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Browser-Based 3D Game Built in KBs

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Developer Ishant built Metro Runner, a full 3D endless runner game that runs entirely in the browser using Three.js and React. Created in about six hours, the game is a PWA with an actual download size of a few hundred KBs, not megabytes. It features three-lane movement, jumps, slides, coins, and power-ups, mimicking titles like *Subway Surfers* but without a traditional game engine.

The project challenges the norm of bloated web games, which often require hundreds of megabytes. By leveraging Chrome's built-in capabilities and a shared Three.js library, Ishant demonstrates that complex 3D experiences can be lightweight and installable. A notable quirk turned into a feature: at high speeds, misaligned train ramps now act as a skill-based punishment, launching players off course.

Beyond core mechanics, the game includes a shop system with persistent inventory via `localStorage`, multiple biomes, and a random UFO abduction event. The tech stack is minimal—no Unity or Unreal, just custom collision logic and particle effects. Ishant's experiment proves that browser-native 3D games can be both performant and whimsical, questioning the industry's reliance on heavy engines.