears
  • Tapping a cell with one ball adds another ball (2 total)
  • Tapping a cell with two balls adds a third ball (3 total)
  • Tapping a cell with three balls adds a fourth ball and causes an explosion - the balls spread to adjacent cells (up, down, left, right)
  • When balls move to a cell containing another player's ball(s), they convert those balls to the current player's color
  • The game ends when only one color remains on the board - that player wins!

Challenges we ran into

One of the biggest challenges was implementing the AI system with varying difficulty levels that felt genuinely different to play against. Creating the Hard AI required developing strategic evaluation algorithms that could assess board positions and plan multi-move sequences. I also faced difficulties with the chain reaction mechanics, ensuring that explosions propagated correctly and converted opponent balls reliably. Managing the game state across multiple players and preventing edge cases in win condition detection required careful testing and debugging.

Accomplishments that I'm proud of

I'm particularly proud of creating a polished, feature-complete game that supports both AI and multiplayer modes seamlessly. The vibrant neon aesthetic with glowing animations and particle effects creates an engaging visual experience that enhances gameplay. The AI implementation successfully provides three distinct difficulty levels that offer appropriate challenges for different skill levels. The responsive design works smoothly across various screen sizes, and the chain reaction mechanics create exciting, unpredictable gameplay moments that keep players engaged.

What's next for Connect

  • Online multiplayer mode
  • Game statistics and player profiles
  • Customizable game board sizes
  • Additional visual themes
  • Sound effects and background music

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