A modern revival of the classic browser game once known as Black Hat Rider.
The original game has been lost to time, but thanks to a preserved copy of the source code, this reimagined version is being rebuilt from the ground up with contemporary web technologies and development patterns.

This project is not just a restoration — it's a complete evolution.

Top Hat Rider is a physics-based side-scrolling game where the player controls a rider navigating dynamic terrain. Precision, timing, and smooth motion are at the heart of the experience.

Originally built with early JavaScript practices, the new version aims to be performant, maintainable, and extensible using modern approaches.

• Rewritten using modular, component-based JavaScript (ES6+)
• Isolated rendering via Web Workers, offloading draw logic from the main thread
• Game logic and rendering are sandboxed for better performance and security

• Use of Shadow DOM and Constructable Stylesheets for scoped UI styling
• Canvas-based rendering with separation of UI and game loop
• Responsive design considerations for modern screens

• Linear interpolation (lerp) implemented for smoother motion and animation transitions
• Frame-independent physics updates using requestAnimationFrame and time delta calculations
• Future-ready for mobile touch support and gamepad input

• Clear file structure for game engine, rendering, assets, and utilities
• Scalable design for future features like multiplayer

Clone the repository and run the development server:

git clone https://github.com/tophatrider/game.git
cd game
npm install
npm run dev

To build for production:

npm run build

This is a personal passion project, but contributors who share a love for browser-based games are welcome. Please open an issue before submitting a pull request.

This project is licensed under the GNU General Public License. See the LICENSE file for details.

Special thanks to the original Black Hat Rider developers and the community of browser game enthusiasts who inspired this revival.