Ocean Block

Inspiration

Ocean Block was inspired by classic block puzzle games like 1010! and Woodoku — simple to learn, satisfying to play, and endlessly replayable.

I wanted to bring that "one more game" feeling to Snapchat with a fresh ocean-themed aesthetic and social competition through leaderboards.

The goal was to create a chill but strategic experience where every placement matters.

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What it does

Ocean Block is a block puzzle game where players drag and drop blocks onto a 6×6 grid.

• Complete a row or column to clear it and earn points
• 3 random blocks are given each turn — place all 3 to get the next set
• The game ends when no block can fit on the grid anymore

Key features:

• 11 unique block shapes (including Z, T, L pieces and 2×2 grids)
• 7 distinct ocean colors for easy block recognition
• Monthly leaderboard to compete with friends
• Best score saved locally for personal progression
• Subtle haptic feedback on every valid placement

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How I built it

Ocean Block was built entirely in Lens Studio using JavaScript.

Key systems include:

• A 6×6 grid system with collision detection for block placement
• 22 block configurations with unique validation logic for each shape
• Randomized block queue for varied gameplay
• Line clearing logic with visual feedback
• Persistent storage for best score tracking
• Leaderboard integration with monthly reset cycles
• Color preview system that highlights pieces about to be cleared

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Challenges I ran into

The main challenge was ensuring accurate line detection — making sure the correct row or column is identified as complete, not a neighboring one.

Another challenge was block placement validation. Each block shape has specific requirements: a 2-piece horizontal block can't be placed on a single cell, a Z-block needs a specific offset pattern, etc. Every shape required its own validation rules.

I also had to handle the game-over detection properly — constantly checking if any of the remaining blocks can still fit somewhere on the grid before ending the game.

Balancing all these systems while keeping the gameplay smooth took several iterations.

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Accomplishments that I'm proud of

• Building a fully functional block puzzle game in Lens Studio
• Implementing 11 different block shapes with proper validation
• Creating a satisfying line clear system with visual and haptic feedback
• Integrating a social leaderboard for friendly competition
• Designing a clean ocean color palette that's both aesthetic and functional

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What I learned

Through Ocean Block, I learned how to:

• Use haptic feedback effectively to enhance game feel
• Implement persistent storage to save best scores across sessions
• Integrate a leaderboard system for social competition
• Handle advanced collision detection for complex shape validation

This project pushed my understanding of state management and user feedback in Lens Studio.

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What's next for Ocean Block

Future improvements could include:

• Power-ups (bomb to clear area, shuffle remaining blocks)
• Combo multipliers for clearing multiple lines at once

Ocean Block has strong potential to become a daily ritual for puzzle lovers on Snapchat.

Built With

• hapticfeedbackapi
• javascript
• lensstudio
• persistentstorageapi
• snapchatleaderboardapi