YC alum-led Tesana shows a 2-day, 39-prompt AI-built game prototype
The Los Angeles startup posted a vibe-first prototyping clip on X; it says it used muranyi-3 and roughly $90 in tokens. Engine and funding remain undisclosed.
By Ryan Merket · · updated
Why it matters
If the approach is repeatable, defining tone and world first could let small teams ship playable prototypes in days, not weeks, tightening iteration cycles and reducing upfront scope risk.
Tesana, a Los Angeles startup led by CEO and co-founder Johannes V. and co-founder and CTO Eric H., posted a video via its X account TesanaAI (@TesanaAI) showing a playable game prototype it says was built entirely with AI in two days using 39 prompts. "This game was vibe coded in 2 days. 39 prompts. 100% AI-built," the team wrote. Tesana says the run used a model it calls muranyi-3 and logged about $90 in token spend so far.
https://x.com/TesanaAI/status/2061134360984567817
The clip frames a workflow that locks tone and world-building before mechanics. Instead of checking off features, the first prompt establishes a north-star brief for setting and feel, with successive prompts pushing toward a loop that reads coherently on screen. The pitch is speed and cohesion over early complexity.
Founders: Johannes is a Y Combinator alum (W22) from his prior company ITCHY, a D2C subscription for chronic skin conditions. He has more recently promoted Juice, the founders' short-form content automation product, saying in a public post that it reached $1m ARR in under two months. Eric previously built Musicboard, a consumer music community app.
Why it matters: For founders and solo builders, the post is a compact case study in compressing the path from idea to a functional prototype with AI assistance. Prioritizing mood, setting, and interaction style can help converge on something you can play and judge quickly.
How to apply it:
- Start with a high-level brief that nails the mood, setting, and player verbs.
- Keep the initial loop minimal and testable.
- Iterate with prompts that refine feel and readability before layering systems and UI.
- Only then add enemies, progression, and polish.
Bottom line: For founders, this is a clean signal that AI-first, vibe-led prototyping can compress cycle time. Getting to a playable feel in two days with a tight 39-prompt stack and roughly $90 in tokens reframes early game-making as days, not weeks. Adopt the discipline and you increase the odds of faster conviction and more shots on goal.