A year ago, it took Claude AI and me hours to build Asteroids; we just built a Breakout clone in five minutes — and you can play it

I never intended to create a Breakout clone, but Claude — guided by my direction — actually did, and it was quicker than watching half a dozen cat videos. The journey began with Claude experiencing technical issues; while I typically encountered occasional problems, I needed a more rigorous test to assess Claude's overall stability.

A year ago, I collaborated with Claude, providing guidance to recreate the classic 1980s arcade game, Asteroids. The resulting game, Claude's shareable artifact, emerged after hours of iteration and refinement. With a fresh perspective, I challenged Claude AI, running the free Sonnet 5 model at Medium level, to construct a Breakout clone.

I detailed the game's concept, describing the multi-level brick wall, paddle, and bouncing gear that breaks down the bricks. The prompt emphasized an online version of Breakout, where robots replace bricks and march down the screen. I provided general instructions without specifying colors, ball speed, or robot appearance. Claude delivered the results in just three minutes, presenting a playable game dubbed "Gearbreaker."

The game featured two levels: the first with matte robots that disappear after one hit, and the second with shinier robots that require three hits to disappear. As the game progressed, robots became more challenging, but the controls remained user-friendly. The game used my mouse for control, and I managed to clear Level One and progress to Level Two, where robots became tougher.

This mind-blowing example demonstrates the rapid advancement of AI capabilities, with Claude displaying a clear understanding of the game's purpose — challenge, entertainment, and replayability. The Breakout clone, "Gearbreaker," showcased impressive physics, efficient design, and engaging gameplay. Despite consuming nearly 90% of my daily credits, I believe the experience was worth it.