Development journey

From empty folder to 1.0 in eight days

Every build, every world and every rework on the way to the complete game.

TOUCH GRASS went from an empty folder to a complete 18-level game in eight days, from 11 to 18 October 2026. It was built by a small crew of specialised AI agents (producer, designer, artist, audio, gameplay programmer, level builder, tester, visual QA and an independent gatekeeper) with one human owner setting the direction, playing every build and making the calls. Nothing merged without passing the quality gates and an independent review.

Timeline

  1. 11 October 2026v0.1.0

    Day one: the first jump

    Rules, quality gates, story and the art pipeline were written down first, then a Unity 6 project with pixel-perfect 2D lighting. By the evening, W1-1 was playable on an Android tablet: Nova, a scrolling feed and posts to jump between.

  2. 11 October 2026v0.2.0

    Look and feel

    A taller 240×432 view, new HUD and buttons, background v2, lighting, effects and a first audio mix. The same night: one master palette with an accent ramp per world.

  3. 12 October 2026v0.3.0

    Swipe to Continue

    W1-2 brought the swipe-dash. The game gained a title screen with its own pixel font, a jingle and music, illustrated intro story panels, the app icon and launch screens. Over the afternoon 0.3.1–0.3.4 added a themed pause menu, the Screen Time card with Nova’s comments, story interludes between levels and the W1 finale track.

  4. 13 October 2026v0.4.0

    Shorts Valley complete

    W1-3 “Swipe to Dismiss” introduced the Notification and W1-4 “Just One More” finished the first world at the summit. 0.4.1 added the Echo and Pile Notifications and living wall screens; 0.4.2 moved mobile from 30 to 60 fps. The first version of this showcase was built.

    0.4.1 notes0.4.2 notes

    Historical Android 0.4.2 capture: The TOUCH GRASS title screen in the earlier Android development build.
    Version 0.4.2 · Android build 715Historical 0.4.2 capture — title at the earlier mobile-cadence update. Terrain shown here predates the current surface-readability pass.
    Historical Android 0.4.2 capture: Nova at the start of Shorts Valley with pink terrain, cyan ledges and touch controls.
    Version 0.4.2 · Android build 715Historical0.4.2 W1-1 arrival — an earlier view of Shorts Valley, before the current terrain-readability pass.
    Historical Android 0.4.2 capture: Nova mid-jump beside a cyan ledge in W1-1, with a green-screen Bot below her.
    Version 0.4.2 · Android build 715Historical 0.4.2 capture — W1-1 — a frame from the short native jump and movement smoke check. This is not a completed route. Terrain shown here predates the current surface-readability pass.
    Nova on a cyan platform in Shorts Valley, with Minutes above her and animated screens along violet walls.
    Version 0.4.1 · Android build 714Historical 0.4.1 capture — W1-4, “Just One More” — wall screens give the final climb a little more life. This is a post-arrival diagnostic capture. Terrain shown here predates the current surface-readability pass; retained as earlier W1-3/W1-4 context.
    Nova below heart-marked platforms, with Notification bell badges and a watching eye on the wall.
    Version 0.4.1 · Android build 714Historical 0.4.1 capture — W1-4, post 6 — heart platforms, Notification warnings and FYP’s watching presence. This is a post-arrival diagnostic capture. Terrain shown here predates the current surface-readability pass; retained as earlier W1-3/W1-4 context.
    Nova in W1-3 with a copper Pile bell badge, Minutes and directional swipe hints.
    Version 0.4.1 · Android build 714Historical 0.4.1 capture — W1-3 — the copper Pile badge joins Bell and violet Echo. Captured during a movement and dash input smoke check. Terrain shown here predates the current surface-readability pass; retained as earlier W1-3/W1-4 context.

  5. 14 October 2026v0.5.0-qa

    Into Comment Swamp

    A separate W2 preview with wall sliding and wall jumping. Later the same day, 0.8.0-qa opened first slices of all four middle worlds: Comment Swamp, Influencer Mall with Sponsored pads, Slop Factory with glitch platforms and Dark Mode lit only by Nova’s phone.

