swipi-classify-game

Physics-first archetype classifier

Do not classify by genre name. Classify by the physics the game requires.

Archetype	Physics profile	Key question	Examples (don't match the name — match the physics)
platformer	Side view + gravity	Does the character fall if unsupported?	Mario, Terraria, Street Fighter, Castlevania
top_down	Top-down + free continuous motion	Can the character move UP without jumping?	Zelda, Isaac, Vampire Survivors, twin-stick shooters
grid_logic	Grid + discrete turns/snaps	Does position snap to a grid?	Sokoban, Fire Emblem, Match-3, Pikachu-grid puzzles
tower_defense	Fixed paths + waves	Do enemies follow predetermined routes?	Kingdom Rush, Bloons TD, any "defend the base" game
ui_heavy	No physics — primarily UI	Is gameplay driven by UI widgets, not spatial movement?	Card games, visual novels, quiz battles, trivia

Decision procedure

1. Read the prompt once. Identify the primary verb — is it jump, move, place, defend, or click/select?
2. Ask the gravity question first. If yes → platformer. Stop.
3. Ask the grid question. If yes → grid_logic. Stop.
4. Ask the path question. If yes → tower_defense. Stop.
5. Ask the free-movement question. If yes → top_down. Stop.
6. Otherwise → ui_heavy.

Output shape

Return a single JSON block with:

{
  "archetype": "platformer",
  "reasoning": "One sentence explaining which physics signal was decisive.",
  "physicsProfile": {
    "hasGravity": true,
    "perspective": "side",
    "movementType": "continuous"
  }
}

Common mis-classifications to avoid

• "Card battle game" → ui_heavy, not grid_logic, even if cards appear on a grid-like board — gameplay is driven by UI/state, not spatial collisions.
• "Fighting game like Street Fighter" → platformer, not ui_heavy — characters fall under gravity when knocked up.
• "Tower defense on a hex grid" → tower_defense, not grid_logic — fixed paths dominate over discrete grid logic.
• "Mandalorian twin-stick shooter" → top_down, not platformer — the character moves up without jumping.