Can I send it on the day itself?

Yes. The link is live the moment you pay, and the game takes about two minutes to make, so a birthday you forgot until breakfast is still on time.

He does not do phones. Is that a problem?

He needs to tap one link. There is no app and no account. If he has a phone that opens web pages, he can play it, and the controls are two buttons.

What photo works best?

A clear head-and-shoulders shot on a plain background. Selfies are fine. Group photos are not, since we cut out one person.

Can I change it after publishing?

You can edit the lines and message from the same device you made it on. Sprites are fixed once published.

A Birthday game starring your dad

Dad's birthday present has one rule: he does not want anything, so it has to be funny. Dad versus the thermostat is funny. His face on the hero, dad jokes as the weapon, and taunts about the three-point turn and the route that is definitely quicker. Play the example on this page first; it is the same game with a different dad.

He does not need an app or an account, just the link. Send it, then ring him and listen to him lose to the thermostat twice. He will be playing it at work on Monday.

Example: Dad vs The Thermostat, playing itself. Tap to take over. Yours has their face and your jokes.

Bosses that work for a dad

The Thermostat · 68 degrees is not a suggestion
The Self-Checkout · unexpected item in the bagging area
The Neighbour's Hedge · the fifteen-year war

Jokes that land

Three inside jokes become the taunts. For a dad, think the famous three-point turn, the barbecue he lit with a blowtorch, or the one route he insists is quicker. You can rewrite every line.

Start with a photo

Free to make and play. $9.99 only when you send the link.

On the day

Send the link at midnight so it is the first thing they open, or hold it for the table and let them play it while the cake comes out. If there is a paper card anyway, the QR code goes inside it. For $4.99 more we print a postcard with the game on the front and post it, which turns one present into two.

The photo

Any photo where he is not squinting. The cut-out handles glasses and beards. If all you have is a group photo, crop to him first.

Difficulty

Normal takes a few tries, which is the point. Easy if they are likely to give up after one loss.

Questions people ask

Can I send it on the day itself?: Yes. The link is live the moment you pay, and the game takes about two minutes to make, so a birthday you forgot until breakfast is still on time.
He does not do phones. Is that a problem?: He needs to tap one link. There is no app and no account. If he has a phone that opens web pages, he can play it, and the controls are two buttons.
What photo works best?: A clear head-and-shoulders shot on a plain background. Selfies are fine. Group photos are not, since we cut out one person.
Can I change it after publishing?: You can edit the lines and message from the same device you made it on. Sprites are fixed once published.