Bug Smasher: free bug-hunting game for future developers

What is Bug Smasher?

The app is about to ship and bugs keep popping up: NaN in the cart, [object Object] in the menu. Smash them fast, but leave the features that only look weird.

Bug Smasher is a whack-a-mole game for future developers and testers. An app screen of nine widgets keeps glitching: NaN items in the cart, [object Object] in the menu, 31 February, a negative total. Tap each bug before it ships. The twist: some odd-looking things are features. Loading…, Out of stock or a Beta badge are working as intended, and smashing them costs a life.

The game speeds up every 10 seconds. Bugs in a row build a combo up to ×10.

At a glance

Category

Adventure

Difficulty

Medium

Play time

1–3 min

Price

Free, in your browser, sign-up optional

How to play

Smash

Tap a widget showing a bug: broken numbers, missing text, impossible dates.

Spare

Loading…, Out of stock or Beta are features. Smashing them costs a life.

Hurry

A bug left alone ships to users and costs a life.

Combo

Bugs in a row build a combo up to ×10. It speeds up every 10 seconds.

Strategy and tips

Read before you tap

A half-second of reading saves a life: is it broken, or just unusual?

Know the classics

NaN, null, undefined, {name}, impossible dates and prices: those are always bugs.

States are features

Empty, loading, offline, sold out: apps have states, and showing them is correct.

Protect the combo

A wrong tap resets your combo. Accuracy beats speed in the long run.

Why play Bug Smasher?

Software testers spend their days telling real bugs from intended behaviour. Bug Smasher trains that judgement under pressure, along with visual scanning and reaction speed.

Frequently asked questions