P8GO: Pixel Games

Overview

‍Chronicler Labs, a start-up in the A16Z Speedrun 4 accelerator, created P8GO: Pixel Games—a retro-inspired app often described as the "TikTok for games." Launched in September 2024, the app quickly gained traction, earning over 1,000 downloads and a 4.5-star rating within its first week.

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My Role

‍As the UX/UI Consultant, I led the end-to-end design of the app within an accelerated four-week timeline. Collaborating closely with the Founders, I prioritized key design tasks while staying responsive to evolving project needs.

Key Contributions:

• Design Execution: Delivered the full app design under tight deadlines, ensuring a seamless, engaging user experience.
• Competitive Analysis: Researched market trends and competitors to identify unique opportunities for P8GO.
• User Feedback Loop: Monitored Discord and Reddit communities during beta releases and conducted user surveys to gather insights and iterate quickly.

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Sample Designs

Main Gameplay Layouts

After gathering requirements from the founders and beta testers, I proposed updated layouts to enhance the gameplay experience. The primary objective was to maximize the gameplay area, while the secondary focus was integrating additional features like "Like" and "Save Game" buttons. Achieving both goals required thoughtful compromises.

To expand the gameplay area, we moved away from the Game Boy-inspired design that captured the retro gaming vibe, opting for a more open, immersive layout. For feature integration, we consolidated all functions into a single organized area, which meant sacrificing the constant display of the game title. Rapid user testing confirmed these changes were the right direction.

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Navigation Tutorial

Although swipe-based navigation is familiar to most users from apps like TikTok, it’s still relatively new in the context of gaming apps. Our goal was to ensure users quickly understood how to navigate P8GO and explore different games without adding friction to the experience.

To keep the tutorial simple and fast, we limited it to a single, interactive step. Users are prompted to swipe up to dismiss the tutorial, seamlessly transitioning to their first game. This approach reinforced the core navigation gesture while maintaining a smooth, engaging onboarding experience.

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Impact

‍P8GO's successful launch, evidenced by its strong download numbers and high user rating, highlighted the power of rapid, user-centered design in a fast-paced start-up environment.

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