ChatGPT vs Gemini vs Claude: The Ultimate Clash Royale Clone Showdown

Artificial intelligence is pushing the boundaries of creativity, even in game development. In a fascinating display of AI capabilities, three tools—OpenAI’s ChatGPT (version 5.4), Google Gemini (version 3 Pro), and Anthropics’ Claude (version 4.6 extended)—were tasked with creating playable versions of the popular mobile strategy game Clash Royale. The goal was simple yet ambitious: create the most functional and accurate recreation of the game from scratch. Here's how each AI performed.

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Prompt: Making a Clash Royale Clone

Each AI was given the same prompt: "Make Clash Royale from scratch so we can play immediately. Make it the best clone possible." The challenge required the AIs to generate code for a game with fundamental features such as towers, elixir system, cards, unit AI, and a functioning enemy. The clones were assessed based on playability, visuals, and overall functionality.

ChatGPT 5.4 Results

ChatGPT kicked off the challenge, generating an impressive 1,740 lines of code for a self-contained browser-based version of Clash Royale. The game included core mechanics such as troop placements, a functioning elixir system, and AI opponents.

Strengths

• Quick Development: ChatGPT completed the task efficiently, producing an exceptionally detailed game.
• Core Gameplay Quality: Troop AI and mechanics closely mimicked the actual Clash Royale experience, including iconic features like fireball spells and troop placement strategies.

Problems

• Early Bugs: Some troops, such as goblins and mini P.E.K.K.A., faced issues crossing the bridge, impacting gameplay flow.
• Visual Design: While functional, the visuals were only basic representations of the game's environment.

Fix Process

After two iterations to debug the crossing issue, ChatGPT fixed its errors and delivered a fully playable experience. Players could place troops, win battles, and enjoy a reasonably good simulation of Clash Royale. Rating: 8/10.

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Google Gemini 3 Pro Performance

Google Gemini's initial attempt was underwhelming, producing only 165 lines of code. The output lacked many critical features, effectively reducing the game to a basic troop simulation.

Strengths

• Simplicity: The ease of understanding and implementing the code may be appealing for smaller projects.

Weaknesses

• Incomplete Features: The first draft omitted essential AI, card variety, and a multiplayer-like environment.
• Second Draft Errors: In the final attempt, totaling only 244 lines of code, Gemini failed to replicate Clash Royale's gameplay accurately. Issues like non-functional troop placements persisted.

Rating: 3/10. Google Gemini's output failed to meet expectations and could not create a fully playable game, even after multiple revisions.

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Claude 4.6 Extended Results

Claude came in as the last contender and set high expectations by outlining a complete game plan with 1,000 lines of code in its initial attempt. The AI promised features like real-time troop battles, an elixir system, AI opponents, and more.

Strengths

• Feature Rich: Claude incorporated a mix of added elements, such as visual flair with glowing effects and better game animations.
• Playability: Core gameplay appeared functional with troops moving and engaging in battles.

Problems

• Bridge-Crossing Bug: Troops occasionally acted erratically, bypassing the bridge altogether.
• Visual Inferiority: Despite the added animations, the overall visuals were deemed less polished than ChatGPT’s.

Improvements

After a prompt to enhance visuals, Claude introduced color coding and spawn animations. However, it still fell short of ChatGPT’s intuitive playability. Rating: 7/10.

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Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature	ChatGPT 5.4	Google Gemini 3 Pro	Claude 4.6 Extended
Lines of Code	1,740	244	1,000
Core Gameplay	Functional	Very basic simulation	Functional
Visuals	Basic but intuitive	Minimal and plain	Animated but cluttered
Performance	Fixed major bugs	Did not deliver improved features	Minor bugs remained
Final Rating	8/10	3/10	7/10

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Final Verdict: ChatGPT Wins

After comparing the performances of all three AIs, ChatGPT emerged as the clear winner of this challenge. It delivered a playable and polished prototype of Clash Royale, successfully addressing initial bugs through multiple iterations. Additionally, the game's intuitive feel and better gameplay mechanics set it apart. Claude also produced a respectable entry but fell short in overall gameplay consistency and visuals. Google Gemini, however, underperformed significantly, failing to create a functional clone despite multiple prompts.

Practical Takeaways

• ChatGPT for Game Prototyping: With its detailed output and troubleshooting ability, ChatGPT stands out as the best option for creating functional game prototypes swiftly.
• Beware of Gemini's Limitations: Though suited for other tasks, Gemini struggled significantly with game development, especially replicating complex mechanics.
• Claude Offers Balance: While not perfect, Claude’s mix of features and visuals makes it a solid middle ground for similar challenges.

AI game development is still evolving, and while no tool delivered perfection, this challenge showed the potential of AI to contribute meaningfully to video game design. With further iteration, these tools could vastly enhance indie game development.

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FAQ

Which AI created the most functional Clash Royale clone?
ChatGPT 5.4 produced the most playable and polished clone, addressing gameplay bugs effectively over iterations.

Why did Google Gemini perform poorly?
Gemini failed to deliver a simulation matching the complexity of Clash Royale, even after multiple attempts.

What was Claude’s unique contribution?
Claude added visual enhancements, animations, and varied troop mechanics, but issues with troop behavior remained.

Can these AI tools create more complex games?
While currently effective for prototyping, limitations like bugs and lack of polish suggest these tools may need further development for complex projects without human intervention.

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