Case Study: Building a Telegram Mini App and Web App for the Online and In-Person Game “Shadows of the Kingdom”
This story began with a simple question: could we build a Telegram bot for the original games Cashflow and “Shadows of the Kingdom”?
For the first test, we used the current game instructions and assembled the first screens in just a few hours. We liked the result so much that it became clear this was more than a handy reference — it could become the foundation of a full product.
We continued to develop the idea by adding learning modules, progress tracking, quizzes, search, links between related materials, and the “My Party” section. What began as a small test grew into a bilingual Telegram Mini App and web app for “Shadows of the Kingdom.”
About the Project
“Shadows of the Kingdom” is an original fantasy Mafia game by Vasily Stakh, created at the intersection of psychology, influence, and negotiation.
It is more than a variation of classic Mafia: the game includes 25 characters, four factions, 34 artifacts, and dozens of combinations of roles and mechanics.
Even a player who would be an ordinary civilian in classic Mafia can influence the course of the game here. When a character leaves the main scenario, the player’s participation does not end. Each new combination of characters and artifacts makes every session different from the last.
Skills the Game Develops
- Deduction and the ability to distinguish facts from manipulation.
- Argumentation and the ability to stand by one’s position.
- Negotiation and interaction with other people.
- Influence and leadership.
- Emotional control in tense situations.
The game is designed for 8–22 participants and usually lasts 60–90 minutes.
The Challenge
The game has a large living world: roles, factions, abilities, artifacts, rules, and tactics. It is difficult for newcomers, experienced players, and hosts alike to keep all of this in mind.
The goal was not simply to move a manual into Telegram. We needed to create a clear assistant players could turn to before the game and during a session.
What We Built
We created an interactive application with game materials in Ukrainian and Russian: a Telegram Mini App and a web app.
Interactive Course
The app includes 75 lessons across 11 topics: rules, factions, characters, artifacts, tactics, FAQ, and materials for the host. Lessons include prompts and short quizzes that help players understand the rules rather than simply read them.
Players can see their progress by topic and across the entire course, move through the materials at their own pace, and return to any section when needed.
Search and Cross-Links
Quick search helps players find a specific role or artifact immediately. Cross-links connect the materials in a Wikipedia-like way: from a character description, a player can move to a related artifact or another character.
This is especially important in a game with many interconnected mechanics: the right information is only a few taps away instead of being lost in a long instruction manual.
“My Party”
Players select their role and received artifacts, turning the app into a personal reference card for the game session.
There is no need to search through dozens of materials for a key rule: the character, abilities, and artifacts remain close at hand. We also included the special “King’s Decree” rule, which adds an extra artifact during a session.
Telegram and the Web App
The main format is a Telegram Mini App, so players can open the materials where they already communicate and arrange game sessions. We also built a web app so the product can be used in the format that is most convenient for the player.
How the App Helps During a Game
- Players learn the rules, roles, and artifacts through short lessons.
- They reinforce key knowledge with quizzes and track their progress.
- When needed, they quickly find the right material through search and cross-links.
- Once cards are dealt, they open “My Party” — a personal reference with their role and artifacts.
The Result
“Shadows of the Kingdom” now has more than a digital rulebook. It has a space that helps people get to know the game, understand its mechanics more deeply, and avoid getting lost in details during a live session.
The app is already actively used in online and in-person games. New sessions provide real feedback and help evolve the product together with players and hosts.
We did not create a replacement for the live game. We created its digital continuation: a tool that makes a complex game world more accessible and helps every participant engage with more confidence.
Services Provided
- Product logic and user-flow design.
- UI/UX interface design.
- Telegram Mini App development.
- Web app development.
- Bilingual content structuring.
- Search, cross-links, quizzes, and the personal “My Party” flow.
