I built a retro pixel-art web clock inspired by classic arcade games

Hi, Indie Hackers 👋

I recently built a small side project called Retro Watch — a retro pixel-art web clock inspired by classic arcade games.

Checking the time is something we do dozens of times every day, but most clocks are designed to disappear into the background. I wondered if that tiny moment could feel a bit more playful.

So I created a simple web clock surrounded by pixel-art environments and nostalgic retro vibes.

Retro Watch runs directly in the browser and can also be installed as a PWA. It works nicely on tablets or second screens if you want to keep it open while working.

Right now it includes 8 different themes, each with its own mood:

• Basic Sky
• Fantasy Town
• Night Castle
• Golf League
• Western Town
• Retro World
• Neo City
• Space Station

There are also a few quick controls to customize the look:

• Toggle 24-hour format
• Show or hide seconds
• Enable CRT scanline effects
• Toggle background blur

It’s a very small project, but the idea was simple: turn the quick act of checking the time into a tiny moment of retro nostalgia.

If you enjoy pixel art, retro game aesthetics, or small web experiments, I’d love to hear your feedback.

👉 Try it here:

https://retrowatch.app

Thanks for checking it out!

Ps. I'm also curious: do people actually use web clocks like this on a second screen or tablet?