Stuff is always on the lookout for decent web games to keep us busy during the workday, and SA-made Lekka Moments fits that bill. Created by Daniel Fry (AKA u/danfry99), the game celebrates 23 ‘moments’ that feel wholly South African — like that goal against Mexico in 2010 or Siya lifting the Rugby World Cup in 2019.
And it’ll do so in all its pixel-art glory. But Lekka Moments, despite the name, isn’t just about the moments Saffas loved. It incorporates a few other moments like ‘Lights On,’ which puts you back under Eskom’s thumb. Another will have you working toward that perfect rusk consistency before it goes for a swim in your coffee. It’s really quite addictive, especially as each game takes ten seconds and bestows a bronze, silver, and gold medal.
Lekker, man
Every game is slightly different, though they’ll all require some fast reflexes to secure the gold. It’s helped along by some pretty funny writing that’s both educational to outsiders but serves as great inside jokes for Saffas. All 23 games are split into seven categories: Braai & Life, Outdoors, Rugby, Cricket, Football, Track & Pool, and Golf.
Lekka Moments started as a simple conversation about South Africa’s greatest moments and wanting to preserve them somewhere fun. It grew from there. The project is a solo one — Daniel Fry is a South African software engineer who used the game to try out some AI models and tools to help bring the game to life. The music and game sounds are all made in code, while the real-world sounds come from a public sound library.
We asked Daniel why these 23 moments made the cut above the hundreds of worthy suggestions. “Each one had to be something a South African would recognise straight away. Some are the big sporting ones, like Stransky’s drop goal in ’95, Tshabalala’s goal in 2010 and Kolisi lifting the cup. Others are just everyday South African life, like a braai, dunking a rusk, the lights coming back after load-shedding, or a sundowner in Camps Bay,” he said.
There will always be a few moaners claiming that their favourite South African moment isn’t included. But if you ask nicely enough (there’s a handy suggestion box on the front page), then the creator might be nice enough to add it in. The creator reckons people have already reached out with ideas, so he’s set for the next while. There’s no sign-up or fees required. Just head on over to the Lekka Moments website and you can play right away.
