Short sessions, fair scores and the question of what makes somebody return tomorrow.
Why a daily game
I wanted Aura Check to feel like something you could play quickly and share, rather than another game demanding an entire evening. The idea is simple: a short challenge, a score, and a reason to compare with friends.
That simplicity turns out to create interesting technical questions. What counts as a daily attempt? How should guests be treated? Can someone manipulate their score?
The work behind the game
The app uses a React-based frontend with a Supabase backend. I have explored server-side score submission, daily attempts, friend challenges, leaderboards and rate limiting to protect the competitive experience.
A shareable challenge also needs to work for someone who did not arrive with an account. Every extra sign-in requirement is an interruption to the fun.
My take
I want to see whether the core game earns a repeat visit before I surround it with monetization. A small, fun loop is worth more than a long features list nobody returns to use.