🎮 Why Simple Web Games Still Work (and What I Learned Building One)

Source: Dev.to

When we think about games, we often imagine complex graphics, heavy engines, and massive codebases.
But some of the most addictive games ever made are surprisingly simple—especially on the web.

Games like Wordle, Cookie Clicker, Flappy Bird, and A Dark Room prove that you don’t need complexity to keep users engaged. What you need is one strong emotion.

As a developer, this idea pushed me to experiment and build a small web game of my own—not to go viral, but to understand why simple games work.

What Makes Simple Web Games Addictive?

• Wordle – One puzzle per day. No ads. No distractions. → Scarcity + routine
• Cookie Clicker – Just clicking, yet progression systems make it impossible to stop. → Numbers going up = dopamine
• Flappy Bird – No instructions. Brutally difficult. → Failure itself becomes the gameplay
• A Dark Room – Minimal UI, mystery‑driven progression. → Curiosity beats visuals

All these games focus on one dominant emotion: frustration, curiosity, obsession, or surprise.

My Experiment: Turning Frustration Into a Game

Inspired by these patterns, I built a small browser game called Too Many Buttons.

Concept

• The screen is filled with buttons.
• Only one button actually works.
• Every other click triggers chaos—fake alerts, screen shakes, sounds, distractions.

There are no instructions. The wrong click isn’t a mistake—it’s the experience. This approach was inspired by games like Flappy Bird and Getting Over It, where players keep going because it’s frustrating.

👉 Play it here:

What I Learned While Building It

• Frustration can be fun (when it’s honest). Players accept frustration when it feels intentional, not broken.
• Removing instructions increases exploration. Without a tutorial, users experiment more and feel ownership over discovery.
• Feedback matters more than graphics. Simple sounds, animations, and reactions made clicks feel meaningful.
• You don’t need a heavy game engine. The game is built using:
  • React
  • TypeScript
  • CSS

Simple tools were enough to ship and iterate fast.

Sharing It & Getting Real Feedback

After testing with friends, I shared Too Many Buttons on Product Hunt to get honest feedback from strangers.

If you try the game, consider:

• Visiting the Product Hunt page
• Sharing what felt fun, frustrating, or confusing
• Upvoting if you genuinely enjoy it (not for rankings, but for motivation)

👉 Product Hunt link: Click Here

Every comment helps more than you might think.

Final Thoughts

Web games don’t need to be perfect. They need to be interesting.

If you’re a developer thinking about building a game or a side project:

• Start small
• Focus on one emotion
• Ship early
• Learn from real users

And if chaotic browser games sound fun, feel free to try Too Many Buttons and share your thoughts.

Happy building 👋