Zulpez
Spatial Reasoning Puzzle Game
Production • Interactive Puzzle Game • Browser-Based
Visit zulpez.com
Executive Summary
Zulpez is an engaging, browser-based puzzle game that challenges spatial reasoning and logical thinking. Players drag and drop geometric pieces onto a board, rotate and flip them, and work to perfectly place all pieces without overlaps across 120 progressively difficult levels.
The game features a free-to-play model with progress saving, competitive leaderboards, a fast-paced competitive mode unlocked at Level 25, and an intuitive interface designed for both casual and serious puzzle enthusiasts.
What This Project Solves
Many puzzle games are generic or lack meaningful progression. Zulpez was created to deliver a brain-training experience with carefully designed levels that teach spatial thinking strategies.
The goal is to provide a free, accessible puzzle game that improves problem-solving and spatial visualization while remaining engaging and competitive. Leaderboards and progress tracking motivate players to improve and unlock harder challenges.
Project Overview
Type
Interactive Web Game
Domain
Puzzle & Brain Training
Status
Production
Access
Browser-Based (Free)
Release Date
February 16th, 2025
Technology Stack
Frontend
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Framework: Vanilla JavaScript with Canvas API
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Styling: TailwindCSS for responsive UI
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Interactions: Drag-and-drop, rotation, and flip mechanics
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Real-time Communication: WebSocket for competitive play
Backend
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Language: PHP
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Database: MongoDB
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Authentication: OAuth2 with multiple providers
Infrastructure
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Hosting: Self-hosted with global CDN accessibility
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Caching: Cloudflare caching for optimized low-latency, responsive gameplay
Core Features
Intuitive Puzzle Mechanics
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Drag-and-drop piece placement with smooth animations
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Mouse scroll wheel or Q/W keys for rotation controls
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Tab, Shift, or Z keys for flipping/mirroring pieces
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Real-time collision detection prevents overlapping pieces
Progressive Difficulty System
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120 carefully designed levels with escalating complexity
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Early levels teach fundamental spatial reasoning strategies
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Advanced levels introduce novel geometry and multi-step solutions
Engagement & Gamification
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Automatic progress saving for seamless gameplay resumption
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Competitive leaderboards tracking best times and move counts
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Competitive Mode unlocked at Level 25 for speed-based challenges
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Random level selection in competitive mode with no retries
Accessibility & User Experience
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Optional account creation to unlock full level library and leaderboards
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Responsive design for desktop, tablet, and mobile devices
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Detailed visual tutorial demonstrating all controls and mechanics
Game Design Highlights
Level Design Philosophy
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Levels are designed to teach problem-solving incrementally without frustration
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Careful balance between challenge and accessibility maintains engagement
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Unique geometric combinations prevent repetitive or predictable solutions
Performance & Responsiveness
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Touch-friendly controls support mouse, trackpad, and touch input
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Minimal input latency ensures precise piece placement and rotation
Cognitive Benefits
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Strengthens spatial reasoning and mental rotation capabilities
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Develops strategic planning and pattern recognition skills
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Enhances focus, concentration, and persistent problem-solving mindset
DevOps & Deployment
Continuous Deployment Pipeline
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GitHub Actions Automation: Push to master branch triggers automated deployment workflow
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Direct Deployment: Changes automatically deployed to production upon push to master
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Zero-Downtime Updates: Seamless deployments without service interruption
AI Development Support
Advanced AI models leveraged to accelerate development and enhance code quality.
OpenAI
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GPT-4.5: Game mechanics design and level generation logic
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Gemini 2.5 Exp: Backend logic and database optimization
Interested in Game Development?
Zulpez demonstrates game mechanics, level design, performance optimization, and user engagement strategies. If you need similar interactive experiences or game development expertise, let's connect and discuss your project.
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