Melbourne Pothole Dodger: Web designer turns melbourne potholes into a free arcade game

Navigating damaged streets can test any motorist, but one local web designer has turned the everyday frustration of melbourne potholes into an interactive arcade experience. Goran Fak developed the free online browser game Melbourne Pothole Dodger after feeling like he was participating in a digital challenge while driving his daughter to cheerleading.

Styled after retro arcade racers from the 1980s and 1990s, the game allows players to steer through well-known local stretches of bitumen such as Sydney Road, Hoddle Street, and Punt Road. Instead of a traditional finish line, the objective is simply to survive as long as possible while avoiding road divots, machete amnesty bins, lollipop ladies, and police vehicles chasing stolen cars. Players can replenish their health bar by collecting packs of cigarettes from illegal tobacco pickup locations.

A frustrated Melbourne web designer turned deteriorating local roads into a retro arcade video game.

Fak explained that the project aims to reflect the reality of driving on the city's deteriorating infrastructure, where obstacles include unpredictable weather and endless roadworks. The launch coincides with heightened public discussion surrounding the condition of local transport routes ahead of the Victorian state election on November 28.

Growing safety concerns over regional roads

The state of the transport network has become a major talking point following recent infrastructure delays and safety incidents. Last month, authorities confirmed that a target to repair 500,000 damaged spots by January had missed its deadline, with completion pushed back to next June.

Tensions surrounding road safety intensified following a fatal crash on the Western Highway, where a 71-year-old motorcyclist died after losing control near a road defect. In response, thousands of motorcycle riders staged a demonstration outside Victoria’s Parliament House to demand urgent improvements.

Why it matters

Infrastructure maintenance and road safety are critical issues that directly impact daily commuters, drivers, and motorcyclists across the region. The launch of the satirical video game highlights broader community frustrations regarding government delivery timelines for essential repairs.

While the game offers lighthearted entertainment, it underscores the serious economic and safety challenges policymakers face in maintaining public transport networks and addressing deteriorating bitumen before further incidents occur.