Grid-Based Games
Grid-based games use a discrete grid (rows and columns) as the foundation for gameplay and interaction. This is a broad category that includes classics like Chess and Go—both rich in computational theory—as well as purely digital titles like Tetris or 2048, where each action or movement is defined relative to grid cells.
Grid-Based Apps
This book also explores apps like photomosaic or handpan that rely on a grid for layout or interactivity. Although they are not initially presented as “games,” they can be refactored into playful, rule-based activities—transforming a grid-based application into a grid-based game through p5.quadrille.js. By adding goals, scoring, and player interaction, these demos become engaging exercises in problem-solving and computational thinking.
Taxonomy and Overlap
A “grid-based” structure can appear in different genres and formats—including board games, puzzle games, and more. For clarity:
| Type | Examples | Key Mechanics |
|---|---|---|
| Grid-Based Board Games | Chess, Go, Checkers | Turn-based, piece movement, strategic board positions |
| Digital Puzzle (Tile-Matching) | 2048, Candy Crush, Bejeweled | Aligning or merging tiles by type/color/value on a grid |
| Digital Puzzle (Tile-Placement) | Tetris, Puyo Puyo, Dr. Mario | Fitting falling or placed shapes within grid cells |
| General Grid-Based Games | Minesweeper, photomosaic, handpan (refactored) | Uses a grid for logic, layout, or interactivity (turn-based or real-time) |
All tile-matching or tile-placement puzzles are grid-based, but not all grid-based games focus on matching or placing tiles.
Computational Thinking
Grid-based games are a powerful medium for learning computational thinking 1. Players must navigate discrete states, which closely resembles how computers handle data in arrays or matrices. Classic examples:
- Chess: Explored in AI research and combinatorial game theory, leading to advanced algorithms and heuristics.
- Tetris: Known for proven complexities (e.g., certain Tetris variants are NP-hard 2) and offers interesting explorations like generating all possible polyominoes of a given shape or degree.
- 2048: Demonstrates the principle of merging states within arrays, handy for learning about basic AI search and constraint-solving.
These games highlight algorithmic thinking—from simple state checks (Minesweeper) to advanced search trees (Chess)—that can be replicated or modified with p5.quadrille.js.
p5.quadrille.js Integration
The p5.quadrille.js library is particularly well-suited for building grid-based projects. By offering:
- Simplified cell-level drawing and manipulation.
- A straightforward API to handle game logic in discrete steps.
- Rapid prototyping of turn-based or real-time grid interactions.
Whether your goal is to create an original board game, refactor a photomosaic application, or explore classic puzzles like Tetris, grid-based projects using p5.quadrille.js provide hands-on insights into programming and computational problem-solving.