Aim & drop
Move the little ship, find a clear space and release the waiting planet.
Independent game · 2026Play prototype
Game design · Character art · Development
PlanetMerge
Play the gameA calm space puzzle where matching planets turns play into a small moment of discovery.
01
The idea
Play. Merge. Learn.
Space can feel big. Learning it should feel simple.
Planet Merge is a learning-first game prototype for children aged 5–10. Players drop matching characters into a container, combine them into the next planet, and slowly build their way through the solar-system-inspired collection.
I created the complete experience: the game concept, mechanics, character family, interface, physics, sound interactions and parent controls. The result is intentionally easy to understand and gentle enough for independent play.
- Audience
- Children, 5–10
- Role
- End-to-end creator
- Format
- Browser game
- Status
- Playable prototype
02
Core interaction
One rule. Immediate feedback.
The game loop
Two of the same become something new.
MoonMoon
PlutoMatch & merge
Two identical characters touch and combine into the next body in the sequence.
Unlock & discover
New planets join the collection, with selected discoveries adding a replayable audio explanation.
03
Character system
A growing little universe
Twelve characters, one visual family.
Every planet was illustrated as a friendly character with its own colors, surface details and personality. Size is part of the game language: each successful merge feels visibly more important.
03B
Playable characters
Choose your pilot
Ship skins
Before each run, children can choose one of four original pilots. Each skin keeps the same circular planet holder, so personality changes without changing how the game is played.
04
Character reactions
The characters feel the game
Expressive feedback
A tiny reaction makes physics feel personal.
Planets react when they are hit. A character flinches, looks a little sad, then relaxes again. These expressions turn collision feedback into something a child can read without instructions.
05
Educational rewards
Knowledge as a reward
Learning layer
Unlock a planet. Hear its story.
Discovery is tied directly to progress. New planets become collectible perks, while selected discoveries include a simple spoken explanation. The audio system can grow across the full lineup.
- Audio supports children who are still learning to read.
- Facts arrive after success, when attention is naturally high.
- Unlocked discoveries stay available in the collection.
New discovery
Planet Earth
Home, blue and bold. Two Earths fuse into Uranus.
0:18
06
Healthy play
Play on the parent's terms
Parent controls
A child-friendly game includes the grown-ups.
Parents can set a daily play-time allowance and protect it with a four-digit PIN. When the allowance is used, the current round can finish naturally, but a new one cannot begin.
PIN protectedChildren cannot change the limit.
Daily allowanceSimple limits from the settings panel.
Visible statisticsGames, play time, score and best chain.
SettingsParent Control
Limit daily play timeKeep a healthy rhythm
Minutes per dayResets every morning
30 minParent PIN setControls are protected
Locked07
Design principles
Low pressure by design
Easy to enter. Safe to put down.
The experience avoids the patterns that make many children's games hard to leave. There is no advertising, no purchase loop, no daily streak and no countdown pushing the player to hurry.
No timer pressure
Children can think, aim and learn at their own pace.
No purchases
Progress comes from understanding the game, not spending.
No social pressure
No chat, public leaderboard or account is needed to play.
Natural stopping point
Daily limits make the end of play clear and predictable.
08
Game systems
Simple surface, thoughtful depth
Small systems keep every run playful.
Choose Planet
Three merges from one drop lets the child time and choose the next planet.
Eliminate
Five merges activates a clear visual power that removes one planet type.
Shake & shield
A gentle board shake can rescue a stack, protected by a rainbow in early levels.
Level progression
Creating two Suns completes the level, unlocks the next challenge and keeps the run going.
09
From design to code
Built beyond the mockup
Playable prototype
The design became a real, responsive game.
The prototype runs directly in the browser, with touch and mouse controls, persistent progress, responsive performance and a tuned physics system.
JavaScript modulesHTML CanvasMatter.js physicsLocal storageResponsive inputAudio system
Play Planet Merge 10
My contribution
One project, every layer
From the first character sketch to the final collision.
Audience, learning goal, game rules and progression.
Twelve characters, expressions, ship skins and visual effects.
Child-facing interface, feedback states and parent settings.
Physics, rendering, responsive controls, audio and saved progress.
Made to feel like play.
Built to leave a little knowledge behind.
More work
