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Perfecting the difficulty curve with Zepto Lab

Om Nom Run Logo with characters of the game on the right

Industry

Gaming

Challenge

Om Nom: Run had a major structural problem with the difficulty curves. Most players were unable to last more than 5 seconds before hitting an obstacle and having to start over.

Results

The team rebalanced levels, smoothed out progression, and set the game up for success. The outcome: 50%+ Day 1 retention and 5 million downloads in the first month

Playtest

Single-session playtest

www.zeptolab.com
+50%
Day 1 Retention
5M
Downloads in First Month
6
Iterative Testing Months

We had a feeling in the back of our heads originally that something was wrong with our game. So we were glad to have tested with PlaytestCloud in order to pinpoint the issues before releasing the game. The main value we always get out of using PlaytestCloud is user experience. Our method is to always watch what the player does using the touch indicators on the videos and listen with a critical ear to what the players are saying.

Liudmila Pashina

Project Manager @Zepto Lab

Zepto Lab green logo

About Zepto Lab

ZeptoLab is a global mobile game company best known for the blockbuster Cut the Rope franchise. Since 2016, they’ve used PlaytestCloud to test new ideas, concepts, and full games. With Om Nom: Run, they successfully expanded the Om Nom universe into the endless runner genre.

Finding the Right Difficulty Curve

ZeptoLab, creators of the hit Cut the Rope series, wanted their new endless runner Om Nom: Run to launch strong. But internal playtests weren’t giving them the right answers — testers were too close to the project and biased.

When they ran a final single-session playtest with PlaytestCloud, the results were eye-opening: most players couldn’t last more than 5 seconds before hitting an obstacle, even though they were experienced with endless runners.

The challenge was clear: the game’s difficulty curve was broken, and it risked turning players away before the fun even began.

Iterative Testing to Rebalance Gameplay

After spotting the issue, ZeptoLab extended development by 6 months to refine Om Nom: Run. Their process included:

  • Decreasing obstacle density to make early runs more engaging.

  • Continuous playtesting with PlaytestCloud’s target audience to validate each update.

  • Level-by-level iteration to find the sweet spot between fun and challenge.

As Project Manager Liudmila Pashina explained:

“PlaytestCloud is cheaper and faster to use than running focus groups.”

Results: A Strong Global Launch

Through this iterative playtesting campaign, ZeptoLab rebuilt Om Nom: Run’s difficulty curve and optimized the onboarding experience. The results speak for themselves:

  • 50%+ Day 1 retention

  • 5 million downloads in the first month

  • A balanced game that’s both fun and challenging

Curious about playtesting with PlaytestCloud?

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