He is not a gamer. Will he manage it?

Two controls: move and throw. Pick Normal, or Easy if he is likely to give up after one loss. Most dads get it on the second try and then will not stop.

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 Father's Day game starring your dad

Father's Day is the hardest gift of the year because he does not want anything. He does want to beat the thermostat. His face on the hero, dad jokes as the weapon, and taunts about the three-point turn and the route that is definitely quicker. Dad vs The Thermostat on this page was made for Father's Day; play it first.

Send the link Sunday morning, then ring him and listen to him lose to it twice. He will be showing people at work on Monday. If he is the paper card type, the postcard version prints the game on the front and posts it.

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

Give it over the phone if you are far away: send the link, then call and listen to him lose to the thermostat twice. In person, the QR code goes in the card and the trailer goes on the family group chat afterwards. He will play it at work on Monday and show people.

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

He is not a gamer. Will he manage it?: Two controls: move and throw. Pick Normal, or Easy if he is likely to give up after one loss. Most dads get it on the second try and then will not stop.
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.