PLATFORMER
Bamblewick: Design Notes and Tips for the Eight Lanterns
Bamblewick is the largest game on PlayDapple: a 32-stage side-scrolling platformer in eight worlds. This page explains some of the design thinking behind it and gives tips for players.
Why a platformer on a small-games site
Most of PlayDapple is made of quick puzzles and card games. Bamblewick is the opposite: a longer adventure for when you have more time. It is built to run in a browser with keyboard and touch controls, with no download or account, so the barrier to starting is as low as for any of the other games.
Design goals
Each of the eight worlds introduces one new idea, then combines it with earlier ideas. Stages are short enough to retry immediately, and checkpoints keep failure from feeling punishing. The aim was a game where learning is the reward: you fail, you understand why, and the next attempt works.
Art and sound
All of the artwork, characters and level layouts are original and drawn in code. Keeping the style simple let us make a large number of stages while keeping the page light enough to load quickly on a phone.
Movement tips
Learn the jump height by tapping and holding. A short tap gives a small hop that is ideal for precise landings, while holding gives a full jump. Keep your momentum across gaps rather than stopping at the edge, and use a running start for long jumps.
Boss fights
Each boss has a repeating pattern. Spend your first attempt watching, not attacking. Once you know the rhythm, the openings become easy to see, and you can attack during them without taking a hit.
Secrets
Look for suspicious gaps in walls and ceilings. Secret burrows reward careful exploration, and they are worth checking whenever a level layout looks odd. Finding every secret is optional, but it is a good reason to replay a stage.
Optional progress saving
You can choose to keep your progress in your browser. It is off by default, and our privacy policy describes exactly what is stored and how to remove it.
Stage design in more detail
Each stage begins with a safe area where a new idea can be tried without risk. The next section tests it with a small challenge, and the final section combines it with older ideas. This pattern repeats across the eight worlds, which keeps the difficulty rising at a steady pace.
Checkpoints are placed after the most demanding sections rather than at fixed distances. That way, if you fail, you lose a minute, not ten.
Common mistakes
The most common mistake in platformers is rushing. Many hazards are timed, and waiting a moment is often the correct move. Another is jumping from the very edge of a platform; a jump started a fraction earlier gives you more control in the air.
In boss fights, players often attack every time the boss is exposed, even when the opening is too short. Wait for the longer openings and attack when you are sure.
Playing on a phone
Bamblewick supports touch controls. Rest your thumbs where you can see the screen, and use a slightly relaxed grip, since tense thumbs make small movements harder. If you find the controls tiring, take a break between worlds.