Reviving Number Munchers
A modern web remake of the classic educational game
Remember playing Number Munchers on those old Apple II computers in elementary school? I have fond memories of this educational game from my childhood, and I wanted to share that experience with my son to help him practice math in a fun, engaging way.
So I did what any developer parent would do — I rebuilt it for the modern web as a side project. The result is a TypeScript-based Number Munchers clone that preserves the nostalgic gameplay while adding modern features and a clean UI.
Why Number Munchers?
Educational Value
Number Munchers makes practicing math concepts fun through gameplay. Kids can work on multiples, factors, primes, equations, and more without it feeling like homework.
Nostalgic Appeal
For those of us who grew up with it, there's a special joy in sharing these formative games with our children, updated for today's technology.
Game Features
- Multiple Game Modes - Practice different math concepts:
- Multiples: Find numbers that are multiples of the target
- Factors: Find numbers that are factors of the target
- Primes: Find all prime numbers
- Equations: Find equations that equal the target value
- Inequalities: Find expressions that satisfy the inequality
- Progressive Difficulty - The game gets harder as players improve
- Troggles! - Those pesky creatures that chase you around the board
- Score Tracking - Leaderboards to encourage improvement
- Responsive Design - Playable on desktop, tablet, and mobile
The Tech Stack
I built this project using modern web technologies to ensure it's fast, responsive, and maintainable:
# Framework & Frontend
- Next.js 15
- React 19
- TailwindCSS 4
- shadcn/ui components
# Backend
- tRPC 11 for type-safe APIs
- Drizzle ORM with PostgreSQL
- NextAuth.js for authentication
# Development
- TypeScript
- ESLint & Prettier
- pnpmThe project follows a modern monorepo structure with full-stack TypeScript for type safety throughout. Game state is managed with React hooks, while high scores and user data are stored in PostgreSQL.
What My Son Thinks
"Dad, can I play the muncher game again? I want to beat my high score in multiples!"
The most rewarding part has been watching my son actually enjoy practicing math. He's improved significantly with his multiplication tables and recognition of prime numbers, all while having fun trying to avoid those Troggles.
Try It Yourself
The game is open source and available to play. If you have children learning math concepts, or just want a nostalgic trip down memory lane, check it out:
Future Plans
As my son continues to grow and learn, I plan to expand the game with:
- More advanced math concepts for older students
- Customizable game sessions focused on specific areas of difficulty
- Multiple player profiles to track progress for different children
Sometimes the best way to help our children learn is to build something special just for them. This project has been a labor of love that combines my passion for coding with my desire to make learning fun for my son.