The challenge
Could a software developer and a designer-writer use AI to conceive, build, refine, and ship an engaging game in 12 hours?
This family project started because we enjoy our work enough to spend a free day on a shipping challenge. Some couples do crossword puzzles. We gave ourselves 12 hours and an evil Easter bunny.
I shaped the concept, narrative, puzzles, player journey, visual direction, UX writing, and playtesting. My husband handled coding and deployment while we tested, revised, and tried to make each other laugh.
When was the last time you got to play Snake at work?
Take a moment, challenge yourself, and see if you can beat the EasterBot’s high score.
One tail. No excuses.
The embedded game did not load. Open the full game to keep playing.
Open full game ↗Select Start inside the game. Use the arrow keys or swipe with one finger. Avoid your own tail.
AI moved us faster
AI helped us move from idea to working product quickly. We still chose the premise, decided what was funny, tested every result, and revised anything that felt confusing or generic.
The experience moves through a coded website, physical clues, assessments, a Caesar cipher, a custom Snake game, and an ending in the real world. The 12-hour constraint forced quick decisions and continuous testing.
Outcome
By the end of the day, we had shipped an original game that a player could enter and complete. It shows how I scope a small product, shape a player journey, and direct AI tools under a hard deadline.