Indie dev builds a game prototype with Claude in 3 weeks
A developer is building an indie game using Claude, mostly the Opus 4.8 model with some use of a . The game combines a Stacklands-style base-building loop with auto-chess combat, built as a web app with Next.js and React, now three weeks into development. A playable build is available online.
The developer had tried making a game with Claude before with lackluster results, but this time feels a solid indie title is achievable. Claude understood which UI element was being referenced even with minimal IDs or tags, and could take a UI mockup image and implement the actual working pieces from it. It also handled adding lively transform animations, like showing units move and visibly react when struck.
By contrast, the developer has also used Claude with the Unity3D and finds it struggles more there than with the web stack.
Key points
- Building an indie game combining Stacklands-style mechanics with async auto-chess, using Claude
- Web build on Next.js/React, mostly with the Opus 4.8 model, three weeks into development
- Claude understood UI intent from minimal labeling and turned mockup images into real s
- Handled lively transform animations, like units moving and reacting when struck
- Struggles more when used inside like Unity3D compared to the web stack