From Zero to Game
How I Built Knottled Without Knowing Anything
The Spark: Why a Word Game?
I’ve always loved word and puzzle games. (Yes, I still do Wordle daily… along with most of the other NYT games.)
Recently, I wanted to experiment with “vibe-coding” a project from concept to launch, using AI as my co-creator. Spoiler: I knew nothing about AI or making an app, so this was going to be interesting. That’s how Knottled was born.
The Beginning: August 1 and a Wild Idea
On August 1, I opened Gemini and typed:
“Scan the internet to look for simple game ideas that do not already have a mobile/digital version. Or simple games that people would like to see built that do not already exist. These can be physical games without a digital presence.”
That one small inquiry snowballed into research on what kinds of games were trending, what people loved, and what they were asking for online. Gemini and Lovable became my early brainstorming partners, pulling insights from Reddit threads, app reviews, and trend reports.
Building the PWA: Learning on the Fly
Once I had a concept I liked, I dove into building the initial PWA — a Progressive Web App. Basically, it’s a website that behaves like a mobile app: you can install it on your phone, get notifications, and play offline, all without navigating the terrifying world of app stores. Perfect for someone still pretending to know what they’re doing.
I relied heavily on Bolt to create the MVP. ChatGPT and Claude helped me make decisions like whether certain features were truly PWA-friendly, how to handle offline functionality, and how to ensure it didn’t feel like just a glorified website. For someone who hadn’t written code in over a decade, AI did about 99% of the heavy lifting — and honestly, I was fine with that.
Together, we implemented Google Analytics and Pendo tracking so I could see where people were playing, how long they stayed, and where they got stuck. For a solo project, those data loops were gold. (Adding analytics to the mobile versions is high on my list — right after “find more time in the day.”)
Even though the PWA had nearly all the same functionality as a mobile app — I even had it installed on my phone, sitting proudly next to my other games — most users didn’t realize that was an option. And while you can prompt them to “install” it, virtually no one did. Friends and family kept begging for a real mobile version. Apparently, people like playing games on their phones. Who knew?
Going Mobile: Enter Cursor (and My Husband)
Converting it to a mobile app, however, was trickier. Initially, I used Bolt to replicate the PWA functionality as a mobile app, but the code complexity (and my AI usage bill) quickly spiraled past what I wanted to spend on a “fun experiment.”
By mid-September, I needed a new plan.
Enter Cursor, suggested by my software architect husband (and, apparently, many of you other vibe-coders out there). Using Cursor, I replicated the PWA’s functionality as a mobile app. “Quickly” is a relative term here — it worked, but not without a few late nights and more coffee than I care to admit.
The biggest hurdle turned out to be testing. I could build, but actually seeing the app in action on different devices was another story. Getting simulators to work felt like solving a puzzle harder than the game itself. Eventually, I found Expo Go, which made testing across devices infinitely easier — and possibly saved what was left of my sanity.
Where Things Stand: October 20 Update
As of October 20, Knottled is live in 177 countries on iOS and in test mode on the Google Play Store. I’m still debugging a few Android quirks (because of course Android had to make things interesting), but overall, it’s playable, functional, and real — which still feels slightly surreal.
Product Management Lessons in Real Time
As a product manager, I quickly realized that AI is both a blessing and a curse. It’s incredible at making changes fast — but that speed makes scope creep way too tempting.
Early on, I added a simple feedback loop for users — mostly friends, family, and a few generous Reddit gamers — to submit thoughts on gameplay and features. The results? Most feedback validated the design. The few who said the game was “too hard” also admitted they don’t usually like word games, or they just wanted different rules. Noted… but not exactly actionable.
The Fun Part: Playing Along
The best part? I don’t know the solutions either. Some days I solve it in minutes; other days, I stare at the screen wondering who designed this impossible mess (oh right, me). It keeps me humble — and entertained.
Why This Matters
Knottled started as a small curiosity: could I use AI to make something fun from scratch? I set out knowing nothing about AI, app development, or what I was getting into — and that was exactly the point.
Now, just a few months later, there’s a real game being played around the world. It may not be perfect, and it might flop in some ways, but the process taught me more than I expected about experimentation, iteration, humility, and trusting that curiosity can lead somewhere worth going.
You can still play the web app here - https://knottled.com
Or download the iOS app here - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/knottled/id6753206101
Android users - message me and I can get you added to the Beta test group!