Let’s face it: onboarding processes in web applications can be a drag. You’ve got forms to fill out, instructions to read, maybe a progress bar that crawls while the user waits for some backend magic to happen. As developers, we pour our hearts into building sleek, functional apps, but when it comes to onboarding, we often leave users staring at a screen, twiddling their thumbs. Why? Because waiting sucks, and static loading screens or walls of text don’t exactly scream “fun.”
The truth is, onboarding doesn’t have to be boring. It’s a chance to hook users, show off your app’s personality, and keep them engaged while they get set up. But too often, we fall into the trap of “good enough” design—spinners, generic messages, or a multi-step form that feels like a tax return. Users aren’t here for that. They want to dive in, not wait around.
Waiting Kills the Vibe
Picture this: a new user signs up for your app. They’re excited! They click “Get Started,” and… they’re hit with a loading screen. Or maybe a “Verify Your Email” prompt that leaves them hanging. Those little moments of downtime might only last a few seconds, but to the user, it feels like forever. Studies show attention spans are shrinking—people bounce if they’re not entertained or engaged fast. In web dev, we’re so focused on functionality that we forget: boring onboarding can lose users before they even begin.
So, how do we fix it? Sure, we could optimize load times or streamline steps (and we should), but there’s another angle: make the wait fun. Enter a wild idea—games. Yep, games! Why not give users something to do while they’re stuck in that onboarding limbo? It’s a small twist that can turn a mundane process into a memorable one.
Meet "svelte-games"
I’ve been tinkering with this problem myself, and I’m excited to share my latest open-source project: svelte-games. It’s a lightweight package designed for Svelte developers who want to sprinkle some joy into their apps. The idea is simple: drop in a game component wherever you’d normally have dead space—like during onboarding—and let users play while they wait.
Here’s how easy it is to use:
<script lang="ts">
import Snake from 'svelte-games/Snake.svelte';
</script>
<Snake />
Boom! With one line, you’ve got a fully functional Snake game right in your Svelte app. No fuss, no complex setup—just a ready-to-go component that’s lightweight and customizable. Imagine sticking this in your onboarding flow: instead of a “Please wait…” message, users get to chase a high score while their account syncs. It’s a tiny addition that screams, “Hey, we’re different—and we care about your experience.”
🎮 Demo some of the games here.
Why Games? Why Svelte?
Games are universal. They’re quick to grasp, require no explanation, and instantly pull people in. Pair that with Svelte’s simplicity and performance (no heavy runtime overhead, just pure compiled JS), and you’ve got a match made in heaven. svelte-games isn’t about turning your app into a gaming platform—it’s about adding a spark where users might otherwise tune out.
Right now, the package includes classics like Snake, but I’m dreaming bigger: Tetris, Pong, maybe even a little trivia component. It’s open-source, so you can fork it, tweak it, or add your own games to the mix. The goal? Make it carefree for Svelte devs to experiment with fun.
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