Make a birthday game starring the birthday person
A birthday game puts the birthday person in the lead role, fills it with their friends and jokes, and ends on a birthday message. It works for a kid turning seven and a friend turning thirty. On Roam you make one from a photo of them and a single sentence, so it can be ready by the party.
Birthday game ideas
Each idea comes with a sentence to type. Swap the names and details.
- Collect the cake. "Maya runs through a candy town collecting 10 cake slices before the candles melt, 3 lives."
- Beat the boss of getting older. "boss fight against a giant number 30, dodge falling grey hairs, win to unlock the party."
- Race the guests. "party race through the house, all the guests are racers, the birthday girl starts first."
- Find the presents. "hide and seek in our garden, find 7 presents before the timer ends, each one shows a message from a friend."
- Dodge the chores. "birthday morning, dodge the dishes and the laundry, reach the couch to win a day off."
- The pet steals the cake. "our dog stole the birthday cake, chase him through the park and get it back."
Pick by age
For young kids, keep it easy, bright and short, with their own drawing or toy as the hero. For teens, a competitive game they can play against their friends at the party works best. For adults, the jokes do the work: the boss can be their job, their age or their famous bad habit.
For grandparents, think simple controls and a slow pace. A walk through the old family house collecting photos can mean more than any action game.
How to make it with Roam
Roam is a free iPhone app. Use a photo of the birthday person and type one of the sentences above. It comes back playable, with world, art, characters, sound and rules, and you change it by talking: "add balloons", "make it easier", "show happy birthday at the end".
Make it the day before, play it once to check the ending, then send it on the day. At the party, guests can play it together, since friends can be in Roam games.
Make a birthday game with Roam
Pick a photo of the birthday person, type one sentence, and play it on your iPhone the same day. Send it as the first message of their birthday.
Try: "photo of Sam, plus: Sam runs through a candy town collecting 10 cake slices before the candles melt, happy birthday at the end"Questions people ask
Can I make a video game as a birthday gift?
Yes. On Roam you start from a photo and a sentence and the game comes back playable on your iPhone, so you can make one the day before.
What makes a good birthday game?
The birthday person as the hero, their friends and jokes inside, a short length and a message at the end.
Can the whole party play it?
Yes. Roam games can be played solo or with friends, so guests can race or team up in it.
Keep exploring
- Make a game for your girlfriend from your own story
- A personalized video game where they are the hero
- Make a game for your son or daughter, with them as the hero
- How to make a game about yourself
- I have an idea for a game. Now what?
- Make me a game: how to ask so you get the one you want
More on Roam: All Roam games Games to play, by kind