CSSQuake

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Rendering & Implementation

  • Game uses CSS and HTML for rendering only; all core game logic is written in JavaScript/TypeScript.
  • DOM elements and CSS 3D transforms replace traditional canvas/WebGL rendering.
  • Build step extracts data from QuakeC/progs.dat into JSON (states, models, attacks, sounds) consumed by the TypeScript runtime for “Quake‑ish” gameplay.
  • Some commenters note CSS audio features (aural style sheets), but sound in this demo is controlled via an in‑game option / keyboard shortcut, not pure CSS.

Relation to Other Projects & Lineage

  • Multiple people compare this to a similar “CSS Doom” project; thread clarifies they are separate projects.
  • Both are seen as part of a longer line of experimental CSS3D engines and FPS demos that predate them.

Gameplay, Controls & UX Issues

  • Several control quirks reported: rubber‑banding movement, getting stuck on corners and slopes, clipping through objects, and difficulty exiting the game.
  • Menu can disappear when clicking in the window; workaround is using Tab to show menu, Esc to quit, or closing the tab.
  • Some buttons originally required shooting instead of touching; this behavior was later adjusted.
  • Dark mode extensions can make parts of the map nearly invisible.

Performance & Browser Differences

  • Experiences vary widely: some see smooth 60 FPS even on modest hardware, others report severe jank or crashes.
  • Safari/WebKit is frequently reported as stuttery and glitchy; Chrome and Firefox on various platforms are usually smoother.
  • Many contrast the choppy performance with how well original Quake ran on much weaker 1990s hardware, highlighting the cost of using CSS as a rendering pipeline.

Reactions to CSS as a Medium

  • Strong admiration for the technical feat and “because we can” spirit.
  • Some see it as an impressive but inherently inefficient misuse of a declarative styling language.
  • Others argue it’s simply leveraging existing 3D transform capabilities and a fun challenge, not a serious engine choice.

Nostalgia & Cultural Notes

  • Numerous nostalgic reactions from people who played Quake decades ago and still remember levels and movement by muscle memory.
  • Thread also includes light joking about CSS jokes (float, z‑index, centering divs) and “has science gone too far?”‑style comments.