Vibe coded a 2D retro side scroll flyer in <48 hours.

Creating a 2D Retro Side-Scroller Game in Less Than 48 Hours: A Developer’s Journey

In the world of game development, time is often a limiting factor. However, leveraging modern AI tools alongside traditional design software can significantly accelerate the process. Recently, I embarked on an experimental project: designing and publishing a simple yet engaging 2D retro-style side-scrolling game in under 48 hours. Here, I’ll share the methodologies, tools, and steps involved in turning this rapid development milestone into a reality.

Conceptual Planning and Rapid Prototyping

My journey began with the use of advanced AI assistants—Claude, Codex, and ChatGPT—to rapidly ideate and scaffold the initial game plan. Since January, I’ve relied heavily on Claude and Codex for developing bespoke software solutions, and I wanted to explore their capabilities within a creative context.

On a Sunday, I prompted Claude Code to generate a straightforward app development plan for a side-scrolling flying game. The code executed autonomously, laying down the basic mechanics. The initial prototype was functional but rough—squares representing buildings and a simplistic bird sprite—yet the core controls and physics, managed through the PixJS library, felt intuitive and responsive.

Art Creation Leveraging AI and Photoshop

With playable mechanics in place, I turned to ChatGPT to assist in generating visual assets—background scenes, character sprites, and game objects. The AI outputs provided a solid foundation which I further refined in Adobe Photoshop, customizing aesthetics to match the retro vibe and ensuring consistency across assets.

Structuring the Game Architecture

Once foundational gameplay was operational—controlling a flying bird through an obstacle-laden landscape—I focused on enhancing user experience. This involved integrating menus, settings such as volume controls, and cinematic elements like simple transitions. Through iterative testing and adjustments, I achieved a user flow that felt smooth and engaging.

Incorporating Sound

Sound design was streamlined by sourcing royalty-free clips from platforms like Pixabay, complemented with YouTube videos retrieved using yt-dlp. These sounds added depth without delaying the development timeline.

Reflections and Outcome

Developing this game was both an invigorating and exhausting experience. Importantly, my daughter enjoyed playing it, and I was pleased to create a child-friendly version—free of ads, monetization prompts, and intrusive sounds, unlike many commercial children’s games.

This project underscored how combining AI tools with traditional software—like Photoshop and JavaScript libraries—can dramatically reduce development time, enabling rapid prototyping and deployment.

Conclusion

Creating a complete 2D game within a weekend is an achievable goal with the right tools and mindset. If you’re interested in the technical details or want guidance on replicating this process, feel free to reach out. Embracing AI-assisted development opens new horizons for rapid innovation in game design and beyond.

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Interested in learning more about AI-powered game development? Contact me for insights, tips, or a walkthrough of my workflow.