Task Town

Turn everyday tasks into a cozy town-building adventure.

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Inspiration

Task Town started with a simple question: What if everyday tasks could feel like progress in a game?

To-do lists are useful, but they can sometimes feel like a list of obligations. I wanted to create a more relaxing and enjoyable way to manage everyday tasks, especially for people who enjoy casual mobile games.

I was inspired by the idea of slow-life games, where small actions gradually build a world of your own. I wanted to bring that feeling into everyday life, turning ordinary tasks into small achievements without creating pressure to maintain daily streaks.

My goal was to create an app where users can take their time, make progress at their own pace, and enjoy watching their town grow.

What it does

Task Town is a productivity app that combines task management with cozy town-building gameplay.

Users select up to three quests each day. Completing quests earns XP, which helps them level up and unlock new buildings. As users continue completing everyday tasks, their small town gradually grows.

The app is designed to be low-pressure. Users can take breaks without being punished for missing a day.

Task Town also offers a Premium subscription with additional town-building freedom. Premium users can freely place special buildings on empty plots, including a Cafe, Hot Spring, and Observatory.

How we built it

Task Town was built with Expo and React Native for iOS.

As an independent developer, I worked on the app's user interface, quest system, XP and leveling mechanics, building placement, local data storage, and App Store release process.

For monetization, I integrated RevenueCat and connected it to an auto-renewable monthly subscription configured in App Store Connect.

RevenueCat manages purchase processing and subscription entitlements. The app checks whether the user's premium entitlement is active to determine access to Premium features.

I also implemented the Premium shop interface and the functionality that allows eligible users to place exclusive buildings on empty plots.

Challenges we ran into

One of the biggest challenges was getting the app through App Store review. An earlier submission was rejected because of a tab responsiveness issue during review. Since I could not reproduce the exact review environment, I had to investigate the issue and improve the app through testing and iteration.

Adding subscriptions introduced another set of challenges. I needed to understand the relationship between App Store Connect products, RevenueCat offerings, packages, and entitlements.

I also had to configure the iOS distribution build, test purchases using Apple's Sandbox environment, and make sure that Premium access remained available after restarting the app.

Another challenge was preparing the first auto-renewable subscription for App Store review, since Apple requires the first subscription, its subscription group, and a new app version to be submitted together.

After working through these challenges, the Premium subscription was approved and became available for purchase on the App Store.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

I am proud that I took Task Town from an idea to a published iOS app as an independent developer.

I built the core gameplay loop, including quests, XP, leveling, and town growth, and then expanded the app with a working Premium subscription.

One particularly rewarding milestone was successfully completing a purchase through RevenueCat and confirming that the Premium entitlement remained active after restarting the app.

The complete flow now works:

App Store purchase → RevenueCat → Premium entitlement → Premium gameplay feature

Seeing this entire system work in a real published app was an important achievement for me.

What we learned

Building Task Town taught me that developing an app involves much more than writing code. Testing, distribution, store requirements, monetization, and the overall user experience are equally important.

I learned how App Store Connect and RevenueCat work together to manage subscriptions, how to test purchases in the Sandbox environment, and how entitlements can control access to paid features.

I also learned the importance of testing complete user journeys rather than only checking whether individual screens work.

Most importantly, I learned to approach development as a continuous process of building, testing, identifying problems, and improving the product.

What's next for Task Town

I want to continue improving Task Town by adding more buildings, customization options, and ways for users to make their towns feel unique.

I also want to refine the Premium experience so that the subscription provides meaningful creative freedom without making the free experience feel incomplete.

My long-term goal is to make Task Town a relaxing companion for everyday life—a place where small accomplishments gradually become a world of your own.

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