RunLab is a tap-to-run game for runners, built as a Telegram Mini App. It was born during the "Hamster Kombat" era — that period when half the CIS internet was obsessed with tapping screens, earning virtual coins, and dreaming about crypto airdrops.
The idea
Take that addictive tap-to-earn mechanic, but connect it to actual running. Real runners, real kilometers, real competition — just with virtual coins and sneaker discounts as incentives. Built it as a Telegram Mini App because that's where the audience already was, and distribution is essentially free.
The animated character
The hardest technical challenge was the character model. I needed a lightweight animated runner that could be "dressed up" — different shoes, different outfits — with different running styles at different speeds. And it all had to work on weak devices. Not everyone has a flagship phone.
I developed a custom animation model based on the Lottie format, integrated directly into a Vue component. Lottie gives you smooth vector animations at tiny file sizes, but I had to extend the approach to support layered clothing, dynamic speed transitions, and equipment swaps without killing performance.
What caught on
The achievement system kept people running. Compete with friends, unlock new gear, earn coins. Runners who already run every day got extra motivation — and people who weren't running much started running more for the virtual rewards. The game got popular in running communities, with people competing for coins and sneaker discounts from partner brands.
