2024
Cookie Clicker in REAL LIFE
I recreated Cookie Clicker as a physical microcontroller game with an LCD, rotary encoder, real cookie button, upgrades, and a milk dispenser payoff.
Video summary
I rebuilt Cookie Clicker as a real-life hardware game, taking the simple loop of clicking, earning cookies, and buying upgrades and turning it into a physical device. The video covers the microcontroller, LCD stats display, upgrade menu, physical cookie button, and a final “endgame” upgrade that triggers a milk dispenser over the cookie.
What I built
I programmed cookies per click, cookies per second, upgrade purchasing, exponential upgrade costs, and an endgame trigger. I used an LCD to show the total cookies, cookies per second, cookies per click, and upgrade list. For input, I used a rotary encoder with a push button for scrolling and purchasing, plus keyboard switches under a 3D printed cookie plate so a real cookie could act like a big button.
Creator focus
The build turns a simple incremental game loop into something physical and funny on camera. I added a solenoid valve and a rough 3D printed milk tank so the final upgrade could dump milk onto the cookie. The dispenser was leaky, the tower was not tall enough, and the final test got messy, but that was part of the point: the technical work created a clear visual payoff for the video.