Twister Air revolutionizes the iconic party game by shifting the action onto a digital screen. Instead of a physical mat, players wear color-coded bands on their wrists and ankles and interact with AR-based spots displayed through a mobile or tablet app. Featuring upbeat music, energetic visuals, and a points-based scoring system, Twister Air brings people together with stretching, twisting, and laughing—anytime, anywhere.
By leveraging augmented reality technology, the game provides an interactive dance-like experience, making it perfect for parties, family gatherings, or solo workouts. From kids learning coordination to adults seeking a fun challenge, Twister Air aims to redefine the classic board game for the digital age.
AI and Machine Learning in Game Development
Advanced skeletal and color tracking
We employed sophisticated AI and machine learning algorithms to enable reliable tracking of players' movements and their colored bands in varied lighting conditions. This technology ensured accurate detection and response, regardless of skin tones and clothing variations. Our custom skeletal tracking monitors up to four players on a wide range of hardware, both Android and iOS devices, enhancing the versatility and accessibility of the game.
AI-First UX game design
The app's user experience was designed with an AI-first approach, focusing on players' gestures, positions, and movements to create a smooth, intuitive interface. This design approach, which prioritizes AI-driven interactions, enabled players to interact with the app and navigate game levels effortlessly, using natural motions for a more immersive and engaging experience.
Next-Level AR gameplay mechanics
Players followed movement cues from the app, similar to games like Just Dance and Beat Saber. The game features 16 music tracks, including an original song "Twist in the Air," and challenges players to match colored bands with on-screen dots, perform specific poses, and execute complex movements. The game also included a level editor to design levels synchronized with music, providing varying levels of difficulty and enhancing replay value.
One of the biggest hurdles I faced with Twister Air was building and testing the game’s “level” structure—effectively, the progression of increasing difficulty and musical variety—within an AR environment.
Since the traditional concept of a level doesn’t neatly apply to a fast-paced party game, I had to adapt a level-design workflow typically used for platformers and puzzle games. I experimented with node-based prototypes and spent hours modifying Unity’s scene organization to handle multiple difficulty tiers and track layouts under one project. Whenever I introduced a new difficulty spike, I risked making the app too chaotic or unwieldy, especially when younger players joined in. Through iterative playtesting, I learned to compartmentalize each “level” into distinct challenges (tempo changes, faster spot spawns) that could be toggled on or off, allowing me to fine-tune difficulty without overhauling the entire system.
Simultaneously, I struggled to synchronize music and gameplay, something I had never done before. It wasn’t just about finding catchy tunes—the music needed to line up with players’ moves to maintain immersion and excitement. I collaborated closely with our in-house audio team, learning the fundamentals of beat-matching and experimenting with audio triggers in Unity. For instance, we created a custom script that detected a track’s BPM and spawned colored targets slightly ahead of the beat, so players had just enough time to respond visually and physically. We also built a small test tool—essentially a standalone scene—where I could import new songs, watch the spawn logic in slow motion, and manually adjust offsets if the beat detection wasn’t precise. This detailed, trial-and-error method proved vital: it let us lock in each song’s BPM alignment and create an exhilarating flow. Although time-consuming, it ultimately produced a smoother experience where the music and visuals reinforced each other, showcasing a dynamic, party-friendly AR game that appealed to both casual players and die-hard fans of rhythm-based challenges.
- Unity: Core engine handling AR, scoring mechanics, and cross-platform builds.
- Figma: Prototyping UI/UX flow, from app menus to on-screen prompts.
- Photoshop: Crafting vibrant visuals, branding assets, and in-game graphics.
- In-House Audio Software: Producing dynamic sound effects and energetic music tracks tailored to each game mode.
Award-winning AI and AR innovation
Twister Air was named Game of the Year 2023 at the Toy Industry Awards, reflecting its popularity and success. It received hundreds of 5-star reviews on Amazon, praising its innovative design, fun gameplay, and seamless integration of AR technology.
Game Designer
Ensured that the AR mechanics, visual style, and overall user journey stayed true to the Twister brand while feeling fresh and modern.
Art Oversight
Collaborated with artists to blend classic Twister aesthetics with lively, contemporary visuals, including playful animations.
Level Design & Audio Integration
Developed AR “levels” and challenges aligned with evolving difficulties, coordinating with the audio team to synchronize music BPM with on-screen events for an immersive gameplay experience.
Playtesting & Balancing
Ran iterative test sessions with diverse age groups, refining difficulty levels, game flow, and the overall fun factor.
Brand & IP Management
Maintained alignment with Hasbro’s guidelines while introducing innovative twists that resonate with today’s digital-savvy audience.
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