Spread 'Til Dead

💡 Inspiration

Every hackathon has that one challenge where logic takes the backseat and chaos grabs the wheel — for us, that was the Silly Sh!t Challenge at Hackethon. Inspired by the idea of flipping the apocalypse upside down, we asked: what if you weren’t running from an infection… but fueling it?

Enter Spread 'Till Dead — a ridiculously fun, dangerously addictive grid-based game where YOU are the infection. Your mission? Infect everything in sight, outsmart your enemies, and chain your way to domination.

What started as a joke quickly turned into a game we couldn’t stop playing.

🎮 What it does

Spread 'Till Dead is a fast-paced, grid-based strategy game that turns classic survival on its head.

You don’t run. You spread.

🦠 Control an infection and expand it tile by tile.
🔗 Chain together infections to trigger massive spreads.
🧠 Outsmart an AI opponent that’s trying to out-infect you.
💥 Watch satisfying explosions of infected zones.
😵 Lose your mind as you narrowly escape elimination — or cause it.

It’s part strategy, part chaos, and 100% silly.

🛠️ How we built it

We built the entire game using Bolt.new — the fastest way to turn game ideas into playable prototypes.

⚛️ Frontend: Built with React + TypeScript, managing infection logic with custom hooks and a dynamic game state.
🎯 Game Mechanics: Designed custom logic for turn-based infection spreading, chain reactions, and AI decision-making.
🎨 UI/UX: Styled using CSS with a clean, arcade-like feel. Minimal, readable, but still playful.
🔊 Sound Design: Injected snappy sound effects for infection chains and turns to make each move feel impactful.
🚀 Deployment: Instantly live with one-click deploy on Bolt — no setup, no waiting.

🧱 Challenges we ran into

Creating an AI opponent that’s both competitive and hilarious.
Designing a chain-reaction mechanic that feels intuitive and rewarding.
Balancing turns and tile logic in real time without bugs breaking the spread.
Making silly feel smooth — turning a chaotic idea into a playable, polished game is harder than it looks!

🏆 Accomplishments that we're proud of

Built a fully functional, addictive game in under 48 hours.
Got real laughs, “one more round!”s, and positive feedback from players.
Crafted a unique game loop that feels both silly and strategic.
Proved that games don’t need to be serious to be seriously fun.
Leveraged Bolt.new to go from wild idea to live game at record speed.

📚 What we learned

Great games are built on feeling — how the player reacts to every move.
Bolt.new is a game dev dream: fast prototyping, zero setup, instant deployment.
React is more than just UI — it can power full-on game logic when structured right.
Silly concepts often hide serious learning — we learned more building this game than we ever expected.

🚀 What's next for Spread 'Til Dead

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Add multiplayer mode: 1v1 infection chaos!
💣 Introduce power-ups, debuffs, and mutations to shake up the grid.
📱 Make it mobile-optimized for on-the-go outbreak domination.
🏆 Build a leaderboard and stat tracker to fuel competition.
👾 Turn it into the next viral meme game (watch out, Flappy Bird 👀).

“Chain it. Break it. Rule it.”

That’s not just the slogan — it’s the whole vibe.

Mail 💌 : [email protected]

Built With

bolt
devvit
react
typescript

Submitted to

World’s Largest Hackathon presented by Bolt

Created by

I led the visual direction for Spread 'Till Dead, shaping every element of its identity from the ground up. From designing a bold and memorable logo to producing energetic promotional videos and crafting all the graphic assets, I worked to reflect the game's quirky and chaotic personality. My goal was to create a cohesive visual experience—fun, vibrant, and instantly recognizable—across branding, animations, and everything in between.

Prasham Makwana
I contributed extensively to the “Spread Till Dead” project by leading the full restructuring of the game concept and its implementation. I helped define the gameplay logic, optimized performance, and resolved critical bugs throughout development. Additionally, I set up a dedicated content channel to showcase the game — including gameplay clips and promotional content — specifically targeting platforms like Reddit to engage the gaming community and build visibility. I also created the final demo video to effectively present the project’s features and gameplay experience.

Kirtan Pithadiya
I worked on the frontend of Spread 'Till Dead using Bolt.new’s AI-powered tools. I designed and implemented the UI, managed the game’s infection logic with React and custom hooks, and ensured smooth player interactions. My focus was on making the grid-based gameplay feel intuitive, responsive, and visually engaging while keeping the chaotic, fun vibe intact

Bhargav Vadgama
I was responsible for the complete visual identity of Spread 'Till Dead. I designed the logo, created promotional videos, and crafted all the graphic assets that define the game's playful yet chaotic vibe. From branding to animations, my focus was on making sure every visual element captured the silly, infectious energy of the game while keeping it clean, bold, and memorable.

Manan Solanki