Hey everyone, I’m JsonChao. If you’ve heard of me, you might know I’m the guy who climbed his way up from a no-name university to big tech. That’s right, the same person who shared countless interview experiences and technical growth insights on Zhihu. But today, I’m here to share something a bit awkward yet hopeful — I’m unemployed, and I made a game.

Crisis and Opportunity at 32

At 32, with parents to support and kids to raise, I peacefully parted ways with big tech after four solid years. Honestly, being unemployed in your thirties sounds pretty rough in today’s job market. But fortunately, those years in big tech left me with some savings, and more importantly, gave me a chance to reassess my life.

Instead of continuing to grind in the rat race, why not try something I’ve always wanted to do — create interesting products for the global market and earn some dollars to support my family. And so, Rule34dle was born.

Rule34dle: A Simple Yet Addictive Game

What is Rule34dle? Simply put, it’s a “higher or lower” guessing game. Two characters from anime, games, or pop culture appear on screen. The left character shows their internet popularity score, while the right one’s score is hidden. Your job? Guess whether the right character’s popularity is higher or lower.

Sounds simple? Exactly — great games should be playable within 3 seconds. But don’t underestimate this mechanic. When you’ve guessed correctly a dozen times in a row and you’re about to break your record, that tension and sense of achievement is absolutely addictive.

Why You’ll Love It

As a technical person turned product manager, I understand the importance of user experience. Rule34dle’s design philosophy is simple: zero barrier, pure fun.

  • Pick up and play: No registration needed, just open the webpage and start
  • Multiple modes: Endless mode to challenge your limits, Daily Challenge to compete with players worldwide
  • Four difficulty levels: From Easy to Extreme, there’s something for everyone
  • Cross-platform: Phone, tablet, computer — play anytime, anywhere
  • Privacy protected: All data stored locally, we don’t collect any personal information

The most interesting part? This game is actually a litmus test for pop culture knowledge. Think that side character has no fans? The result might shock you. Assume the main character is always most popular? Reality might teach you otherwise. Every guess tests your “geek credentials.”

A Developer’s Product Dream

Creating this product brought back the joy of coding. No tedious requirement reviews, no endless meetings — just me, code, and users. Whenever I see players sharing their winning streaks on social media, that sense of achievement beats hitting any KPI.

Rule34dle might not make me rich overnight, but it represents a possibility — in this uncertain era, we can still create value with our own hands.

A Final Invitation

Now, I sincerely invite you to try Rule34dle. Whether you’re an anime fan, gamer, or just an office worker looking to kill time, I believe this little game can bring you a few minutes of joy.

If you find it fun, please share it with friends; if you have any suggestions, I’d love to hear them. As a “newbie” who just embarked on the indie developer journey, every piece of feedback fuels my progress.

Life has no standard answers, just like those surprising popularity comparisons in Rule34dle. What matters is staying curious and daring to try.

Start your Rule34dle journey now and see how many rounds you can win in a row! 👏🏻