The Lost Threads of Bharat 🔱

A modern full-stack MERN + Socket.IO multiplayer web game inspired by Indian heritage and fantasy adventure.

The Sutradhar (storyteller) discovers that India's cultural memories are disappearing. As a player, you must recover lost memories by playing single-player or multiplayer modes to earn Coins and Diamonds, unlock skins, and rebuild the cosmic tapestry of Bharat's history.

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🚀 Tech Stack

• Frontend: React (Vite), Tailwind CSS (v4), Framer Motion, Lucide Icons, Socket.IO Client.
• Backend: Node.js, Express.js, Socket.IO, JWT Authentication, Mongoose.
• Database: MongoDB (Atlas or Local).

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🎮 Game Modes

1. Sutradhar's Maze (Single Player)

• Pac-Man Inspired Adventure: Navigate the Sutradhar through ancient ruins including Stepwells, Forts, and Temple Mandalas.
• The Threat: Avoid the Vismarana (spirits of forgetting) who pathfind and chase you through the maze.
• Solve Trivia: Collect 10 memory fragments to trigger an Indian heritage trivia question.
  • Correct Answer: Awards a temporary speed boost and bonus coins.
  • Wrong Answer: Strengthens the Vismarana (increases their speed) and deducts one heart.
• Survival: You start with 5 Hearts. If they drop to 0, spend 50 coins to revive, or exit to save your score.

2. Chor Sipahi (Multiplayer)

• Among Us Inspired Accusations: Join rooms of 3–6 players via room codes.
• Roles: One secret player is assigned as the Chor (Artifact Thief). The remaining players are Sipahis (Guard Explorers).
• 3 Rounds of Trivia: In each round, players answer the same cultural question (categories: instruments, monuments, literature, festivals, paintings, historical figures).
  • Correct answers award coins and clue tokens.
  • The Chor must strategically answer to blend in or intentionally sabotage.
• Accusation Chat & Vote: After 3 rounds, enter a timed chat discussion. Cast votes on who you think the Chor is.
  • Majority votes Chor: Sipahis Win!
  • Otherwise: Chor Wins!

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🏛️ Currency & Shop System

• Coins (Common): Earned from correct answers and maze collections. Use to buy extra hearts, hints, aegis shields, or revive after losing.
• Diamonds (Premium): Earned from multiplayer victories. Use to buy premium character skins:
  • Mauryan Warrior (inspired by Emperor Ashoka's guard)
  • Gupta Scholar (inspired by Nalanda mathematicians)
  • Chola Voyager (inspired by Southeast Asian maritime explorers)
  • Golden Sutradhar (glowing celestial storyteller)

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📂 Project Structure

Anvesha/
├── client/                 # React frontend
│   ├── src/
│   │   ├── assets/         # CSS styles and textures
│   │   ├── components/     # Canvas Maze, Lobby, Profile, Shop, Leaderboard tabs
│   │   ├── context/        # Authentication & Socket connection providers
│   │   ├── pages/          # Auth screen and Main Dashboard layout
│   │   ├── App.jsx
│   │   └── index.css
│   └── package.json
└── server/                 # Node.js backend
    ├── config/             # Database connection setup
    ├── controllers/        # Express handlers (auth, user, shop, questions)
    ├── middleware/         # Protected routes (JWT verification)
    ├── models/             # Mongoose Schemas (User, Question, Inventory, Leaderboard)
    ├── routes/             # REST API routers
    ├── socket/             # Socket.IO handlers (match room coordination)
    ├── seed.js             # Seeding script with 30+ heritage questions
    ├── server.js           # Server entry point
    └── package.json

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⚙️ Installation & Setup

Prerequisites

• Node.js (v16 or higher)
• MongoDB installed locally OR a MongoDB Atlas connection string.

1. Database Seeding

1. Open a terminal in the server directory.
2. Run npm install to install dependencies.
3. Start your local MongoDB server.
4. Run npm run seed to seed 30+ heritage questions.

2. Running the Server

1. Create a server/.env file with details:

   PORT=5000
   MONGODB_URI=mongodb://127.0.0.1:27017/lost_threads_of_bharat
   JWT_SECRET=your_jwt_secret_key

2. Run npm run dev to start the Node.js server with Nodemon.

3. Running the Frontend Client

1. Open a terminal in the client directory.
2. Run npm install to install dependencies.
3. Run npm run dev to start the Vite development server.
4. Open the displayed local link (usually http://localhost:5173) in your browser.