Posted December 16, 2025 by Java Cake Games
#references #easter eggs
The game’s title is from Simon & Garfunkel’s 1970 album and titular song Bridge Over Troubled Water. As much as the game is, in a literal sense, about bridging over troubled water, it otherwise bears no resemblance to the moving lyrics.
The itty-bitty copyright year range in the bottom-left corner of the title screen is based on the year the Vitruvian Man was drawn, believed to be circa-1490. The end year was set in the future at time of publication to suggest the game is ahead of its time. The guy in the picture is Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who was known for his 19th-century bridges.
The shark that occasionally swims in the water will open its mouth if hovered over.
The narwhal that swims in the sea is the critically-acclaimed NarwaffleMan.
Inside the file cover.fnt, “A snake, a snake” is a reference to Badgers by MrWeebl.
The level title “Is It About My Cube?” is a reference to a scene from season 7 episode 17 of The Simpsons, in which Mr. Burns’ messages are “You have 30 minutes to move your car,” “You have 10 minutes,” “Your car has been impounded,” “Your car has been crushed into a cube,” “You have 30 minutes to move your cube.” The telephone rings, and Homer answers for Mr. Burns, to which Burns asks “Is it about my cube?” This level contains smashed mirrors because that was the Easter egg for this particular jam.
The level title “Bill Nye Just Walked In” is a reference to the viral video Bill Nye just walked into our elevator while I was snap chatting.. as the intended solution for that level is elevated.
The level title “Snake Pit” was inspired by the Well of Souls scene in the 1981 film Indiana Jones and the Radiers of the Lost Ark. The idea of snake pits has been around much longer than that, but it’s what came to mind.
The level title “Oceanic Egypt” is referring to the continent of Oceania, which, due to being in the southern hemisphere, can be considered as existing upside-down. Egypt is a country known for its pyramids.
The level title “Bridge? What Bridge?” is not a reference to the 1982 Gary Numan song, not on purpose. I was only using it in the rhetorical form, like with “Crisis? What crisis?” which is used in the 1973 film The Day of the Jackal, is the name of the 1975 Sutertramp album, and was a famous headline by The Sun newspaper in 1979 which contributed to the UK’s Labour party losing power.
The levels “Urban Planner” and “Brainy Businessmen” share assets with my Do I Know How to Sp3ll? game.