    0.5.0-qa notes0.8.0-qa notes

    Historical Android 0.8.0-qa capture: The Android title screen with DEV PREVIEWS at the top right.
    Version 0.8.0-qa · Android build 722Historical 0.8.0-qa capture — title in the earlier preview build; DEV PREVIEWS then opened four short world slices.
    Historical Android 0.8.0-qa capture: The development preview menu lists Comment Swamp, Influencer Mall, Slop Factory and Dark Mode.
    Version 0.8.0-qa · Android build 722Historical 0.8.0-qa capture — the DEV PREVIEWS menu from the time when Worlds 2–5 were four-post slices.
    Historical Android 0.8.0-qa capture: Nova arrives in the green Comment Swamp beside solid walls and a wall-jump guide.
    Version 0.8.0-qa · Android build 722Historical 0.8.0-qa capture — Comment Swamp W2-1 preview, before the production world art.
    Historical Android 0.8.0-qa capture: Nova arrives in Influencer Mall, with violet storefront imagery and bright platforms.
    Version 0.8.0-qa · Android build 722Historical 0.8.0-qa capture — Influencer Mall W3-1 preview with Sponsored platforms, before the production world art.
    Historical Android 0.8.0-qa capture: Nova arrives in Slop Factory, with industrial scenery and patterned platforms.
    Version 0.8.0-qa · Android build 722Historical 0.8.0-qa capture — Slop Factory W4-1 preview with cycling platforms, before the production world art.
    Historical Android 0.8.0-qa capture: Nova arrives in Dark Mode, with a muted city background and a light near her phone.
    Version 0.8.0-qa · Android build 722Historical 0.8.0-qa capture — Dark Mode W5-1 preview with the automatic phone light, before the production world art.
    Historical Android 0.5.0-qa capture: The Android title screen with a separate W2 PREVIEW entry.
    Version 0.5.0-qa · Android build 718Historical 0.5.0-qa capture — 0.5.0-qa title — W2 PREVIEW opens Comment Swamp; normal Start and Continue retain the four-level Shorts Valley campaign.
    Historical Android 0.5.0-qa capture: Nova at the beginning of Comment Swamp, beside a wall-jump teaching card and continuous green walls.
    Version 0.5.0-qa · Android build 718Historical 0.5.0-qa capture — Comment Swamp arrival — wall sliding and wall jumping join the existing jump and swipe-dash. Captured after entering from the title.
    Historical Android 0.5.0-qa capture: Nova beside the left wall in Comment Swamp, with a direction-and-jump guide above the route.
    Version 0.5.0-qa · Android build 718Historical 0.5.0-qa capture — Comment Swamp, post 2 — the guide points toward the solid wall and the existing jump action. This is a development-hook arrival during the wall-movement review.
    Historical Android 0.5.0-qa capture: The STORY menu with Pulled In, Trail of Likes, Lost and Found and Back buttons.
    Version 0.5.0-qa · Android build 718Historical 0.5.0-qa capture — STORY replay — the three available sequences remain easy to revisit. Later interludes await their remaining illustrations.

  6. 15 October 2026

    Building the worlds

    Two days of world art kits, music and sound for every world, and the design contracts for every item and enemy: Hook, Rage-bait, the Influencer encounter, Charger, Mute, Block and Airplane Mode. Each contract was reviewed independently before anyone built it.

  7. 17 October 2026v0.9.0

    Everything in one place

    The integration build: all 18 levels, the bosses and the ending in one source for the first time, with the first iPhone build. Hours later 0.9.5 connected the whole campaign, from the title through six worlds to the rescue, the escape outside, credits and the photo epilogue. It was the first full playtest.

