Sesami

Sesami.fun turns cities into interactive playgrounds. Solve real-world clues, earn rewards, and connect with others through story-driven missions, social hunts, and lunch break games.

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Inspiration

I’ve always been passionate about clue-solving games — escape rooms, puzzles, city hunts. That love inspired me to create Sesami.fun, a platform that turns cities into interactive playgrounds, combining storytelling, exploration, and real-world interaction.

The idea was to build something that blends fun with connection — not just a game, but a way for people to meet, explore, and play together.

What it does

Sesami.fun is a platform for location-based and virtual mystery missions. Players choose from city hunts, lunch-break games, or social events — solve clues, follow a narrative, earn points, and win rewards. It connects players through gameplay and exploration, both locally and globally.

How we built it

  • Frontend: Built with Bolt.new, using AI to generate UI components and iterate on design. I customised layout and styling where needed.
  • Backend: Built on Firebase, including:
    • Authentication
    • Firestore (Database)
    • Cloud Functions
    • Cloud Storage
  • Game Mechanics: Each game contains missions that unfold through a narrative. Players complete challenges in sequence — some location-based, others virtual.
  • Leaderboard System: Tracks player scores across missions for added engagement.

Challenges we ran into

  • Backend Schema & API Design: Initially, Bolt.new didn’t expose what data was needed under the hood. I reverse-engineered it until I realised I could just ask the AI to generate matching models and APIs.
  • Real-World Mission Design: Building outdoor missions like Operation Shadow Eclipse required planning around physical spaces and user flow.
  • Time Constraints: With limited hackathon time, I focused on delivering one polished mission experience instead of spreading across all three game types.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We built a beautiful, fully working platform — both frontend and backend — using tools and stacks that were new to me. This was all done in my free time, alongside my regular job and personal life. I'm proud to have achieved this level of polish and functionality within such a short timeframe.

This project also taught me how AI tools like Bolt.new can massively accelerate early development. It’s incredible how quickly ideas can turn into working products when the right tools are used effectively.

What we learned

  • How to make the most of AI-powered dev tools like Bolt.new — not just for UI, but for generating backend models and endpoints.
  • The importance of flexible data structures to support branching missions and player progress.
  • How even lightweight games need thoughtful UX and game flow to keep players engaged.
  • Learned new tech such as Bolt and Firebase.

What's next for Sesami

Sesami is just getting started. Here’s what I see coming:

  • AI-generated, adaptive storylines
  • Augmented reality clues and overlays
  • Custom missions for Halloween, birthdays, corporate events, and festivals

With the right support, Sesami.fun can become the go-to platform for real-world social gaming — making cities more playful and connections more meaningful.

Challenges applying for

I’d like to apply for the Custom Domain Challenge. It took me quite a while to come up with the right name for the project and secure a domain that fit.

The name Sesami is a playful twist on "Open Sesame" — a phrase that evokes unlocking secrets and hidden treasures, perfectly fitting the mystery and adventure theme of the game. It’s cheeky, memorable, and meaningful.

Naming, branding, and securing the domain felt like an important part of building the foundation of the platform, and I’m proud of how well it came together.

Built With

  • bolt
  • firebase
  • firebase-authentication
  • firebase-cloud-storage
  • firebase-cloudfunctions
  • firestore
  • netlify
  • nextjs
  • rest-api
  • typescript
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