Cursed Relics

Underground trade of cursed artifacts.

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Inspiration

The inspiration for Cursed Relics came from our fascination with dark folklore, haunted artifacts, and the mysterious world of forbidden objects. We were also inspired by the visual storytelling of dark-web marketplaces and horror-based games and movies that create tension through atmosphere rather than loud visuals. Instead of building a typical colorful e-commerce platform, we wanted to explore how a dark, immersive theme could still work with modern web technologies and user-friendly design. The idea was to combine storytelling, mystery, and technology into a single interactive experience.

What it does

Cursed Relics is a dark-themed e-commerce web platform where users can explore and purchase fictional cursed artifacts such as haunted dolls, ancient stones, mysterious paintings, charms, and statues. The platform allows users to browse products, view detailed descriptions with historical backstories, add items to the cart, and simulate a complete shopping experience. The goal is to provide users with a realistic e-commerce flow while maintaining a mysterious and immersive horror-based environment.

How we built it

The project was built as a full-stack web application using modern development tools and best practices. The frontend was developed using React with Vite for fast performance and efficient development. Tailwind CSS was used to implement a consistent dark UI design, with React Router handling smooth navigation between pages. We used Radix UI for accessible UI components and Lucide React for icons.

The backend was developed using Express.js, which handles API routes for product data and user interactions. TypeScript was used across the project to ensure type safety, better debugging, and long-term maintainability. Basic unit testing and validation were done using Jest to ensure reliability of core functionalities.

Challenges we ran into

One of the biggest challenges was designing a dark-themed user interface that was visually appealing without compromising readability and usability. Maintaining proper text contrast on dark backgrounds required multiple design iterations. Another major challenge was handling state management for cart and product data while keeping the UI responsive.

We also faced technical challenges such as resolving TypeScript type errors, integrating multiple libraries smoothly, and ensuring proper communication between the frontend and backend. Debugging asynchronous API calls and maintaining clean code structure were also key hurdles during development.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We successfully created a unique, themed e-commerce platform with a consistent dark-web aesthetic. Building a complete shopping flow from product listing to cart interaction within a limited time frame is a major achievement for our team. We are also proud of implementing a modular and scalable code structure using React and TypeScript.

Another major accomplishment is maintaining performance and accessibility even with a heavy visual theme. The project demonstrates our ability to combine creative design with real-world software development practices.

What we learned

Through this project, we gained strong hands-on experience with full-stack web development. We learned how to structure large React applications using reusable components, manage routing efficiently, and design responsive layouts using Tailwind CSS.

On the backend side, we learned how to design REST APIs using Express.js and how to connect frontend and backend systems effectively. We also improved our understanding of TypeScript, debugging techniques, testing with Jest, and overall project planning and teamwork.

What's next for Cursed Relics

In the future, we plan to integrate a real payment gateway, user authentication, and order tracking features to make the platform production-ready. We also aim to add an admin dashboard for managing products, users, and orders.

Additional improvements include better animations, enhanced storytelling through audio and visual effects, and optimization for mobile devices. With these upgrades, Cursed Relics can evolve into a fully immersive themed e-commerce experience.

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