Build a game like Super Mario Bros. with Claude Code

A side-scrolling platformer: run and jump physics, tile-based levels, enemies to stomp and more.

1–2 weeksMore screens, accounts and a backend

The Claude Code prompt

Build an original browser game in the same genre as Super Mario Bros.: a side-scrolling platformer. Use your own name, characters, art, sound and levels. Only the general mechanics should feel familiar; do not copy Super Mario Bros.'s name, characters, art, music or level layouts.

Version one should have:
- Run and jump physics
- Tile-based levels
- Enemies to stomp
- Power-ups
- Flag at the end of each level

The hard part: Level design and tight controls. Use Phaser and the Tiled map editor.

How to build it:
1. Read this folder first. If it is empty, set up a browser game with Vite, TypeScript and Phaser (or Three.js if it is 3D). Write a short PLAN.md with the game loop, entities, controls and what you are leaving out of version one.
2. Get the core loop playable before anything else: run and jump physics. Use simple shapes or free placeholder art until it feels good.
3. Add the rest of the mechanics one at a time, keep game rules in pure functions you can unit test, and make it work with both keyboard and touch.
4. Add a start screen, game over, score and a saved best score in localStorage, plus sound effects you generate or that are free to use.
5. Run it, play it, tune the difficulty, fix what breaks, and finish with a summary and how to deploy it as a static site.

Paste it into Claude Code in an empty folder. It plans first, so read PLAN.md and steer before it starts building.

Version one

  • Run and jump physics
  • Tile-based levels
  • Enemies to stomp
  • Power-ups
  • Flag at the end of each level

The hard part

Level design and tight controls. Use Phaser and the Tiled map editor.

Make it yours: original name, characters, art and levels. Familiar mechanics are fine; Super Mario Bros.'s assets are not.

More to build

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