    0.9.0 notes0.9.5 notes

    Nova stands at the bottom of an Influencer Mall shaft framed by cream marble walls, with gold-trimmed ledges, rows of Minutes, a Lost Photo and a teaching card showing a cracked Sponsored pad, a countdown and then a jump.
    Version 0.9.5 · Android build 27790.9.5 capture — Influencer Mall W3-1 before the 1.0 rework. The card at the start teaches the Sponsored pad: it holds you for a moment, then collapses, so keep moving.
    Nova at the start of Comment Swamp W2-3 between mossy speech-bubble walls; a grey, pixelated Old Account figure stands quietly at the left edge of the floor.
    Version 0.9.5 · Android build 27790.9.5 capture — the opening post of Comment Swamp W2-3 “Thread Closed”. The grey figure on the left is the Archive, one of the Old Accounts you can stop and talk to.
    Nova stands at the bottom of a Comment Swamp shaft with mossy speech-bubble walls, rows of Minutes, a Lost Photo and a wall-jump guide.
    Version 0.9.0 · Android build 26940.9.0 capture (int3) — Comment Swamp W2-1, when the production terrain and parallax art first replaced the flat preview walls. The guide teaches the wall jump.
    The title screen: Nova in a green hoodie sits on a content card between towers of glowing posts, below the TOUCH GRASS logo and a LANGUAGE / SPRÅK button.
    Version 0.9.0 · Android build 26190.9.0 capture (int1) — title in an early integration build with Story, Dev Previews and the Language / Språk choice. The Language button placement and the Å glyph seen here were flagged in this test and reworked in later builds.

  8. 17 October 2026

    The 1.0 rework

    The playtest said some worlds were too easy. Every level was reworked so none can be climbed straight up, with a probe bot to prove it. Wall jumps became one per airtime, and a new roster arrived: Troll, Doomscroller, Clickbait, Recommender drone, Locked Thread gates and four mini-bosses in scroll-holding arenas.

  9. 18 October 2026v1.0.0

    1.0.0: the complete game

    After a rejected first review and a round of fixes, the gatekeeper approved 1.0 and it merged. It runs on an Android tablet, a Galaxy S25 and an iPhone 18 Pro, and the bots finished all 18 levels and the full campaign on the tablet.

    1.0.0 notes

    Nova jumps in a purple Shorts Valley arena; below her a grey TV-screen robot with a play symbol on its face walks the floor. Above, a padlocked thread bar closes the way up.
    Version 1.0.0 · Android build 2981Shorts Valley · W1-4 — Autoplay, the first mini-boss. The padlocked Locked Thread above stays shut until Autoplay is beaten, and the scroll waits while you fight.
    In a mossy green Comment Swamp arena, a lanky green figure leaps across the shaft while Nova stands on a ledge below a padlocked thread bar.
    Version 1.0.0 · Android build 2981Comment Swamp · W2-3 “Thread Closed” — Reply Guy leaps from wall to wall between bursts of replies, under the Locked Thread. He can only be stomped while he is typing.
    Nova jumps in Comment Swamp; a squat green Troll crouches on a ledge at the top left, a grey crawler clings to a small block at the lower left, and a walking TV-headed Bot stands near her.
    Version 1.0.0 · Android build 2981Comment Swamp · W2-3 — new for 1.0: a Troll on the upper ledge and a Doomscroller crawling on its block (stomp only its smooth back), next to a Bot.
    In the beige Influencer Mall, a showman in a red jacket and sunglasses stands on a ledge between two pink round followers while Nova climbs on the right.
    Version 1.0.0 · Android build 2981Influencer Mall · W3-3 “Backstage Pass” — the unboxer Influencer and his followers.
    In the purple Slop Factory, a purple Slop sits on a dripping ledge above Nova; a hint card shows a speech-bubble token, a tap and a burst, and a small TYST button sits beside the jump button.
    Version 1.0.0 · Android build 2981Slop Factory · W4-2 “Copy That” — the Mute lesson. The hint card shows the Mute token; its button (TYST in Swedish) sits beside jump. This tablet shows the text labels; phones get a compact stack.
    In the Slop Factory, a dark purple copy of Nova floats in the middle of an arena while Nova stands on the floor; a padlocked thread bar closes the top and a BLOCK button sits beside the arrows.
    Version 1.0.0 · Android build 2981Slop Factory · W4-3 “The Original” — Copycat, a melted-purple copy of Nova that retraces where she was two seconds ago. The Block button deletes one threat.
    In the near-dark of Dark Mode, a round dark owl with big pale eyes stands next to Nova on a ledge beneath a padlocked thread bar.
    Version 1.0.0 · Android build 2981Dark Mode · W5-2 “Night Shift” — Night Owl, the fourth mini-boss, met in the glow of Nova’s phone.
    Inside FYP Core, a giant phone-shaped eye framed by a ring of cards looks down; Pim sits on a platform above Nova, who reaches up.
    Version 1.0.0 · Android build 2981FYP Core · W6-1 “Who I came for” — FYP watches while Nova reaches Pim.
    Pixel-art story scene: Nova in her green hoodie walks hand in hand with Pim through tall grass at sunset.
    Version 1.0.0 · Android build 2981The ending — outside at last, after W6-2 and the escape. A story sequence frame; the caption text is still typing in.
    The title screen: Nova in a green hoodie sits on a content card between towers of glowing posts, below the TOUCH GRASS logo, with the Swedish text TRYCK FÖR START.
    Version 1.0.0 · Android build 2981Title in 1.0.0, in Swedish because the tablet’s language is Swedish. Settings (INSTÄLLNINGAR) is in the corner; TESTBANOR is a development-only menu.

