Ambidex Game

"So what's it going to be? Will you choose to ally? ...Or to betray?" This web-based game tries to make a 1:1 recreation of the Ambidex game featured in Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward.

What is the Ambidex Game?

The Ambidex Game is Kotaro Uchikoshi's vision of the Prisoner's Dilemma. You either work in a pair, or a solo, and there can only be up to three solo and pair groups. Each group of solos and pairs are put against the other in a game where they have to choose to Ally, or to Betray. If both teams ally, then each one of the members in the group get 2 points. If one chooses ally and gets betrayed, the betrayed participant(s) loses 2 points while the ones who betray get 3 points, if both betray, no points for any; and so on.

I thought it would be a highly interesting concept to take into a LAN game. Maybe you want to put your friend's trust at test, or perhaps you want to place 9 strangers together in one facility going against eachother, which seems like a nice sunday plan.

Features

• Desktop exe: Runs as server + host UI in a frameless window (only allows one instance per computer, localhost exists for browser clients on port 3000)
• Android APK: Join-only client with a simple UI
• Wii U Homebrew: Join-only client with dual-screen support (TV + DRC)
• Nintendo 3DS Homebrew: Join-only client with dual-screen support (top + bottom)
• LAN multiplayer: No internet required, works over local network
• Terminal-style UI: Source Code Pro font, teal color scheme, retro terminal aesthetic
• Ambidex gameplay: Ally/Betray votes, slot pairings, real-time results reveal
• OST Music Player: Built-in player with VLR/999 soundtrack for the host.

Quick Start

Windows Exe

1. Download the latest AmbidexGame.exe from Releases
2. Run it — the first instance starts the server and opens the host UI
3. Players on the same network open http://<host-ip>:3000 in a browser
4. Or use the Android APK to scan/connect

Development

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Run server locally
npm start

# Build Windows exe
npm run build

# Build Android APK (requires Android SDK + Capacitor)
npx cap sync android
cd android
./gradlew assembleDebug

# Build Wii U homebrew (requires devkitPro with wiiu-dev)
cd wiiu
make

# Build 3DS homebrew (requires devkitPro with 3ds-dev)
cd 3ds
make

Controls

• HOST GAME: Start a server and manage players, rounds and solo/pairs grouping.
• JOIN TEAM: Enter the host's LAN IP to connect as a player
• Fullscreen toggle: Bottom-right corner (PC only)
• Music player: Bottom-left corner in the host menu — select and play VLR/999 tracks

Project Structure

ambidex-game/
├── server.js              # Express + Socket.IO server
├── public/                # Web client files (served statically)
│   ├── index.html         # Desktop/web client
│   ├── mobile.html        # Android client
│   ├── css/               # style.css + style-mobile.css
│   ├── js/game.js         # Game logic + socket handlers
│   ├── vendor/            # Vendored libs (socket.io.min.js)
│   ├── img/               # Backgrounds, logo, favicon
│   ├── icons/             # App/exe icons (used by build scripts)
│   ├── sfx/               # Sound effects (.wav)
│   └── music/             # OST tracks (.mp3)
├── android/               # Capacitor Android project
├── wiiu/                  # Wii U homebrew client (unfinished, gitignored)
│   ├── source/            # C source code
│   └── Makefile           # devkitPro build
├── 3ds/                   # Nintendo 3DS homebrew client
│   ├── source/            # C source code
│   ├── gfx/               # Screen images + tex3ds files
│   ├── romfs/             # Source WAVs (embedded at build time)
│   ├── tools/gen_wavs.ps1 # Regenerates source/wav_data.c
│   └── Makefile           # devkitARM build
├── dist/                  # Build outputs (gitignored)
├── scripts/
│   ├── prebuild.js        # Patches icon into the nexe cache (pre-compile)
│   ├── patch-gui.js       # Flips exe subsystem to GUI (no console)
│   └── make-ico.js / generate-icons.ps1  # Icon generation
└── capacitor.config.ts    # Capacitor configuration

Tech Stack

• Server: Node.js, Express, Socket.IO
• Client: Vanilla JS, CSS, Socket.IO Client
• Desktop: Nexe (bundles server into Windows exe)
• Android: Capacitor v8 (wraps web client as native APK)
• Wii U: devkitPro + libctru + SDL2 (homebrew)
• 3DS: devkitPro + libctru (homebrew, framebuffer rendering)

Attribution

All Zero Escape series assets (music, images, sound effects) used in this project are the property of Spike Chunsoft and Chunsoft. This is a fan work and is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.

See NOTICE.md for detailed attributions.

License

MIT — © 2026 Misakii-P