No Joystick Required: How Melbourne's Pothole Hell Became a Video Game

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MELBOURNE, Victoria - 10 November 2026 - Goran Fak of Bayside web design studio Three Nine Digital has revealed how a pothole-filled drive to his daughter's cheerleading training became Melbourne Pothole Dodger, a free retro video game released weeks before the 28 November Victorian state election. Players dodge potholes, roadworks and car chases on Melbourne streets.

The pothole game, playable on computers and phones, is styled after early-1990s console kart racers. Players drive a battered hatchback down roads including Sydney Road and Punt Road. Every hit drains the car's energy, and there is no finish line, only how long the car survives.

"I was driving my daughter to cheerleading and I was so focused on the road, trying to dodge all the potholes, that I felt like I was playing a video game," said Goran Fak, creator of Melbourne Pothole Dodger. "I asked her, 'Do you think it would be a good idea to create a game about dodging potholes like we are right now?' She said, 'Yeah, of course it is.'"

Hazards draw on local talking points: a machete amnesty bin in the traffic lane, a roadworks traffic controller with a stop sign, and stolen car chases. Roadside "Illegal Tobacco Pickup" shops offer the only way to restore energy.

"I wanted it to show how long a driver can survive Melbourne's terrible roads," Fak said. "You're going to die in the end."

Road maintenance has been among the issues raised during the state election campaign.

"The state of our roads is a real concern, and it's something we have to address coming into the next state election," Fak said.

Behind the humour is a real cost for drivers. Under Victoria's Road Management Act 2004, road authorities are not liable for vehicle damage at or below a threshold of $1,681 for 2026-27. In 2022-23, the Department of Transport and Planning received 1,532 road damage claims and assessed one as payable, according to figures reported by CarAdvice.

The website also includes a guide to reporting potholes on Melbourne roads.

Melbourne Pothole Dodger is free to play, with no download required, at https://melbournepotholedodger.com

About Three Nine Digital
Three Nine Digital is a Bayside-based web design studio in Melbourne that helps local businesses go from invisible to unstoppable with smart, mobile-friendly websites. Its services include website design and development, search engine optimisation and website maintenance. Founder Goran Fak has spent 20 years in the digital industry and brings a background in digital analytics to every project. Visit https://threeninedigital.com.au to learn more.

Media contact
Goran Fak, Founder, Three Nine Digital
goran@threeninedigital.com.au
0416 089 042