K-Hardcore Platformer ‘Pass the Bomb: Runner’, Running with a Bomb

• Indie game challenge by Pai Chai University student team TRINUT STUDIO
• A unique balance action where the bomb’s center of gravity changes movement speed

TRINUT STUDIO, a K-indie game studio composed mainly of students from Pai Chai University, has released the 3D hardcore action platformer ‘Pass the Bomb: Runner’ on PC.

The game is a unique hardcore action platformer where you must run while carrying a bomb and maintain your balance. The balance action, where movement varies based on your center of gravity, and the game structure, which tolerates no mistakes, create tension, while the addition of a ‘catch system’ that allows you to retrieve dropped bombs to continue playing provides the thrill of heart-pounding twists.

The only rule for running with a bomb: Do not drop it.

The core of the game is the single rule that you must run to the end without dropping the bomb. Players run while holding the bomb themselves, and while it may look like a simple running game, in reality, delicate balance actions involving adjusting the bomb’s height and arm angle are crucial.

Since the bomb’s movement speed varies depending on changes in its center of gravity, players must move while being conscious of their balance at every moment. The structure, where a single mistake leads to immediate failure, is designed to maximize the tension characteristic of the hardcore genre.

In addition, a ‘Catch System’ has been introduced as a variable in gameplay. Even if you drop a bomb, the game does not end immediately; instead, you can quickly catch the bomb dropped on the ground to continue. Thanks to this, the thrill of dramatically recovering from nail-biting moments becomes another charm of the game.

From fields to dungeons, a diverse composition of 5 stages

The game consists of five stages progressing in the order of fields, forests, caves, snowy mountains, and dungeons. Each stage has different backgrounds and terrain characteristics, so the required sense of balance varies slightly.

From the tranquility of wide-open fields to dark caves, rugged snowy mountains, and finally the dungeon that serves as the final gateway, the difficulty and tension naturally escalate as the stages progress. The 3D visuals, powered by the Unity engine, intuitively convey the environmental characteristics of each stage and support the intense atmosphere typical of hardcore games.

The sound design was also tailored to the tense situation of running with a bomb. Unlike the quiet fields, the oppressive atmosphere intensifies as you enter caves and dungeons, stimulating the player’s concentration in conjunction with the bomb’s countdown sound effects.

TRINUT STUDIO, a K-Indie created by Pai Chai University students

TRINUT STUDIO and HOPIN are indie development teams composed primarily of students majoring in Game Engineering in the School of Software Engineering at Pai Chai University. ‘Path the Bomb: Runner’ is a project completed by a small team combining their respective major capabilities, led by Jeon Kyung-chan, who handled overall management and programming, along with planner Kim Seo-woo, 3D modeler Park Jin-seong, and UI designer Ryu Cho-hyun. The project is garnering attention both inside and outside the school as development news and download links are being shared through the Pai Chai University Game Engineering department channel.

TRINUT STUDIO handles both development and publishing in-house and continues to provide rapid updates even after the official launch on April 3, 2026. By incorporating player feedback collected immediately after release, they are continuously refining gameplay through the 2.0 patch, including the introduction of a new system that restores resurrection opportunities upon the arrival of “New Items.” This approach of actively communicating with the community and growing the game together demonstrates the close-knit development culture unique to indie studios, which is rarely seen in large studios.

The selection of Steam and STOVE as simultaneous launch platforms is interpreted as a move mindful of the domestic player base. STOVE, operated by Smilegate Megaport, is a platform that has actively embraced Korean indie games, and this simultaneous release is expected to provide broader accessibility to domestic hardcore action game fans.

Pass the Bomb: Runner Related Information