- Client
- TapBox
- Role
- Design & Development
- Timeline
- Ongoing
- Year
- 2025
- Category
- Mobile Game
Overview
TapBox is a party arcade: Expo 54, Firebase + RTDB (`tapbox-eeb19`), 6-character and QR room codes so friends join from their own phones. Package 1.1.0. Games in the tree include Pattern Hunt, Blind Run, Puzzle Rooms, plus Trivia, Scribble, Simon, Tap Clash, and more. Invite copy cites tapbox.app.
Why
Mobile party games either need a device per player or turn-based pacing that kills the room. TapBox is a party arcade: QR lobby, realtime rooms, minigames, series scoring, bots. Couch energy needs instant rounds and a fast lobby.
Relevant to any social game where the lobby is as important as the minigame. Empty seats kill nights — bots and series mode are product, not extras.
The challenge
Mobile party games either need a device per player or turn-based pacing that kills the room. Couch energy needs instant rounds and a lobby anyone can join from their phone.
What made it hard
- Party games on mobile are usually pass-the-phone slow or require a pile of devices.
- Empty lobbies kill energy — bots and series mode had to be real.
- The lobby (code/QR) is as important as the minigame.
Approach
Room codes and QR into a lobby, then a game select. Series/tournament scaffolding and leaderboards keep a night going. Realtime room sync via Firebase RTDB.
Process
- Lobby: Create/join, QR, profile.
- Minigames: Pattern Hunt, Blind Run, Puzzle Rooms, and a wider game file set.
- Night structure: Series play, leaderboard, bots to fill seats.
What we built
- Room + QR lobby: Party start is a code, not an account wall.
- Minigame suite: Shipped and in-progress games from reflex to puzzle — one arcade shell.
- Series mode: Tournament-style nights with standings between rounds.
- Leaderboards + bots: Fill empty seats and keep score when the room is uneven.
How it was built
Expo 54, Firebase RTDB (`tapbox-eeb19`), code and QR lobbies. Package 1.1.0. Games in the tree include Pattern Hunt, Blind Run (HideSeek), Puzzle Rooms, Trivia, Scribble, Simon Says, Tap Clash, Cup Pong, Maze Runner, Battle Blitz, Word Chain, What Am I, Mini Crossword, and Connectable.
Room create/join and QR into a lobby, then game select / results. Series/tournament scaffolding and leaderboards keep a night going. Bots fill empty seats. Invite copy cites tapbox.app.
Stack
- Expo 54: Mobile-first arcade
- Firebase RTDB: Live room state
Outcomes
- v1.1.0: Package version
- Lobby: Codes + QR
- Series: Tournament scaffolding
- tapbox.app: Invite origin
Wins
- QR / code lobby so the party starts without an account wall.
- Minigame suite from reflex to puzzle in one arcade shell.
- Series mode with standings between rounds.
- Leaderboards and bots to fill uneven rooms, live invite origin tapbox.app.
Hard parts
- Pass-the-phone: Turn-based mobile games kill energy. Rounds had to be instant on one device.
- Empty lobbies: Bots and series mode had to be real or the night dies when the fourth friend is late.
- Realtime: Firebase RTDB is the session. A slow lobby is a dead party.
Services
- React Native / Expo
- Game Mechanics Design
- Character System
- Tournament Mode
- AI Bot System