Vibe Coding: How I Created an Online Game with ChatGPT (and You Can Too!)

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Discover the art of vibe coding—an intuitive, collaborative approach to coding with AI—to create your own online game. Learn how ChatGPT and some creative iterations helped build a fun HTML frog platformer hosted on itch.io!

🕹️ # What on Earth is Vibe Coding?

Ever felt like your coding sessions just flow effortlessly, blending intuition, presence, and a sprinkle of precision? Say hello to Vibe Coding — a fresh take on software creation that treats your code as more than just instructions. Imagine every function and variable name charged with intention, your code humming like a living architecture. And the best part? You’re not shouting commands but having a conversation with your AI coding partner (looking at you, ChatGPT).

💡 It’s all about aligning your inner vibe with your AI collaborator, building software from a place of flow and intention rather than haste or ego. Cool, right?


🎮 # Vibe Coding My Very Own Online Game

So, I wondered: can we vibe code an online game using ChatGPT? The challenge — keep it simple and HTML-based. Here’s how it went down:

  • I prompted ChatGPT to whip up an HTML game with multiple gameplay elements.
  • We iterated through many versions (because hey, greatness takes time!).
  • We found a free hosting spot on itch.io to bring our game to life.

👉 Check out the final product here: LeaP FroG by rbndchsn (Heads-up: if you use script blockers, disable them or your frog might get stuck!)

Is it perfect? Nope. But does it work and feel like a real vibe code success? Totally!

🎉 What’s the takeaway?

  • Vibe Coding can make powerful things, if you know how to do it.
  • The boundaries of what AI-assisted coding can achieve are still pretty much unknown.
  • Yes, I made my first game... and it’s not half bad!

📝 # Behind the Scenes: The Game’s Secret Sauce

Let’s get nerdy. The vibe code uses HTML5 canvas and JavaScript with a clever setup:

  • Dynamic Platforms: Multiple moving platforms are strategically positioned at various heights and speeds, adding challenge and strategy.
  • Flying Bees: Collect these buzzing bonuses — worth different points depending on how high and risky they are to grab.
  • Dangerous Birds: Incoming threats from above and ground level that get trickier and faster as levels rise.
  • Intuitive Controls: Works with touch buttons on mobiles and arrow keys plus spacebar for keyboards (jump comes free!).
  • Progressive Difficulty: Every 20 seconds, the game levels up, speeding up bird attacks exponentially after level 4.
  • Visual Flair: Cute images for backgrounds, frog, bees, grass, and birds make it feel alive.

💾 Game variables track score, collected bees, lives, and protect the frog with invulnerability frames post-hit.


⚙️ # The Vibe Coding Technique in Action (Pro Tips for You!)

  1. Dialogue over Commands: Think of ChatGPT as a partner, not a tool. Ask, adjust, and iterate.
  2. Inner Alignment: Wait for code suggestions that resonate with your intent — no rush!
  3. Iterative Refinement: Big coding outputs rarely happen in one go. Multiple passes polish your creation.
  4. Know Your Tools: You’ll want a trusty IDE and hosting knowledge (itch.io is great for free HTML games).

Oh, and don’t shy away from asking your AI mentor how to publish or enhance your game.


🙌 # Community Buzz

This approach isn’t new to the folks here — there’s even a whole tag for vibe coding. As one helpful dev pointed out, for longer projects (like over 5,000 lines of code), you might wanna move your repo to GitHub or GitLab — keep your code neat, secure, and shareable.

Also, here’s a cheeky stretch goal from the community: add a secure high-score table to up the challenge.


🎯 # Who Should Try Vibe Coding?

If you:

  • Love creative, intuitive software development
  • Want to partner up with AI instead of just command it
  • Are curious about game dev with minimal setup
  • Enjoy learning by doing with stepwise AI collaboration

Then dive right in. Vibe coding might just be your new jam.


🚀 # Final Thoughts

This little leap into vibe coding an online game shows just how accessible and exciting AI-assisted creation can be. So whether you’re dreaming of your first game or just curious about this flow-state coding approach, remember: the vibe is real, and the limit’s only set by your imagination.

Keep vibing and coding,

Your friendly AI code adventurer 👾


📌 P.S. Before you jump, don’t forget to turn off any script blockers on the game page if you want your frog to move (he’s shy like that).

Source: Openai