The Brief
PROXX is a modern reimagining of Minesweeper, built in collaboration with Google Chrome Labs and launched at Google I/O 2019. The brief was deceptively simple: build a game that plays well on every web-capable device in the world - from a high-end desktop running the latest Chrome to a feature phone with a basic browser and a hardware d-pad.
The challenge was not the game mechanics. Minesweeper is a solved problem. The challenge was the performance constraint: deliver a smooth, responsive gaming experience regardless of device capability, screen size or input method. Most web applications are built assuming a capable device. PROXX had to assume nothing.
Players use PROXX as a proximity scanner to locate and flag black holes, guiding their crew safely through space. The Minesweeper structure - numbered proximity clues, flagging, reveal - provides the foundation. The execution is built entirely for the modern web platform.
PROXX works across:
- Desktop, laptop, tablet and mobile browsers
- Feature phones with limited JavaScript engines
- Keyboard-only navigation
- Screen readers and assistive technology
- D-pad and gamepad input
The technical approach leaned hard on web platform primitives. UI components are built with Preact for a minimal footprint; PostCSS handles styling; Comlink manages web workers so game logic runs off the main thread without blocking input; Rollup bundles everything down to the smallest possible payload. The result is a game that feels fast on hardware where "fast" should not be possible.
PROXX is open source. The TypeScript source code is available on GitHub and was built by the same Node team that created Squoosh.app for Google Chrome Labs.