Dock The Rocket: a skill-based arcade game for iOS and Android
Personal Project
Dock The Rocket isn't a client project or something I made to prove I could do it. I just really wanted to make a game.
I've always been fascinated by game design, and at some point I thought, what if I actually try to build something and put it out into the world? No pressure, no deadlines, just a personal challenge and a lot of curiosity.
This case study is more about why I made the game, what I learned along the way, and how people ended up responding to it. It started as a side project, but became something I'm really proud of.
Motivation
Where it all started
I've been fascinated by game design for as long as I can remember. As a kid, I would invent and draw new units for Red Alert, complete with their own abilities and behaviors.
In college, I took a course where we got to try making a game. It never really got off the ground, but it brought me a step closer to the field. Over the years, I experimented with Unity here and there, but my laptop couldn't handle it, and I didn't know the first thing about programming.
That changed in 2020. I started watching indie devlogs on YouTube, and the itch returned. Around the same time, I discovered Godot: a lightweight, open-source game engine that felt far more approachable. I started with Harvard's online CS50 course to get the hang of programming. Then I jumped into Godot with tutorials on YouTube and later a more in-depth course by GDQuest.
After building several smaller projects to learn the ropes, I decided to challenge myself: I would design, build, and publish my own game. That game became Dock The Rocket.
Game
Dock The Rocket
Dock The Rocket is a skill-based arcade mobile game where you fly a rocket from the departure pad to the landing pad, using as little fuel as possible while avoiding deadly obstacles.
Master precision flight
Navigate through handcrafted levels filled with tight spaces, moving platforms, and deadly traps. Every level tests your timing, control, and fuel efficiency.
Earn your stars
Complete 20 unique levels designed to push your piloting skills to the limit. The more efficiently you fly, the more stars you earn. Bronze, silver, or gold, depending on how little fuel you use.
Track your progress
In addition to earning stars and fuel efficiency scores, you can also see how many times you've successfully landed, or crashed, on each level. It's a fun (and slightly humbling) way to track your improvement.
Beat your best
After every landing, your score is compared to your personal best. Fly smarter, use less fuel, and chase that new high score!
Choose your ride
Unlock and switch between a variety of rockets, each with its own look, but the same explosive potential. Pick your favorite and fly in style!
Reception
How people reacted
After about a year of working on Dock The Rocket during evenings and weekends, the moment finally came to share it with the world. Around midday, I posted about the release in a few Reddit communities to share the excitement and celebrate.
What followed completely blew me away. My phone lit up with so many likes and comments it barely cooled down. I was so wired from the buzz that I didn't sleep for nearly 24 hours. Within one week, the post had over 3.000 likes and comments.
The warm reception didn't stop there. Dock The Rocket currently holds a 5.0 rating on the App Store (from over 50 reviews) and a 4.4 on Google Play (from more than 160 reviews). I already had plans for future updates, but the overwhelming positivity gave me an extra push to keep going.
Since then, I've released three updates, adding new levels, new rockets, music, and controller support. And I'm not done, there are more ideas waiting to be built. So this story… is definitely to be continued.
Curious to chat or collaborate? I'd love to hear from you.
Get in touch