paperclip-collector
Nibs’ Paperclip Collector is a Java game about a raccoon collecting paperclips around a cluttered office desk, built from scratch with a focus on gameplay and game logic.
GitHub topics
- Jackson
- Java
- Maven
- Game
- Repository
- AidenCarrera/paperclip-collector
- Created
- October 23, 2025
Highlights
- Built a lightweight desktop game directly with Java Swing and AWT.
- Implemented a delta-time game loop, custom rendering, and mouse input handling.
- Created paperclip spawning, collection, upgrades, and endless progression systems.
- Stores settings and player progress through a JSON-based save system.
- Supports configurable resolution, scaling, and paperclip size without an external engine.
Nibs’ Paperclip Collector is a Java desktop game I created to learn how to build a game from scratch without using an external engine. It was inspired by Cookies Inc. and Cookie Clicker, but instead of repeatedly clicking a button, paperclips appear around an office and players collect them to increase their total.
Collected paperclips can be spent on upgrades that increase their value and spawn rate, gradually making the collection grow faster. Progression builds toward more valuable upgrades, including a golden paperclip, and continues scaling after the main goals are completed.
I built the game with Swing and AWT, including the game loop, rendering, mouse input, resolution scaling, progression systems, and menus. Player progress and settings are saved through a JSON system built with Jackson, and I also wrote an original song for the game.
This was my first complete computer science project that went beyond recreating an existing program. It was an original game with its own progression, visuals, music, and mechanics, and I was proud that it became something genuinely fun to play.