Karma Circuit

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  MAIN SCREEN

Inspiration

The inspiration for Karma Circuit came from classic flow and connection puzzle games that are simple to understand but highly addictive to master. I wanted to create a game that feels easy for new players while still offering challenge and replayability for competitive players.

I was also inspired by Reddit-style daily challenge games where players return every day to compare scores and compete globally. The idea of solving the same puzzle as everyone else in the world and trying to achieve the fastest time became the core concept behind the Daily Puzzle mode.

What it does

Karma Circuit is a web-based puzzle game where players connect matching colored nodes by dragging lines across a grid. The objective is to fill every cell on the board without crossing lines or leaving empty spaces.

How I built it

I designed the game around a grid-based puzzle engine where players can connect matching nodes horizontally and vertically without crossing paths. The biggest focus was creating smooth drag interactions and validating puzzle completion correctly.

The application includes three game modes:

Daily Puzzle Mode with a global leaderboard and one shared puzzle per day Endless Mode with progressively increasing difficulty Speed Run Mode focused on timers, combos, and streak multipliers

I implemented procedural puzzle generation for random gameplay sessions and added multiple gameplay mechanics such as blocker cells, moving nodes, limited move constraints, combo multipliers, and streak systems.

The project was structured with separate systems for:

Puzzle generation Grid validation Timer and scoring logic Leaderboard handling Difficulty scaling

Challenges I ran into

One of the biggest challenges was generating puzzles that are both solvable and balanced in difficulty. Creating random puzzles sounds simple, but ensuring that every puzzle has a valid solution while remaining fun required a lot of testing and logic validation.

Another challenge was handling dynamic gameplay features like moving nodes and limited moves in Endless Mode. Making sure lines update correctly while maintaining game rules added significant complexity to the puzzle engine.

Building the leaderboard system for the Daily Puzzle mode was also challenging because rankings needed to update fairly in real time while handling tie situations correctly.

Accomplishments that I'm proud of

Built Karma Circuit, a fully interactive web-based puzzle game with multiple gameplay modes including Daily Puzzle, Endless Mode, and Speed Run. Successfully designed and implemented a custom puzzle generation and validation system to ensure puzzles are challenging, balanced, and solvable. Created competitive gameplay features such as global leaderboards, combo scoring systems, streak multipliers, and daily challenges to improve player engagement. Developed smooth drag-and-connect gameplay mechanics with responsive grid interactions and real-time puzzle validation. Implemented progressive difficulty systems including blocker cells, moving nodes, larger grids, and limited move mechanics. Learned and applied advanced frontend development concepts including state management, dynamic rendering, and interactive game logic. Improved problem-solving skills by handling complex edge cases such as moving nodes, path collisions, and puzzle completion validation. Built my second complete application independently, from idea and planning to gameplay systems and UI design. Focused on creating a clean, fast, and engaging user experience optimized for casual and competitive players. Gained valuable experience in game design, procedural puzzle generation, gameplay balancing, and user engagement systems.

What I learned

Through this project, I learned a lot about:

Grid-based game logic Pathfinding and puzzle validation Procedural content generation Real-time score tracking Game difficulty balancing Designing engaging gameplay loops

I also improved my frontend development skills by building interactive drag-and-drop mechanics and responsive game interfaces.

What's next for Karma Circuit

The next step for Karma Circuit is expanding the game with more competitive and community-focused features while improving the overall gameplay experience.

Some planned future improvements include:

Adding a full user account system with profiles, stats, and saved progress Introducing achievements, badges, and daily streak rewards Creating seasonal events and special challenge puzzles Expanding leaderboard functionality with weekly and all-time rankings Adding multiplayer race modes where players solve the same puzzle in real time Improving puzzle generation algorithms to create even more unique and challenging puzzles Adding customizable themes, visual effects, and unlockable circuit styles Optimizing the game for mobile devices and eventually releasing mobile app versions Implementing social sharing features and community competitions Adding sound effects, animations, and overall gameplay polish

Built With

• react-native