About TapTunnel
Remember playing games on your TI-83 or TI-84 calculator during math class? One of my favorites was vTunnel (also known as Fast Tunnel) - a simple endless runner where you navigate through a tunnel, avoiding obstacles and grabbing power-ups.
I wanted to recreate that nostalgic experience as a mobile game. Quick games are just fun - something you can pick up for 30 seconds while waiting in line, no commitment required.
This started as a SwiftUI prototype, but I rebuilt it from scratch in SpriteKit to make the gameplay feel smoother and more arcade‑authentic.
Gameplay
- Simple controls - Tap left or right to navigate through the tunnel
- Obstacles - Dodge walls and barriers as you speed through
- Power-ups - Grab bonuses to help you survive longer
- Increasing difficulty - The further you go, the faster and trickier it gets
- High scores - Compete against yourself to beat your best run
Themes
While the original calculator game was black and white pixels, I added some visual variety with different color themes. Same retro gameplay, but with a bit more style.
Rebuild: SwiftUI → SpriteKit
The first version was a SwiftUI prototype (see the early screenshots below). It worked, but the feel wasn't quite right for a fast runner. I restarted in SpriteKit and built the tunnel with tile maps, which taught me a ton about tiling and instantly boosted performance.
The Nostalgia Factor
There's something special about those calculator games. They were simple, constrained by the hardware, and yet somehow incredibly addictive. TapTunnel tries to capture that same feeling - no complex mechanics, no tutorials, no onboarding. Just tap to play.
Screenshots
Tech Stack
- SpriteKit for the game engine
- UIKit for the app shell and input handling
- SwiftUI for the score history sheet
Contact & Privacy
If you have any feature requests or issues, please contact me at @ryleyherrington on Twitter or email me at ryleyherrington@yahoo.com.
Privacy Policy: I care about your privacy. This app uses TelemetryDeck to understand usage, but it does not identify users or collect personal information. There is no advertising, no sign in process, and no internal sharing. You're welcome to share it yourself if you enjoy the app.