2600th

2026 Case file

Kinema

Active open-source experiment

Kinema is a browser game lab I’m building, with third-person gameplay, physics, and a level editor in the same TypeScript application.

My role
Creator and engineer
Period
2026
Bands
Games
Editorial illustration of Kinema’s procedural showcase corridor
Editorial visual based on Kinema’s browser gameplay lab.
On this page
OverviewTHE PROJECT

Build a level and play it in the same browser tab.

For
Developers exploring browser-native gameplay, rendering, and level workflows.
Outcome
A public MIT-licensed lab with a playable showcase, fourteen feature stations, and a level editor that can move directly into play-testing.
Kinema menu for entering the showcase and opening the editor
Original Kinema menu capture from the public repository.
The experienceIN USE

Try the gameplay, then open the editor and change the level.

My contribution
I designed and built Kinema’s gameplay systems, browser editor, and rendering paths. I also work on input support and the tests I use to check changes.
Editorial visualization of level-editing tools beside a gameplay viewport
Editorial illustration of Kinema’s level-editing workflow.
Technical detailsBUILD CHOICES

How it works.

System
TypeScript and Three.js coordinate Rapier physics, WebGPU-first rendering with WebGL compatibility, keyboard/gamepad/touch input, runtime systems, and a lazy-loaded browser editor.
Key decisions
  • Keep the editor and play-testing in the same application so changes can be tried immediately.
  • Maintain a WebGL compatibility path alongside WebGPU and test browser-specific behaviour, including Safari.
  • Give the showcase named feature stations so I can go straight to the system I’m testing.
Constraints
  • The same build has to work for desktop play, testing on mobile, and browsers that render differently.
Kinema target arena station demonstrating gameplay systems and visual effects
Original repository capture of the target arena used to try gameplay and visual effects.
Looking backPROJECT NOTES

Notes from the project.

  • Kinema is MIT-licensed and still in active development.

I started Kinema to see how much of game development I could bring into the browser. I wanted to be able to build a level and play it without moving between separate applications.

The current showcase includes a third-person controller, vehicles, hazards, and collectibles. F1 opens the editor, where you can use brushes and transform tools, inspect objects, undo changes, and enter play-test mode.

The repository has setup instructions, an architecture overview, compatibility notes, and the commands for running the checks locally if you want to explore or extend it.