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taproach alpha

A topic by taproach created 12 hours ago Views: 34 Replies: 3

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"Another roach tapping game?!?"

I just ported my Apple App Store app to a mobile web browser game.

It is a simple bug smashing game with some fun upgrades. It is still a work in progress and I hope to make more improvements and additions.

The game lasts a few minutes and has a global high score list. The bug animation and movement is unique and smooth.

Check it out and let me know what you think about the game so far and potential enhancements. It is free and easy to play through any web browser. Enjoy the game and set some high scores!!

Play for free with no download needed here: PixelPicked: taproach — PixelPicked Player

or here: itch.io: taproach by taproach

Recent updates to taproach for you to test and enjoy... Thanks!

Added shadows to the bugs that are cast by the light spot.
Improved lighting and bug contrast.
Refine level progression to present different wave ‘flavors’ and give more time at higher waves.
Change centipede color from blue to green.
Made ants worth more and changed their splat color.
Super boss roaches get red hot before exploding.
Alteration to centipede motion mechanics.
Changed 3-letter initials entry to 5-letters with scroller letter entry.

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MagicAlice11 hours ago(+1)

I played Taproach and wanted to share some feedback.

The movement and visual design of the creatures are extremely well done — they feel disturbingly real in a way that genuinely triggered a strong sense of physical disgust.

In fact, the animation and the moist, twitchy look were so effective that I actually had to stop playing halfway through a stage because it made me feel nauseous.🤢

If you ever plan to push the “gross-out” direction even further, adding thicker, wetter splatter effects when crushing the bugs — maybe with some internal bits spreading out — could amplify the visceral impact even more.☠️

By the way, I also make a bug‑crushing game myself (DIGDUG‑3D), but it never reached the same level of shock or biological realism as yours.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on my game as well, if you have time.😘

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taproach10 hours ago(+1)

Haha, thank you for the feedback. The game is definitely meant to be creepy, but fun.

DIGDUG‑3D is really neat. I love the original Dig Dug game arcade and this concept is great!

I played and I think it has strong potential. The characters are cute like in the original game.

I felt that the movement and controls weren't very intuitive on desktop, but you do spell out the controls at the bottom, so that helps. On mobile, it worked better for me, but still it was hard to tell what was going on from the first person viewpoint.

The map was a nice 3D perspective to make it more clear. Maybe you could have an insert overlay of the 3D map in the first person perspective? Of course the navigation was always a bit tricky in the original.

I really like the pumping action and, of course, the splats! I always dreamed of Dig Dug the Movie, a live action film...

Best of luck with the development.

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MagicAlice9 hours ago

Wow, thank you so much for the amazing and thoughtful feedback! Hearing from a true arcade Dig Dug fan means the world to me.

Regarding the clunky controls and the difficulty of navigating in first-person: You totally hit the nail on the head. Actually, this game is heavily inspired by hardcore tactical roguelikes like "Shiren the Wanderer". The slight "clunkiness" of the controls, the unfair enemy spawns, and the disorientation are somewhat intentional.

The core fun of this game isn't just smooth action—it's about dying repeatedly, learning the quirks of the 3D grid, and discovering your own cheesy strategies (like trapping fast enemies with BOMBs or carving shortcut loops) to outsmart the system. It’s a high-stakes puzzle where you overcome the "unfairness" through trial and error!

That said, your idea about having a 3D map overlay/insert inside the First-Person perspective is brilliant. Adding a mini-map overlay would definitely bridge the gap between action and strategy, so I’m absolutely going to look into implementing that!

By the way, "taproach alpha". To be completely honest, when I first tried it, the roaches' movements were so intensely realistic that it genuinely grossed me out, 😂

But I decided to give it another shot from a developer's perspective, and wow—I was absolutely blown away. The underlying logic behind their behavior and how they react is brilliant.

As a fellow programmer, I can see how much care and smart logic went into coding those polished, lifelike mechanics. It’s a beautifully executed and wonderfully addictive project!

Thanks again for the encouragement and for sharing your great work. It gives me a huge motivation boost!

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