Make a video game with AI this summer

It's summer, and this week I'm spending time with my nephew. And like every kid in August, three days in, the big question arrived: "What do we do now?"

So we made a video game. Together. In 20 minutes. Without writing a single line of code.

And along the way, I rediscovered something: it's the most enjoyable exercise I know for understanding some of the things AI can really do. Whether or not you have a kid around.

Here's how it went.

I spent an hour building a prompt that turns any AI into a game-making workshop. The idea: the AI asks 5 simple questions (who the hero is, where the game takes place, what the hero does, what the hero avoids, what their special power is), each with ready-made options to pick from.

No need to think about mechanics, balancing or controls: the prompt takes care of all that.

If you want to go further, just tell the AI.

My nephew answered the questions. A surfing crab (because we'd seen a crab that day), a beach, ice creams falling from the sky, seagulls to dodge, and the power to grow giant.

Two minutes later, CRABISSIMO appeared on screen. With a title screen, sound effects, star bursts, and a giant mode that kicks in every 10 points.

Then came the part I hadn't seen coming: the changes. "I want the bad guy to be bigger." "I want two extra lives." "I want it to go faster." Every request, applied live. In 10 minutes he understood what I've been trying to explain in this newsletter for two years: you describe what you want, the machine builds it.

And honestly, the exercise taught me as much as it taught him. Making a game is a perfect playground for understanding AI: you see live how a precise request produces a precise result, how a vague request forces the machine to interpret, and how far it can go when you guide it well. If you use AI at work, it's probably the most enjoyable way I know to build that intuition. You'll come back to your work prompts a little wiser.

How to use it:

2. Give that file directly to the best AI you have access to, as an attachment in the conversation (I used Claude, but any of them will work)

3. Answer the 5 questions, on your own or with any kids hanging around this summer

4. Test the game live, and ask for every change that pops into your head

5. Download the HTML file and open it in Chrome, Safari or any browser: the game is yours, forever

That's it. No account to create, no app to install, no technical skills required.

One last thing: CRABISSIMO is deliberately a simple example. With AI, you can go much, much further. People are building full games in a few hours, with levels, polished graphics, and mechanics you'd swear came out of a studio. Here, I was with my little nephew, and the crab was more than enough.

And the idea goes beyond games. The same logic (describe, iterate, test live) works for building a simulator to train your teams, an interactive tool to explain your product, or any small app you need. The video game is just the most fun way to practice.

Enjoy your summer, and show me your games: I'll feature the best ones in an upcoming issue!

Salim