Explosive new game aims to teach the iPad generation to type

(Image credit: The Star Rune Company LLC)

Handwriting is becoming a lost skill for many Gen Xers like me (as a former news hack. I can scrawl a shopping list in shorthand). But for Younger generations, even typing is in decline, with studies having shown a decline in touch-typing proficiency due to the shift towards touchscreen devices, voice-controlled interfaces and AI.

One indie dev was concerned enough to start making a game to help his kids learn to type. It quickly took on a life of its own (and may have created a genre of its own too).

Star Rune typing game — (Image credit: The Star Rune Company LLC)

Star Rune takes the concept of typing games into a new realm in an explosive adventure where you also learn a bit about chemistry and even foreign languages while blasting your way through hordes of 'evil letters'. People have dubbed it a 'hardcore typing game' for the fast-paced action, which was inspired by the developer's love of Dragon Ball Z.

Writing on Reddit, the developer said he feels like Goku when he types and wanted to capture that in a game.

“I've always been a big DBZ fan, and a SSBM fan. I've always loved cool anime battles. I feel the same intensity when I type,” he writes. “I'm trying to make a game that encapsulates that feeling and makes typing cool and something people will want to pick up.”

Most typing games require you to enter full words for anything to happen. In Star Rune, every keystroke is rewarded with explosions, sliced letters and falling enemies. This should make the game more engaging for beginners who search out one key at a time on their keyboard, while those who can type at speed can dash attack through levels and enjoy an exhilarating rush of explosions.

The game uses space, shift, caps and enter keys to mimic the rhythm of real typing. You can also subconsciously learn something about chemistry and practice Morse code and foreign languages. There are 118 levels named after 118 periodic table elements along with 118 Evil Elemental Lords as mnemonic devices to help remember the order of the table.

Star Rune Kickstarter Trailer - YouTube

Watch On

Another feature designed to help beginners is that it's not possible to die in the first half of the game. Typing faster gives higher scores and more rewards, but you can't fail as attacks are deflected.

The demo has already received some good reviews from parents, including some whose kids hadn't been interested in typing games before. Time will tell if it can save the iPad generation from losing the skill of typing. Now, if only someone could do something similar for handwriting.

Star Rune has a Kickstarter, and the game is also available as a demo on Steam.

Joe is a regular freelance journalist and editor at Creative Bloq. He writes news, features and buying guides and keeps track of the best equipment and software for creatives, from video editing programs to monitors and accessories. A veteran news writer and photographer, he now works as a project manager at the London and Buenos Aires-based design, production and branding agency Hermana Creatives. There he manages a team of designers, photographers and video editors who specialise in producing visual content and design assets for the hospitality sector. He also dances Argentine tango.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.