Orchestrating complex state across an entire application is challenging, yet interactive games put this to the test by requiring robust state management across multiple levels, between hundreds of entities. This case study explores the creative process of building a React game from the ground up, using XState, the open-source TypeScript library for state machines. We'll witness the actor model in action as it coordinates game characters, their animations, and sounds. Within the context of modern AI-assisted development, we'll cover compositional patterns and practical tips for coding with actor systems in any application, not just games. Finally, we'll explore how state machines unlock testing options for application logic and even automation. Games allow us to merge solid engineering principles with immense creativity, and web developers can leverage all of this using their everyday skills!

- Practical tips for using the actor model to orchestrate state in any large-scale or complex application, using a game as an ideal case study.
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