What would it take to build your own game from scratch? This case study will walk through the earliest phases of the game development process—from initial animation prototypes to custom character assets. Then we’ll dive deep into state machines, exploring why they’re ideally suited for coordinating gameplay mechanics, animations, audio, and overall game flow. You’ll learn practical strategies for managing XState v5 actors within a React app and testing them effectively. Join me as we blend familiar dev tools with creative design, stateful architecture, and a whole lot of fun!