Projects & Experiments

Independent web tools, user interface archaeology, and computing experiments built for useful nostalgia.

Experience the modern World Wide Web through the nostalgic lens of Microsoft Encarta '96. Features instant topic search, live Wikipedia article rendering, classic drop-cap serif typography, media callout boxes, and full article outline navigation—all styled in authentic Windows 95 CD-ROM aesthetics.

Launch Retropedia 96 →

Letter Invaders →

Educational Game

A faithful recreation of the classic Tandy DeskMate typing arcade game. Defend Earth against descending alien saucers by typing the corresponding letters and words on your keyboard. Includes Home Row, Top Row, Bottom Row, and Kids Vocabulary word drills, real-time WPM and accuracy metrics, an interactive Tandy 1000 on-screen keyboard with touch support for iPads/tablets, and authentic Tandy 3-voice sound effects. 100% ad-free, tracking-free, and kid-safe.

Play Letter Invaders →

What started as a weather prototype on this server graduated into a full standalone community telemetry platform for Kane County, Illinois. Includes local observations, NWS HeatRisk models, radar maps, and static RSS syndication; as well as a community calendar and business directory.

Visit 60119.net →

RetroCanvas →

Creative Tool

Classic Windows 95 style Paint studio reimagined for both computer mouse drawing and iPad touch/stylus painting. Features pencil, smooth calligraphy brushes, 4-way recursive flood fill bucket, retro spray can, shapes, color picker, kid sticker stamps, and built-in coloring pages (dinosaurs, space rockets, castles, pets, and ocean life). Includes a full undo/redo stack, local art gallery, 24-bit BMP and PNG export, and optional retro sound effects. 100% kid-safe and ad-free.

Launch RetroCanvas →

Retrosweeper →

Interactive Game

Faithful recreation of classic Windows 95 Minesweeper. Includes 7-segment red LED counters, animated smiley face reactions, chording support, first-click safety, custom field configurations, fastest times tracking, and a dedicated mobile-friendly dig/flag touch mode.

Play Retrosweeper →

Retrojong →

Puzzle Game

Classic 3D Mahjong Solitaire inspired by Taipei from the 1990 Windows Entertainment Pack. Stacked with 144 tiles across multi-layer 3D layouts including The Turtle, Pyramid, Fortress, and Dragon Cross. Features a smart move Hint button, full undo, in-place reshuffling, free-tile highlighting, and both Traditional Mahjong and Kid-Friendly Animal/Emoji tile sets (lions, pandas, and treats). 100% ad-free, tracking-free, and kid-safe.

Play Retrojong →

Authentic recreation of classic Windows green-felt Solitaire implemented in pure vanilla JavaScript and DOM elements. Features drag-and-drop card physics, deck draw options, scoring, and zero advertisement or tracking payloads.

Play Solitaire →

RetroSudoku →

Puzzle Game

Authentic Windows 95 style 9x9 Sudoku puzzle game. Features five difficulty tiers ranging from Gentle (designed for kids and beginners) to Expert, an intelligent move Hint engine, pencil notes mode (candidate marks), matching-number highlighting, error/conflict detection, full undo history, and an on-screen keypad with real-time remaining count badges for iPads and touch screens. 100% ad-free, tracking-free, and kid-safe.

Play Sudoku →

Classic word-guessing game featuring schoolhouse chalkboard and Windows 95 aesthetics. Includes over 500 hand-curated educational words across eight categories (Animals, Space & Science, Geography, Food, Retro Tech, Kids Easy, and Brain Teasers). Features a smart Hint engine, 2-Player Pass & Play secret word mode, persistent win streak tracking, and three visual themes: Classic Scaffold, Kid-Friendly Floating Balloons (🎈), and Rocket Countdown (🚀). 100% ad-free, tracking-free, and kid-safe.

Play Hangman →

Retro Fortune →

TV Game Show

Authentic 90s TV game show word puzzle game inspired by vintage PC and console Wheel of Fortune games. Spin the 24-wedge physics-rendered wheel, guess consonants, buy vowels, and solve across hundreds of classic puzzle categories. Supports Solo Arcade High Score mode, Pass & Play for 2 or 3 local players (great for family game night on iPad or PC), and intelligent CPU opponents. Complete with Bankrupt and Lose A Turn hazards, and the iconic Final Bonus Round (R-S-T-L-N-E + 3 consonants & 1 vowel) for the $25,000 Grand Prize. 100% ad-free, tracking-free, and kid-safe.

Play Retro Fortune →

RetroJewels Match-3 →

Interactive Game

A nostalgic recreation of the classic early 2000s match-3 puzzle game. Handcrafted with faceted vector SVG gems, cascade physics, synthesized Web Audio sound effects, special power gems (Flame, Star, and Hypercube), and responsive touch controls for mobile and desktop.

Play RetroJewels →

Vintage 1990s desktop highway routing and trip planner inspired by Rand McNally TripMaker and AAA Map'n'Go. Features classic window dialogs, route waypoint management, cost calculators, and interactive map layers.

Launch TripMaker →