LocaGo on Telegram
UI UX Lead
UI Game Design
EXPLORE
EXPLORE
EXPLORE
LocaGo Mini-Game – Designing an Engaging Web3 Game Funnel on Telegram
Overview
LocaGo is a Web3-based mini-app built on Telegram, designed to blend real-world physical activity with blockchain rewards. Inspired by the mechanics of Pokémon Go, players move in the physical world, check in at various locations, and earn points that can be exchanged for on-chain rewards.
As the UI/UX Lead, I was responsible for creating an engaging, mobile-first game interface that aligns with Telegram’s native experience while standing out visually to attract and retain new users.
The Challenge
Catching up with the emerging trend of Web3 gaming on Telegram mini-apps
Designing a UI that feels like a game (not a chatbot), despite platform limitations
Creating a casual gameplay loop that’s easy to understand and addictive
Turning the game into an effective user acquisition funnel for the broader Loca ecosystem
Delivering fast in a tight production cycle
My Role
Role: UI/UX Lead
Team: 1 Game Designer, 1 Blockchain Developer, 1 PM
I was in charge of the game UI concept, interaction flow, reward visibility, and visual design, while collaborating closely with Telegram bot developers for implementation.
⚙️ Design Process
1. Game & Market Research
I studied Telegram mini-games with high retention (e.g. Hamster Kombat, Notcoin, TapSwap) to understand:
What kind of game mechanics were driving daily engagement
What UI patterns were working within Telegram's limited web app environment
How to visually guide non-Web3 users into understanding points → rewards → wallets
2. Define the Gameplay Loop
To ensure high retention, we simplified the loop to 3 core actions:
Move → Check-in at location
Earn points
Claim & convert to Web3 rewards
The loop needed to be short, satisfying, and repeatable—with immediate feedback and progression visuals.
3. UI & Visual Language
Created a game UI that feels lightweight, colorful, and interactive — avoiding the typical flat Telegram bot look.
Used iconic illustrations and movement-related metaphors to signal progress and action.
Designed a check-in map, daily missions, and claimable rewards screen, all optimized for vertical mobile UI.
Balanced a playful tone with Web3 onboarding cues (wallet connection, token rewards) to support first-time crypto users.
4. Micro-Interactions
Even in a constrained platform like Telegram, I added animated feedback (progress bars, point pop-ups, reward chests opening) to boost dopamine hits and gamified the overall experience.
Results & Impact
Successfully launched the game within 3 weeks, on time and aligned with Telegram's platform constraints
Game UI received positive feedback from early testers for being fun, clear, and rewarding
60%+ users who played the game connected their Web3 wallet within the first 3 sessions
LocaGo became an effective onboarding funnel for the parent platform, converting Telegram users into app users
Achieved >12K check-ins in the first month with zero paid promotion
Reflection
Designing LocaGo was an exercise in UX minimalism within platform constraints, where every tap and visual element needed to be both functional and fun. The key takeaway was how game psychology (feedback loops, rewards, visual stimulation) can be merged with Web3 onboarding to drive meaningful engagement.
This case reinforced that even within limited UI environments like Telegram mini-apps, you can create powerful, brand-aligned experiences with the right balance of clarity, playfulness, and reward visibility.
