dimasw

Snake and Ladder - Customizable Board Game

2023
Unity, C#, Android, iOS, WebGL

Overview

A classic Snake and Ladder board game with customizable board size, ladder & snake count, and local multiplayer gameplay. Built with Unity for Android, iOS, and WebGL platforms. This project features extensive customization options allowing players to create unique game experiences with configurable boards, dynamic element placement, and multiple player support.

Key Features

  • Customizable Board: Adjust board size and layout to create different game experiences
  • Player Configuration: Support for multiple players with configurable player count
  • Dynamic Element Placement: Customize the number and positions of ladders and snakes
  • Random Generation: Randomize ladder and snake positions for varied gameplay
  • Step-Based Scoring: Winner determined by step count, adding strategic depth
  • Cross-Platform: Built for Android, iOS mobile devices, and browser-based WebGL

Technical Highlights

Game Architecture

Built using Unity’s component-based architecture for modularity and maintainability:

  • Unity Engine: Leveraged Unity’s 2D framework for efficient game rendering
  • C# Scripting: Implemented game logic, board generation, and player management in C#
  • Responsive Design: Adapted UI for both mobile touch controls and web-based input
  • State Management: Clean game state handling for turn-based gameplay

Customization System

  • Dynamic board generation algorithm that validates ladder and snake placements
  • Configurable game parameters accessible through intuitive UI
  • Random generation system ensuring fair and balanced board layouts
  • Flexible player management supporting 2-10 players

Cross-Platform Deployment

  • Android Build: Optimized for Android devices with touch-friendly controls
  • iOS Build: Full iOS compatibility with native touch controls and performance optimization
  • WebGL Build: Browser-compatible version for instant play without installation
  • Platform-specific input handling and UI scaling
  • Consistent gameplay experience across all platforms

Technical Challenges Solved

  1. Board Validation: Implemented algorithm to ensure ladders and snakes don’t overlap and create impossible board states
  2. Random Generation: Created balanced randomization that maintains game fairness while providing variety
  3. Turn Management: Designed robust turn-based system handling multiple players smoothly
  4. Cross-Platform Input: Unified input system working seamlessly on both touch and mouse controls

Implementation Details

  • Procedural board generation with constraint validation
  • Modular component design allowing easy feature additions
  • Efficient game loop optimized for mobile performance
  • Clean separation between game logic and presentation layers

Lessons Learned

This project deepened my understanding of Unity’s 2D capabilities and cross-platform deployment considerations. Implementing the randomization system taught me the importance of constraint validation in procedural generation, while building for multiple platforms highlighted the need for flexible input systems and responsive UI design.

Links