There’s something comforting about that first endless runner game I played — familiar, easygoing, almost reassuring. Games like Crossy Road and Temple Run didn’t need complicated mechanics or fancy graphics; they simply asked you to be quick on your feet and trust your instincts. Metro Runner by SLAB captures that same feeling, only this time, it’s a bit more personal.

For us at SLAB, making games isn’t just a job — it’s an adventure. And our latest adventure is Metro Runner. It all started during brainstorming sessions, fueled by coffee and conversation full of favor. Metro Runner became a love letter to the endless runner games we grew up on, blended with the vibrant culture of Indonesia, where we live and work.

Our little office in Bali quickly transformed into a messy yet resourceful space, where ideas flowed freely. We weren’t thinking about trends or what would sell; we just wanted to create a game that felt real to us — something meaningful, not just for us, but for you, too.

In 2022, we had a simple vision: take what makes an endless runner fun and give it a fresh twist by grounding it in Indonesian culture. We imagined players dashing through the streets of Jakarta, hopping between Balinese temples, dodging Bajajs, and navigating crowded markets. It wasn’t about reinventing the genre, but about approaching it from a new perspective.

Then life happened. We had to pause the project — not because we wanted to, but because we had to. It wasn’t an easy decision, but it was the right one at the time. When we came back to it in 2023, our mindset had shifted. There were no big ambitions. We just wanted to finish what we started, but this time with more heart and less pressure.

One of the most emotional moments for us was when we showcased the beta version of Metro Runner at the IGDX 2023 exhibition. Watching people play it, seeing their smiles and reactions — it was pure joy. We weren’t aiming for flashy graphics or technical wizardry; we just wanted to make something fun and meaningful. The positive feedback was a small but sweet victory.

By early 2024, after listening to tons of feedback from the beta, we polished and refined the game until it felt just right. Finally, we launched it on Vidio and Google Play. It was never about making a big, ambitious game — it was about creating something full of heart, something joyful to play. And that’s where the magic lies — in the simple, pure fun of it all.