jakecoffman/game-server

game-server is a project that lets friends sit around a TV and use their smartphones as game controllers. The core idea is that each player's phone can receive secret information that others can't see, opening up possibilities for hidden roles or private moves that traditional board games or single-screen games can't do. Imagine party games where each person gets their own hidden hand of cards or a secret objective, all displayed on their personal device while the main action plays out on the big screen. The server uses web sockets, which is essentially a way for the phone and TV to talk to each other in real time. When someone taps their phone, that input reaches the server and updates what's shown on the TV almost instantly. The phone acts as a private screen and controller, while the TV displays the shared, public game state everyone can see. Right now the project is in early stages. The README notes it supports a basic version of tic-tac-toe, described as buggy. So it reads more like a proof of concept than a finished product, a starting point that demonstrates the "phones as controllers with private screens" concept works. This would appeal to hobbyist game developers, prototype builders, or anyone curious about building local multiplayer experiences. A founder testing a Jackbox-style party game concept could use it as scaffolding. A beginner learning JavaScript could study it to understand how real-time communication between devices works. It's best viewed as a learning project or a jumping-off point rather than something ready for a game night. What's notable is the design philosophy: rather than building a complex game engine, the author focused on the connection between devices and the ability to push private info to individual players. The README doesn't go into detail on architecture, setup, or how to build new games on top of it, so a non-developer would likely need help getting it running.