Inspiration
We wanted to build something that made thinking feel like a game again. In a world of endless content consumption and mindless taps, we asked—what if there was a game that made people feel smarter the longer they played? That’s how Zubo was born: a fast-paced, high-stakes intelligence game that tests logic, wit, and nerve under pressure.
What it does
Zubo is a browser-based game where players face a series of 500 mixed-type questions across logical reasoning, general knowledge, analytical thinking, and personality profiling. You begin with 3 lives and must answer 100 questions correctly to win. Some questions are timed (60 seconds); fail to answer or get one wrong, and you lose a life. You can buy lives via Stripe or earn random bonuses. The real-time leaderboard keeps competition fierce.
How we built it
Frontend: Built entirely using Bolt.new for rapid prototyping and component-based development. Backend: Supabase for real-time data (leaderboards, score tracking). Payments: Stripe Checkout for life-pack purchases. Content: Manually curated 500-question JSON dataset categorized into five types (logical, analytical, GK, personality, timed). Design: Minimalist, mobile-first UI with smooth transitions and game-state memory.
Challenges we ran into
1.Designing balanced questions that are neither too easy nor frustrating. 2.Handling real-time leaderboard sync issues across devices. 3.Integrating Stripe with Bolt.new flow cleanly. 4.Resetting state and lives on failure while preserving a seamless UX.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
1.Shipped a fully playable game within a short timeframe. 2.Built an engaging and educational product. 3.Successfully integrated Supabase and Stripe. 4.Created a fun, addictive gameplay loop without ads.
What we learned
- Importance of pacing and difficulty curve in game design.
- Real-time backend sync and user state management.
- Monetization through in-game mechanics without sacrificing UX.
What's next for Zubo
1.Expand question bank to 1000+ questions. 2.Add multiplayer mode and friend challenges. 3.Mobile app launch. 4.Player analytics dashboard to show strengths and weaknesses. 5.Community leaderboard and seasonal rewards.
