Gameshard

ChatGPT vs Claude: Lumina Drift — a single-file arcade game

One prompt, one HTML file, no libraries — build a Flappy Bird successor worth playing. Both entries run right here.

August 2026 · tested August 8, 2026

GPT 5.6 Sol (Extra High)vsOpus 5 (Ultracode)

A ChatGPT robot bird and a Claude sparrow flapping through a Flappy Bird course on either side of a lightning bolt
Quick result

Too close to call

Both entries met all 14 stated requirements and passed every automated check, so the technical scores are level. What separates them is feel — which is exactly what the community vote is for.

ChatGPT

GPT 5.6 Sol (Extra High)

Technical score
100
Web app completion time
8m 27s
Requirements met
14/14
chatgpt-lumina-drift.html45.3 KB
Claude

Opus 5 (Ultracode)

Technical score
100
Web app completion time
29m 40s
Requirements met
14/14
claude-lumina-drift.html61.7 KB
Cast your vote

Which one did it better?

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What separated them?Games scorecard · answer any of them

  • Which one is better to actually play?
  • Which one looks better in motion?
  • Which one runs better?

Tap your answer again to take it back. Votes are kept apart from the automated checks and never quietly averaged into them. How scoring works.

The exact prompt

Word for word, as both models received it

Prompt generated by grok
Prompt · verbatim
Create a complete, polished, single-file web game called "Lumina Drift" using only HTML, CSS and vanilla JavaScript (no external libraries).

Game Concept:
- The player controls a glowing light particle called "Lumina".
- The game is an endless side-scroller with continuous gravity.
- Instead of classic flapping, the player uses a "Pulse" mechanic: every click / tap / spacebar creates a short energy ring around Lumina that pushes it upward smoothly.
- The pulse has a short cooldown and a satisfying visual + slight screen shake effect.

Visual Style (very important):
- Dark, modern, minimalist aesthetic.
- Background: deep space with subtle parallax stars and soft nebula gradients.
- Lumina: a soft glowing cyan-magenta orb with a beautiful particle trail that follows its movement.
- Obstacles: geometric portals and energy bars in neon cyan and magenta. They should feel clean and futuristic, not pixel-art.
- Smooth animations, particle effects, and a clean neon UI.

Core Gameplay:
- Start screen with title "Lumina Drift", short instruction, and a "Tap to Start" button.
- Gravity constantly pulls Lumina down.
- Pulse gives upward velocity (smooth, not too floaty).
- Obstacles scroll from right to left with increasing speed over time.
- Collision detection must be precise but fair.
- Score increases with distance + combo multiplier when the player pulses in rhythm.
- High score saved in localStorage.
- Game over screen with final score, high score, and "Play Again" button.
- Progressive difficulty: obstacles get closer and move faster the longer you survive.

Technical Requirements:
- Everything in a single HTML file (embedded CSS + JS).
- Use HTML5 Canvas for the game rendering.
- Fully responsive (works perfectly on both mobile and desktop).
- Touch controls + mouse + keyboard (spacebar).
- 60fps smooth performance.
- No external assets or CDNs — pure code only.
- Clean, well-commented code.
- Add subtle screen shake on pulse and on collision.
- Particle system for Lumina’s trail and for pulse rings.

Extra Polish:
- Soft glow effects using canvas shadows or multiple layers.
- Smooth camera follow on Lumina (slight lag for modern feel).
- When the player dies, Lumina explodes into particles.
- Combo text that appears when the player gets consecutive good pulses.

Make the game feel modern, fluid, and addictive — better and more original than classic Flappy Bird. Focus heavily on visual polish and satisfying feedback.

Scroll inside the box for the rest of the brief.

Automated test results

Requirements met

All 14 cleared by every entry
RequirementChatGPTClaude
Everything in a single HTML file (embedded CSS + JS)MetMet
Rendered with HTML5 CanvasMetMet
No external assets or CDNsMetMet
Keyboard control (spacebar)MetMet
Mouse controlMetMet
Touch controlMetMet
Responsive to viewport sizeMetMet
High score saved in localStorageMetMet
Start screen with instructionsMetMet
Game over screen with a replay buttonMetMet
Particle system for the trail and pulse ringsMetMet
Screen shake on pulse and on collisionMetMet
Combo multiplier for rhythmic pulsesMetMet
Difficulty increases the longer you surviveMetMet
Measured, not judged

Automated checks

GPT 5.6 Sol (Extra High)

GPT 5.6 Sol (Extra High) · web app

File size
45.3 KB
Lines of code
1,369
Comment blocks
34
HTML tags outside canvas
58
Canvas elements
1
External assets
None
Inline event handlers
None
requestAnimationFrame
Yes
Technical score
100

Opus 5 (Ultracode)

Opus 5 (Ultracode) · web app

File size
61.7 KB
Lines of code
1,815
Comment blocks
172
HTML tags outside canvas
52
Canvas elements
1
External assets
None
Inline event handlers
None
requestAnimationFrame
Yes
Technical score
100

Timings are measured in each provider’s consumer web app, so they include network and interface conditions — they are not model inference latency.