# He used Claude to build a game starring his child’s toys

What People Do With AI

Example creator: Chris Harihar

Named tools: Claude, Claude Artifacts

Original source: https://x.com/ChrisHarihar/status/2111504147111379398

Article: https://whatpeopledowithai.com/examples/rainbow-teddy/

Published: 2026-11-02T18:36:18.048163+00:00
Content updated: 2026-11-02T22:48:33.744649Z
Original source published: 2026-10-17

Public articles and issues. Use the clean Markdown or plain-text links, or copy the full text for your agent.

In [a video game Chris Harihar made with Claude](https://x.com/ChrisHarihar/status/2111504147111379398), his child’s stuffed animals became characters playing in a world based off their apartment with his child’s artwork to collect. A child’s imagination is brought to life in a game played during time shared on a bus.

Your version could start with a drawing, an invented character or an inside joke amongst friends. The interesting part is getting to play with something that already means something to you.

## Start with one playable idea

[Claude Artifacts](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/17153992-what-are-artifacts-and-how-do-i-use-them) opens what Claude builds beside your conversation. You can try the result, describe a change and keep improving it in the same place. Artifacts are available on free and paid Claude plans; file creation needs to be enabled in Capabilities.

Give your character one job. A bear collecting hidden drawings is enough for a first version. So is a dog finding its favorite toys or a friend escaping a maze of office meetings.

Ask for simple artwork first. Play a round before adding more levels. Is the goal obvious? Can you move comfortably on your phone? Does something happen when you win? Those answers give Claude concrete changes to make.

## Try this

“Build a small browser game starring [character] in [setting]. To win, the player must [goal] while avoiding [obstacle]. Use simple placeholder artwork and controls that are easy to use on a phone. Open a playable version beside this chat and show me how to play.”

Then give it one change you can see or feel: “Make the bear jump higher,” “Put the treasure somewhere harder to reach,” or “Make the buttons bigger.” Once the game is fun, bring in the details that make it yours: a familiar room, your own drawings, a character with a ridiculous name.

## Starter prompt

Build a small browser game starring [character] in [setting]. To win, the player must [goal] while avoiding [obstacle]. Use simple placeholder artwork and controls that are easy to use on a phone. Open a playable version beside this chat and show me how to play.

## Help me try this

A conversational handoff with context, tool alternatives and approval boundaries: https://whatpeopledowithai.com/examples/rainbow-teddy/handoff.txt

## Original sources and getting-started links

- https://x.com/ChrisHarihar/status/2111504147111379398
- https://support.claude.com/en/articles/17153992-what-are-artifacts-and-how-do-i-use-them