Rune
Rune is a social gaming app for playing multiplayer HTML5 games together with voice chat, available on iOS and Android.
What Rune is
Rune is a social gaming app for playing multiplayer HTML5 games together with voice chat, available on iOS and Android. For developers, it handles game hosting, accounts and friends, matchmaking, voice chat, spectating, and issues such as version mismatches and conflicts. Games can be built with web frameworks such as React, Svelte, Vue, r3f, and PixiJS, then run in Rune's WebView. Rune runs game logic on servers and uses predict-rollback to synchronize play, so developers do not have to write game networking code. Listed examples of supported game styles include board, sports, co-op, strategy, simulation, physics-based, party, and arcade games. Developers can start projects with `npx rune@latest create` or add the SDK manually; the recommended template includes Rune-specific ESLint and Vite plugins. Game logic must use a subset of JavaScript, with synchronous actions under 10 ms and under 1 MB of memory. Uploaded games should be under 25 MB unzipped. Rune is free for players and developers, with game hosting included. Its LLM prompt API is a preview for developer testing and is currently free to try.
Good
- Free for players and game developers
- Game hosting is included
- Handles matchmaking, voice chat, and spectating
- Works with several web frameworks
Watch out
- Game logic must use a subset of JavaScript
- Actions must be synchronous and under 10 ms
- Game logic is limited to under 1 MB memory
- Uploaded games should be under 25 MB unzipped
Who it suits
Rune suits players looking for multiplayer HTML5 games with voice chat, as well as developers building web-framework games for its app. Developers should be comfortable working within the listed JavaScript, timing, and memory limits.
Verdict
Rune pairs a mobile social gaming app with infrastructure for developers creating multiplayer HTML5 games. Its free offering includes hosting, though game logic and upload size have defined limits.
Plans and prices
From Rune's own pricing page, checked 9 Oct 2001.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Rune for developers and players | Free | No paid tiers or usage limits stated · Free for players and game developers; game hosting is free. |
The facts
Each one read from Rune's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- AI API
- Rune’s LLM prompt API is marked as a preview for developer testing, and the page says it is currently free to test.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Creator Fund
- Rune says developers can apply for the Creator Fund after their games reach 100+ hours per month and a 5% return rate.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Development SDK
- Developers can start a project with `npx rune@latest create` or add the SDK manually; the docs recommend a Rune template with Rune-specific ESLint and Vite plugins.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Game frameworks
- Games can use web frameworks such as React, Svelte, Vue, r3f, and PixiJS, and run in the Rune app’s WebView.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Game infrastructure
- Rune handles netcode, hosting servers, accounts and friends, voice chat, matchmaking, version mismatches, conflict resolution, and spectating.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Game logic limits
- Game logic must use a subset of JavaScript; actions must be synchronous, take under 10 ms, and use under 1 MB of memory.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Game upload limit
- The FAQ says an uploaded game should be under 25 MB when unzipped.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Multiplayer technology
- Rune runs game logic on servers and uses predict-rollback to sync play without developers writing game networking code.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Support
- The docs direct developers to the Rune Discord server for questions about adapting an existing game.checked 9 Oct 2001
- Supported game types
- The docs list board, sports, co-op, strategy, simulation, physics-based, party, and arcade games as examples of supported games.checked 9 Oct 2001
- What it does
- Rune is a social gaming app for playing multiplayer HTML5 games together, with voice chat.checked 9 Oct 2001
The company
- Maker
- The official developer site identifies the company as Rune AI Inc.; its FAQ says Rune was founded by Bjarke and Sanjay, who had been PhD students together at MIT.checked 9 Oct 2001
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