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?
Let’s quickly look at a few popular examples:
• 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.
The idea is intentionally simple:
- 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.
👉 You can play it here: https://onebuttongame.com
🧠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
With no 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 decided to share Too Many Buttons on Product Hunt - mainly to get honest feedback from people I don’t know.
If you try the game and have a moment:
- You can click through to the Product Hunt page
- Share what felt fun, frustrating, or confusing
- And if you genuinely enjoy it, an upvote would really help
Not for rankings — but for motivation.
Seeing real people interact with something I built pushes me to keep learning and building better projects in the future.
👉 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 👋
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