# Forge Awakens: a rhythm mini-game that unlocks its own source

> A mythic forge rhythm mini-game in React Three Fiber: charge the forge, follow the sparks, strike on the mark, and earn the source code.

Canonical page: https://andersonmancini.dev/blog/forge-awakens

Published: 2026-09-06 · 1 min read · Tags: react-three-fiber, game-dev, webgl, launch

Forge Awakens is a small game with one idea: you earn the source code by playing it. It is a rhythm mini-game built with React Three Fiber, set in a mythic forge, and it is part tech demo and part challenge.

![The forge, in the middle of a strike](https://andersonmancini.dev/images/forge_awakens.webp)

## How it plays

Each forging is a short rhythm sequence:

1. **Press and hold** to charge the forge.
2. **Drag through the numbered sparks** in order.
3. **Release past the mark** to strike.

There are three playthroughs, a hammer, an ice axe and a pair of chain blades, and each one has its own visual theme and a higher difficulty than the last.

## The reward

When every relic is forged, the game unlocks the **full source code** as your reward. I liked the idea of teaching a craft by making you earn it: you spend a few minutes inside the project before you read how it was built.

## What is under it

- fluid shaders for the look of heat and metal,
- post-processing to give the forge its glow,
- 3D forge tools and a scoring loop,
- Valtio for the game state.

## Play it

The game is live at [forgeawakens.vercel.app](https://forgeawakens.vercel.app/), the source is on [GitHub](https://github.com/ektogamat/god-of-war-minigame), and the details are on the [project page](https://andersonmancini.dev/projects/forge-awakens.md).

## Related projects

- [Forge Awakens](https://andersonmancini.dev/projects/forge-awakens.md) — Mythic forge rhythm mini-game