Inspiration
As a lifelong gamer based in the US, I’ve spent countless nights stuck with toxic teammates or playing solo—frustrated by how hard it is to find people who play my way. I wanted to build something that prioritizes connection over chaos, a space where casual and competitive gamers alike could find their people without the stress of toxic communities. The idea clicked after a late-night CS2 session where my random squad clicked—why not make that experience the norm?
What it does
Gaming Squad Finder is a web platform that lets gamers find compatible teammates by filtering for game, skill level, language, and playstyle. It includes in-app voice chat, session scheduling with reminders, and a community hub for player ratings, recruitment, and stats sharing—all built around a low-toxicity, inclusive vibe.
How we built it
I started with wireframing the core pages (matching, voice chat, scheduling) in Figma, focusing on a dark, esports-inspired design that’s easy on the eyes during long gaming sessions. I built the frontend with React and TailwindCSS for responsiveness, then added basic backend scaffolding with Node.js to power filters and session creation. I prioritized mobile-first design since most gamers hop on their phones to plan sessions.
Challenges we ran into
The biggest hurdle was balancing simplicity with functionality—gamers want ease of use, but also granular filters. I also struggled to optimize the voice chat UI for both desktop and mobile, ensuring controls were intuitive without cluttering the screen. Testing regional language filters (Spanish, French, German for EU users) required extra care to avoid cultural missteps.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
We created a seamless matching experience that lets users find squads in seconds, and the voice chat interface feels native to gaming culture—no clunky switches between apps. The responsive design works flawlessly on both PC (our primary audience) and mobile, and the community rating system empowers users to build trust organically.
What we learned
I learned how to prioritize user experience for a niche audience—gamers value speed and clarity above all else. I also gained insight into regional gaming preferences (NA vs. EU playstyles/languages) and how to design for inclusivity without overcomplicating the product. Most importantly, I realized that building for a community you’re part of makes the process more meaningful (and the feedback more honest!).
What's next for this project
Next, we’ll expand the game library to include more titles popular in NA and EU (like Valorant and Overwatch 2) and add real-time squad notifications. We’re also working on integrating game stat APIs to auto-populate player stats, and we want to roll out a moderation tool to keep the community positive. Long-term, we hope to partner with esports organizations to connect casual players with semi-pro squads.
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