  10. 18 October 2026v1.0.1

    1.0.1: the first playtest fixes

    The owner played 1.0 on the phones and sent a list. Hooks were hiding behind the background, the W6-1 rescue could lock up, enemies got stuck after a restart and Airplane Mode broke the W5-3 fight; all fixed. W5-1 grew to six screens, the W5-3 Influencer started to escalate, and two new things arrived: mini-boss intro cards and the Feed Files bestiary, with a new face for Reply Guy.

    1.0.1 notes

    In dark-blue Dark Mode, Nova jumps between two grey ledges; below her a visored figure in a dark coat stands on the floor next to a round pink follower, and a paper-plane token floats at the left.
    Version 1.0.1 · Android build 3113Dark Mode · W5-3 “Signal Found” — the Streamer, the second Influencer, with a follower. Since 1.0.1 the fight escalates with every hit, and the Airplane token (left) no longer breaks it.

  11. 18 October 2026v1.0.2

    1.0.2: Old Accounts speak up

    The second playtest round found that the Old Accounts said nothing on real phones. 1.0.2 makes them show a bubble, a hint and a saved note, gives the intro cards a one-second read lock and moves Feed Files into Settings. Same day, the bots again finished all 18 levels and the full campaign on the tablet.

    1.0.2 notes

    In the mossy green Comment Swamp, a lanky green figure crouches on a ledge right next to Nova; above them a padlocked thread bar closes the way up.
    Version 1.0.2 · Android build 3160Comment Swamp · W2-3 “Thread Closed” — Reply Guy with his redesigned face (new in 1.0.1), right next to Nova under the Locked Thread.
    In Comment Swamp, Nova stands beside a small grey figure on the floor; a dark text strip reads TRYCK MOT VÄGGEN.
    Version 1.0.2 · Android build 3120Comment Swamp · W2-3 — an Old Account’s hint line, “Push against the wall.” (in Swedish here). New in 1.0.2: on approach they show a “…” bubble, then the hint. Captured on test build 3120 with the same Old Accounts code as 1.0.2 (3160).
    In the beige Influencer Mall, Nova stands near a pale box-headed Old Account; a text strip at the top reads ANTECKNING SPARAD. SE PAUS.
    Version 1.0.2 · Android build 3120Influencer Mall · W3-3 — after the meeting a one-time toast says “Note saved. See Pause.” (Swedish here). Captured on test build 3120 with the same Old Accounts code as 1.0.2 (3160).
    In dark-blue Dark Mode, Nova stands on a ledge among coins and grey platforms; a small grey enemy waits on the floor below and another on a block, with a white leaf bubble above.
    Version 1.0.2 · Android build 3160Dark Mode · W5-1 — longer since 1.0.1 (six screens), with enemies throughout and the World 5 music.
    The title screen: Nova in a green hoodie sits on a content card between towers of glowing posts, below the TOUCH GRASS logo, with the Swedish text TRYCK FÖR START; INSTÄLLNINGAR at the top right and TESTBANOR at the bottom.
    Version 1.0.2 · Android build 3160Title in 1.0.2, in Swedish. Settings (INSTÄLLNINGAR) at the top right now also holds Feed Files; TESTBANOR is a development-only menu.

