At Groton-Dunstable Regional High School, innovation thrives in every corner, and one of the most exciting examples comes from our very own Game Development Club. Led by Anahat Mudgal (‘26), this student-run club is a creative hub for aspiring game designers, programmers, and artists. The club allows students to learn the intricacies of video game development, from coding and design to storytelling and collaboration.
"I enjoy playing video games, and I wanted to understand what it took to do these projects," shared Anhat when asked about his inspiration for starting the club. "I felt this club is a way to teach people programming and design skills in a fun and engaging way."
Anahat’s passion (pictured right) for game development is evident in his recent accomplishments. Over the past year, he has successfully published two original games, Scrambled Eggs and Starship Scale, which have received widespread recognition and positive reviews.
Scrambled Eggs, a fast-paced, strategy-based game available on the popular platform Steam, results from 10 months of on-and-off work with a team of developers. Since its full release, the game has garnered over 2,400 downloads and sold more than 16,000 copies, quickly gaining attention from prominent YouTube creators. One video, created by a YouTuber with 2.26 million subscribers, has reached 162,000 views, while other content creators with large followings have shared their reviews, propelling the game into the spotlight.
More recently, Starship Scale was developed in just 96 hours for the 2024 GMTK Game Jam, an international competition featuring over 7,700 entries. The game ranked in the top 0.3% for popularity and top 10% overall. This accomplishment is even more impressive because Anahat assembled his development team of six members worldwide, working online from locations such as Germany, California, and Spain. This project has evolved into a full-release game, highlighting game development's collaborative and dynamic nature.
Beyond his work with games, Anahat has also made waves in the writing world. He has published a series of thought-provoking articles on Medium addressing topics ranging from environmental issues to space colonization. His ability to merge technical skills with thoughtful analysis speaks volumes about his diverse talents.
Anahat offered advice for those interested in game development but hesitant to jump in: "I would recommend starting small and having a goal for what you enjoy playing and want to make. I started programming at nine and did around 15-20 minutes a day...There are lots of resources for learning, people can relate to it, it's fun to iterate and improve the player experience, and—most importantly—it's fun!"
Under Anhat's leadership, the Game Development Club inspires students to explore their creativity, learn new skills, and collaborate with others on innovative projects. Anahat is a game developer, leader, thinker, and true inspiration for his peers at Groton-Dunstable.