Inspiration
F1 starts are the ultimate reflex test where milliseconds decide winners. We wanted to bring that adrenaline to Reddit with an interactive post that lets anyone experience the tension of lights out while competing with friends and the broader community.
What it does
Players react as soon as the F1 start lights go out. False starts are penalized, and final times are compared against real F1 drivers such as Verstappen, Hamilton, and Norris. Leaderboards rank the fastest redditors, and “Pro vs Community” stats show how the crowd stacks up against the pros.
A pseudo-multiplayer challenge mode allows players to send or accept timed reaction challenges. Two users can compete head-to-head asynchronously, with side-by-side light sequences and real-time comparison of reaction times once both players finish. Each challenge post updates dynamically to show results, encouraging rematches and community discussion.
How we built it
We built the game using Devvit Web, using Interactive Posts for real-time play and community-driven challenges. Kiro powered our workflow with specs defining game states, hooks handling precise timing and false start logic, and steering enabling rapid testing and iteration. We stored driver data in JSON and used Devvit APIs for storing user scores, challenge data, and leaderboard updates to create the pseudo-multiplayer experience.
Challenges we ran into
Fine-tuning the reaction timing engine was difficult since Reddit’s asynchronous nature required careful handling of milliseconds without latency affecting fairness. Designing pseudo-multiplayer that felt immediate and engaging without true real-time networking required creative use of state storage, timestamps, and UI feedback.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
We delivered a polished, fully playable F1-style reflex game that feels authentic, complete with start lights, false start detection, leaderboard logic, and driver comparison data. The pseudo-multiplayer challenge system turned a simple mini-game into a social, competitive experience native to Reddit’s community dynamics.
What we learned
We learned how to blend competitive gameplay and social engagement within Reddit’s interactive post system, explored Kiro’s specs and hooks for precise timing workflows, and discovered creative ways to simulate multiplayer experiences using Devvit’s asynchronous architecture.
What's next for F1 Reaction Times
We plan to add subreddit-wide team competitions, deeper stats such as average reaction trends, and seasonal challenges that sync with real F1 race weekends. Future updates may include a “Live Lights” event mode where entire communities compete simultaneously in timed sessions.
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