INSIDE THE PROJECT
PROJECT DETAILS
DISCIPLINE
Game UX & UI design
Game development
PLATFORMS
Mobile
TOOLS & METHODS
Unity · C#
Prototyping · Game balancing
AI IN MY WORKFLOW
I used AI-assisted tools throughout development for concept exploration, selected implementation tasks, code refactoring, debugging, iterative refinement, and the creation of selected visual assets. I directed the concept, visual direction, and design decisions, reviewing and refining AI outputs throughout development.
CONTEXT
Personal game development & UX case study
Overview
Power Grid is a mobile merge puzzle game that combines tile progression, strategic board management, and level-based objectives into a single gameplay loop. Rather than relying on endless score chasing, the experience gradually introduces new mechanics, board constraints, and puzzle-focused milestones that encourage players to think several moves ahead.
The project explores how interface design, visual feedback, and progressive onboarding can reduce cognitive load while supporting increasingly complex decision-making. Built in Unity using C#, the game includes handcrafted levels, progression systems, power-ups, and state-based interactions designed to keep gameplay approachable while rewarding strategic play.
GAMEPLAY · LEVELS 1–5
Power Grid
Merge tiles, manage the board, and work through level-based challenges.
Gameplay modes
Power Grid uses a consistent interface across two gameplay modes. Most levels focus on scoring through efficient merges, while every fifth level introduces a connection puzzle. The goal panel and move or time limit change to highlight the task, while key information stays in familiar positions.
Score-Focused Gameplay
Score goal: gives players a clear scoring objective.
Move limit: encourages careful placement.
Combo meter: shows progress toward scoring bonuses.
Next tile preview: helps players plan their next move.
Objective-Focused Gameplay
Connection goal: asks players to connect the energy source to the battery.
Time limit: adds urgency to placement decisions.
Shared layout: keeps key information in familiar positions across modes.
Board & player tools
As players progress, the game introduces board constraints that reshape familiar mechanics without changing the core interaction model. Obstacles limit available space and influence placement decisions, while power-ups provide controlled recovery options that help players adapt to challenging situations. Together, these systems increase strategic depth by encouraging players to evaluate both immediate opportunities and long-term consequences.
Tile mechanics
Tiles
Merge matching tiles to progress from L1 to L6 and earn combo rewards. Higher levels unlock diagonal merges, while L6 boosts nearby merges and can move to any empty space.
Power-ups
Clear tiles with Hammer or Energy Pulse, reposition them with Swap or Shuffle, and upgrade them with Overcharge. Freeze Time adds moves or time, helping you keep your run going.
Electrified Tiles
Connect the Electricity tile to the Battery with an unbroken path of tiles. Power flows along the connected route, charging the battery until it fills and completes the puzzle.
Capacity Tiles
Capacity tiles have a limited number of uses, shown by their visual indicators. Each merge result placed here consumes one use, eventually turning the space into a dead tile once emptied.
Ice Tiles
Ice tiles block placement until nearby merges break through their layers. Each adjacent merge removes one layer, gradually clearing the ice and making the space available for new tiles.
Dead Tiles
Dead tiles are blocked spaces where you cannot place tiles or create merge results. They reduce the available board area, requiring careful placement and planning around the remaining usable spaces.
Learning curve
Power Grid introduces mechanics progressively through gameplay rather than relying on lengthy tutorials. New objectives, board constraints, and interaction patterns are introduced one at a time, allowing players to build confidence with core mechanics before combining them in more complex scenarios.
Learn
Players begin by mastering the core merge mechanics through simple score-based challenges. Early tutorial prompts explain tile progression, scoring, and board management while encouraging exploration through immediate feedback.
Apply
Once the fundamentals are established, the game introduces objective-based puzzle levels. New mechanics are presented individually, allowing players to apply previously learned skills while adapting to new goals and interaction patterns.
Master
Later levels combine multiple mechanics, board modifiers, and objectives into increasingly complex challenges. Rather than introducing entirely new systems, the experience reinforces earlier lessons, encouraging strategic thinking and long-term planning.
More screens
