Unauthenticator

What it does

Unauthenticator is a WarioWare-style microgame collection disguised as a Microsoft Authenticator app.

Instead of entering a boring code, users are thrown into rapid mini games like fake captchas, swiping on Tinder, turning off alarms, writing confessions, and more. Players have one minute to clear as many challenges as possible before the authenticator times out and forces them to re-authenticate.

Inspiration

The main inspiration to join this hackathon solo was for fun and to learn more about web development, since I had never really built a website before and had not used React, JavaScript, or CSS in a long time. I mainly wanted a project to practise with.

The idea came from everyday NUS student life and the small moments we interact with apps all the time, like rushing to submit assignments, making resumes, browsing dating apps, or even spreading rumours. I wanted to turn those familiar experiences and culture into something playful, chaotic, and fast-paced.

How we built it

The project was built using Next.js. I first recreated the Microsoft Authenticator interface from scratch to make the website look as realistic as possible.

After that, I slowly implemented each mini game into the system and connected them to the timer, scoring, and transition logic so it feels like a real WarioWare-style experience inside a fake authenticator.

Challenges we ran into

The biggest challenge was being rusty at programming. Since I had not used React, JavaScript, or CSS in a long time, a lot of time went into relearning basics while building the project at the same time.

Balancing learning and shipping features within a single day was difficult, especially while also trying to make the UI feel polished and believable.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

I am proud of how real the website looks and how closely it mimics an actual authenticator app.

I am also proud of the number of mini games I managed to implement within a single day, all working together under one system with scoring and timing.

What we learned

I learned that I need to practise and program more consistently.

Building this showed me how much faster and cleaner things become with experience, and how important it is to keep working with tools like React and JavaScript instead of letting them get rusty.

What's next for Unauthenticator

I want to add a proper online high score system instead of storing scores locally. This would include saving usernames, showing global leaderboards, and letting players compete with each other across sessions.

Another idea is to create a mobile version, as well as a version that works for all screen sizes.