Write and maintain integration tests for the critical game loop: INTRO → MENU → OVERWORLD → PREGIG → GIG → POSTGIG → OVERWORLD → GAMEOVER.
Trigger when: asked to add regression tests, verify game flow continuity, ensure state transitions work, check critical paths don't break, test bankruptcy/game-over paths, validate state clamping (money/harmony/fuel), audit action sequences, or diagnose transition bugs.
Use when testing reducer + action creators together (not individual actions in isolation). Covers FULL CYCLE tests, STATE SAFETY invariants, and TRANSITION SEQUENCES.
Write and maintain integration tests for the critical game loop: INTRO → MENU → OVERWORLD → PREGIG → GIG → POSTGIG → OVERWORLD → GAMEOVER.
Trigger when: asked to add regression tests, verify game flow continuity, ensure state transitions work, check critical paths don't break, test bankruptcy/game-over paths, validate state clamping (money/harmony/fuel), audit action sequences, or diagnose transition bugs.
Use when testing reducer + action creators together (not individual actions in isolation). Covers FULL CYCLE tests, STATE SAFETY invariants, and TRANSITION SEQUENCES.
Golden Path Test Author
Ensure the critical game loop—INTRO → MENU → OVERWORLD → PREGIG → GIG → POSTGIG → OVERWORLD—works without regression. Validates state transitions, resource boundaries (money ≥ 0, harmony ∈ [1,100], fuel ∈ [0,100]), and scene sequencing.
What Is a Golden Path Test?
A golden path test runs a sequence of actions (state transitions) end-to-end, verifying:
Scene transitions: CHANGE_SCENE moves between valid game phases
State mutations: TRAVEL, START_GIG, ADVANCE_DAY update player/band correctly
If it fails, see references/debugging-guide.md for diagnosis steps.
Complete Example: Travel + Day Advance
import test from'node:test'import assert from'node:assert/strict'import { gameReducer, ActionTypes } from'../../src/context/gameReducer.js'import { createInitialState } from'../../src/context/initialState.js'import { GAME_PHASES } from'../../src/context/gameConstants.js'constapplyAction = (state, type, payload) =>
gameReducer(state, { type, payload })
test('Golden Path: Travel costs money and fuel', async t => {
let state = createInitialState()
state = applyAction(state, ActionTypes.CHANGE_SCENE, GAME_PHASES.OVERWORLD)
await t.test('Setup: Set initial resources', () => {
state = applyAction(state, ActionTypes.UPDATE_PLAYER, {
money: 500,
van: { ...state.player.van, fuel: 100 }
})
assert.equal(state.player.money, 500)
assert.equal(state.player.van.fuel, 100)
})
await t.test('Action: Travel deducts money and fuel', () => {
const travelCost = 50const fuelUsed = 15
state = applyAction(state, ActionTypes.UPDATE_PLAYER, {
money: state.player.money - travelCost,
currentNodeId: 'node_1_0',
van: { ...state.player.van, fuel: state.player.van.fuel - fuelUsed }
})
assert.equal(state.player.money, 450)
assert.equal(state.player.van.fuel, 85)
})
await t.test('Invariant: Money never negative', () => {
// Even if we travel with too little fuel/money, reducer clamps to 0const veryNegative = state.player.money - 999
state = applyAction(state, ActionTypes.UPDATE_PLAYER, {
money: veryNegative
})
assert.equal(state.player.money, 0, 'Money clamped to 0')
})
await t.test('Action: Day advance costs daily expenses', () => {
// Reset to known state
state = createInitialState()
const moneyBefore = state.player.money
state = applyAction(state, ActionTypes.CHANGE_SCENE, GAME_PHASES.OVERWORLD)
state = gameReducer(state, { type: ActionTypes.ADVANCE_DAY })
assert.ok(
state.player.money < moneyBefore,
'Money reduced after day advance'
)
assert.ok(state.player.money >= 0, 'Money never negative')
})
})
State Safety Checklist
Every golden path test should verify:
✅ Money clamping: money >= 0 after UPDATE_PLAYER, APPLY_EVENT_DELTA, ADVANCE_DAY
✅ Harmony bounds: band.harmony ∈ [1, 100] after any band update
✅ Fuel bounds: van.fuel ∈ [0, 100]
✅ Van condition: van.condition ∈ [0, 100]
✅ Scene validity: Only transition to valid target scenes (see GAME_PHASES)
✅ Gig data: currentGig exists before START_GIG → GIG, nulled after return to OVERWORLD
Use references/common-assertions.md for assertion helpers.
Multi-Step Sequences (Advanced)
To test a full cycle with multiple actions:
test('Golden Path: Full gig cycle from setup to earnings', async t => {
let state = createInitialState()
// Phase 1: Overworld → PreGig
state = applyAction(state, ActionTypes.CHANGE_SCENE, GAME_PHASES.OVERWORLD)
state = applyAction(state, ActionTypes.START_GIG, venue)
assert.equal(state.currentScene, GAME_PHASES.PRE_GIG)
// Phase 2: PreGig setup
state = applyAction(state, ActionTypes.SET_SETLIST, songs)
state = applyAction(state, ActionTypes.SET_GIG_MODIFIERS, {
soundcheck: true
})
// Phase 3: PreGig → Gig
state = applyAction(state, ActionTypes.CHANGE_SCENE, GAME_PHASES.GIG)
// Phase 4: Gig performance (set stats)const gigStats = { score: 8000, perfectHits: 50, misses: 3 }
state = applyAction(state, ActionTypes.SET_LAST_GIG_STATS, gigStats)
// Phase 5: Gig → PostGig
state = applyAction(state, ActionTypes.CHANGE_SCENE, GAME_PHASES.POST_GIG)
// Phase 6: Apply earnings
state = applyAction(state, ActionTypes.UPDATE_PLAYER, {
money: state.player.money + 250
})
// Phase 7: Return to Overworld
state = applyAction(state, ActionTypes.SET_GIG, null)
state = applyAction(state, ActionTypes.CHANGE_SCENE, GAME_PHASES.OVERWORLD)
assert.equal(state.currentScene, GAME_PHASES.OVERWORLD)
assert.equal(state.currentGig, null)
})
Debugging Failed Tests
See references/debugging-guide.md for:
Test fails on line X: How to read assertion errors
State is unexpectedly undefined: Check preconditions and mocks
Money went negative: Audit the action sequence for missing clamping
Scene transition rejected: Verify valid transitions in GAME_PHASES
Testing All 5 Transitions
See references/transition-examples.md for complete examples:
MENU → OVERWORLD (scene + map setup)
OVERWORLD → PREGIG (START_GIG action)
PREGIG → GIG (scene change + setlist/modifiers)
GIG → POSTGIG (score capture + scene change)
POSTGIG → OVERWORLD (earnings + gig cleanup)
Existing Tests
The project already has comprehensive golden path tests in tests/goldenPath.test.js (630+ lines). Review that file for patterns before writing new tests—don't duplicate what's already covered.
Skill sync: compatible with React 19.2.6 / Vite 8.0.10 / Tailwind 4.2.4 baseline as of 2026-05-20.