  12. 18 October 2026v1.0.3

    1.0.3: Low Battery mode

    The owner asked for a reason to play again. 1.0.3 adds Low Battery mode, where the battery carries over between levels and switches on once you have finished the game, plus a banner that names every level and a fixed W6-1 rescue picture. A sweep started every level on 25 % battery and finished all 18 without a death, and the bots again finished the whole campaign on the tablet.

    1.0.3 notes

    The title screen behind a blue dialog headed LÅGT BATTERI: PÅ, with the lines NOVA GLÖMDE LADDAREN and a short rule text, and two buttons, BEHÅLL and STÄNG AV.
    Version 1.0.3 · Android build 3182Low Battery switches on — the one-time notice after you first finish the game (Swedish: “Nova forgot her charger.”). Keep it on or turn it off; the title chip and Settings switch it later. Captured when the bot finished the whole campaign.
    Nova in a green Comment Swamp shaft at the start of the level; across the top a dark banner reads VÄRLD 2 · BANA 3.
    Version 1.0.3 · Android build 3182Comment Swamp · W2-3 — the new level banner at the start (“World 2 · Level 3” in English), shown for about two seconds.
    Nova in dark-blue Dark Mode at the start of a level; a dark banner across the top reads VÄRLD 5 · BANA 2.
    Version 1.0.3 · Android build 3182Dark Mode · W5-2 “Night Shift” — the level banner at the start of Night Owl’s level.
    The SKÄRMTID results card with the level id W6-1 under the heading, then time 0:22.12, phone crashes 0, Minutes 59, Lost Photos 2 of 3 and a new best time.
    Version 1.0.3 · Android build 3182The results card now names the level (W6-1 here). This is the normal mode; in Low Battery the card also shows the battery left.

  13. 18 October 2026v1.0.4

    1.0.4: Start over

    The owner wanted players to be able to begin again whenever they like. 1.0.4 adds Start over in Settings, behind a two-step confirmation, and takes the developer test-level button off the title screen. It was a small, UI-only round, so the owner agreed to a lighter check: the automated tests ran with no failures, the completion bots again finished all 18 levels, the owner tested it by hand, and there was no automated playthrough on the tablet this time. The screenshots on the front page were retaken in English for this version.

    1.0.4 notes

  14. 19 October 2026v1.0.5

    1.0.5: World 1 free

    The owner decided how the game is sold: World 1 free, and one purchase that unlocks the rest for good, with no ads, subscriptions or currency. 1.0.5 builds it in, with an offer after World 1 and Restore purchases in Settings, as a signed store build for the App Store and Google Play. The gatekeeper first rejected it because the screenshot tests for the offer and the moved Settings page were missing; with those added, it passed on the second review. The same day the game got its privacy policy and store listings.

    1.0.5 notes

  15. 19 October 2026v1.0.6

    1.0.6: Full game in Settings

    The gatekeeper pointed out that after Not now the only way back to the offer was to replay World 1. 1.0.6 adds Full game and Restore to Settings until you own the game, with 48 new screenshot tests. The store builds were uploaded to App Store Connect and Google Play for testing, and the site got a support page.

    1.0.6 notes

  16. 24 October 2026v1.0.7

    1.0.7: Sound from the iPhone speaker

    On the owner’s iPhone the music played only through headphones; the speaker stayed silent. 1.0.7 sets up the iPhone’s audio session itself when the sound starts and every time the game comes back to the foreground, so sound plays from the speaker, also in Silent Mode, and mixes with other apps. The gatekeeper approved it with every automated test and all 82 completion bots passing, and the owner heard the music from the speaker on the iPhone. The 1.0.7 store builds went to Google Play production, replacing 1.0.6 before it went live, and to TestFlight. Google approved it the same day: TOUCH GRASS is out on Google Play, and the App Store release is coming soon.

    1.0.7 notes

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