“The concept, ‘Make Build Unlock,’ was designed to welcome audiences of any technical level, entertaining everyone from casual gamers to developers who want to build their own,” says Kacey Fahey, a marketing manager on this year’s puzzle. “The experience allowed us to offer multiple ways to engage and varying levels of challenge.”
Players can choose from five games that span a spectrum of genres, each showcasing a different way Gemini can influence game design, from code generation to real-time content creation. For “Supersonic Bot,” the team used Gemini to brainstorm and prototype a twist on a familiar side-scrolling runner. The result is a game where you help the Android Bot reach safety by controlling its flight through the volume of your voice.
“In some of the games, Gemini capabilities are integrated directly into the gameplay and experience,” says Caio Avelar, who worked on this year’s puzzle. For instance, the mini-golf game “Hole in one” tees up the model to generate contextual tips and encouragement from an AI caddy based on your shots. And while the first level in the logic puzzle “Nonogram” is predetermined, levels 2 and 3 are dynamically generated by Gemini, providing a fresh challenge each time you play.
Complete all five games, and you unlock a personal reward: your own Chrome Dino. In “Dino Pal,” Gemini brings your virtual pet to life, assigning unique personality traits that adapt to the way you play.
