Polkadot Cloud Hackathon - DOT Arena
Overview
While simultaneously participating in Sub0 Symbiosis, I built DOT Arena solo over 6 days for the Polkadot Cloud Hackathon. The goal: create the first multiplayer game on Polkadot where players have real financial skin in the game.
The Challenge
How do you make onchain gaming feel instant and exciting? Traditional blockchain games suffer from slow transaction confirmations and clunky wallet interactions. The challenge was creating a fast-paced, skill-based shooter where smart contracts handle real-time financial stakes seamlessly.
The Solution
DOT Arena - A browser-based hyper-casual multiplayer battle royale shooter. Players pay 1 DOT to enter and earn 0.9 DOT per kill via smart contract, with instant reward transfers. The game features multiple weapon types (pistol, shotgun, sniper, rifle), weapon upgrades scattered across the arena, and 60-90 second matches. Built with a server-authoritative architecture using Socket.IO at 20Hz tick rate for fair, responsive gameplay.
Technologies Used
Building this game solo in 6 days while also competing at Sub0 Symbiosis was one of the most intense development sprints of my life. Prioritizing core mechanics — movement, shooting, kills, and payouts — over polish proved to be the right call.
The revenue model splits entry fees with 70% going to prize pools, 20% to a community treasury, and 10% to protocol maintenance. Players earn BATTLE tokens through gameplay, which serve as soulbound governance rights for voting on treasury allocation — making players true stakeholders in the game's economy.
Outcome
Won the Community Roots Meetup Prize ($500). Despite the tight timeline and concurrent hackathon participation, the project demonstrated that fast-paced onchain gaming with real stakes is viable on Polkadot.