💎 Theme & Game
The theme for this game jam was "Bubbles".
We made the game for the event of the Global Game Jam 2025, where we worked during a good 3 days to create this little experience coop game.
🌟 Introduction
Boba is a two-player co-op arcade game that keeps you on the edge of your seat as you team up with a friend to survive the open ocean.
Plot twist: One of you plays a brave hamster rolling in a plastic ball, while the other wields a shampoo bottle as your weapon of choice. Together, you must stay within the protective radius of a life buoy while overcoming relentless obstacles and enemies.
The Challenges:
- The Wave: Timing is everything. Jump over towering waves to keep your hamster ball afloat and safe from the stormy waters.
- The Fishnet: Aim true and fire away. Destroy the fishnet pillars to clear your path and protect your furry friend.
- The Fan: The clock is ticking. Shoot the three buttons to turn off the fan before it blows you out of the buoy’s safety zone.
👾 Gameplay
With only three shared health points, there’s no room for mistakes. Every heartbeat counts as you and your partner navigate the treacherous ocean, relying on sharp reflexes and seamless teamwork.
Player 1 (the hamster in the bubble) moves to dodge incoming obstacles and dangers.
Player 2 (above the bubble) shoots at incoming threats to prevent collisions and damage.
The objective is to stay alive as long as possible by dodging everything that threatens your little hamster lives.
📃 Tasks Realized
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Concept of the game
We needed a quick and simple game to make, so we decided to create a small endless game. With fewer mechanics to build and more time for polish, it was the perfect scope for a 3-day Game Jam.
We started by deciding on the number of players, a local co-op, and what they would play as: our little hamsters.
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Designing the obstacles
We drew inspiration from swimming pool and beach activities, which is why we used floaters, slides, and nets as obstacle references. We also chose a sunny, fresh-water setting to give the game a fun, beach-time vibe.
- Wave: A huge wave passes through the map. The bubble player must move out of the way to dodge it.
- Net: Like a beach volleyball net, it stretches between two pillars and damages players on contact. The top player must shoot the pillars to destroy the net before it reaches the players.
- Fan: Placed on one side of the buoy, it blows wind toward the player, pushing them closer to danger. The top player must shoot an activation button on the opposite side to turn it off and remove the threat.
📌 Lessons Learned
- I learned that a small game scope isn’t a bad thing, it gives you more time to polish visuals, fix bugs, and refine gameplay.
- Having done the Global Game Jam last year, I was reminded again how intense a 3-day jam can be. It’s the best way to learn how to solve problems quickly and efficiently.
- I also learned how to balance asymmetric co-op gameplay. It took a lot of playtesting, tweaking, and retrying until it felt just right.
⚡ Quick infos
Project made in 3 days on Unity
The team :
- Programmers : Victor Lacombe, Gabriel Le Mer
- Designer : Myself
- Artists : Thaumas & Richwitch
The game is playable from it's page Itch available below, feel free to test!
