Attach a web
Choose an anchor point and fire a thread to begin moving through open space.
Prototype snapshot · January 2023
Swingy Spider
A fast 2D survival game where every movement begins with a web: swing between anchor points, collect flies, and avoid lethal enemy bugs for as long as possible.
Overview
Movement without a floor
Swingy Spider was built for Mini Jam 123, which paired the theme “Web” with the required limitation “There is no ground.” I treated the limitation as the foundation of the controls: the player cannot rely on ordinary walking or platforming and must instead travel by firing and holding web strands.
The objective is intentionally immediate—collect as many flies as possible while navigating around hostile bugs. That simple goal kept the project achievable within the jam while giving the swinging mechanic a clear purpose.
Gameplay loop
Swing, collect, survive
The prototype combines momentum-based movement with quick decisions about safe routes and nearby targets.
Control momentum
Hold and release at the right time to redirect the spider through the arena.
Collect flies
Route each swing toward flies to increase the run’s score.
Avoid enemy bugs
Read approaching threats and change course before contact ends the attempt.
What I built
A focused physics prototype
- Web-based movementA mouse-controlled attachment system that turns anchor selection and release timing into the primary controls.
- Airborne survival loopA scoring objective, lives, environmental blocks, and enemy bugs create risk without adding traditional ground movement.
- Complete jam buildA title screen, readable controls, game states, and downloadable Windows release completed within the deadline.
Takeaway
Designing from a constraint
This project reinforced how a strong limitation can produce the game’s identity rather than merely restrict it. By making the lack of ground central to movement, the jam prompt shaped the controls, level space, hazards, and scoring loop at the same time.
It also gave me practical experience tuning physics-driven controls under a short deadline, where small adjustments to responsiveness and momentum have an immediate effect on difficulty and player confidence.