React Three Fiber Game

Overview

Use this skill when the 3D runtime lives inside a React application. This is the default React-native 3D path in the plugin and should be preferred over vanilla Three.js when the app shell, settings, storefront, editor surface, or surrounding product already uses React.

Recommended stack:

• @react-three/fiber
• three
• @react-three/drei
• @react-three/rapier
• @react-three/postprocessing
• @react-three/a11y when accessibility-sensitive interaction matters
• DOM overlays in the normal React tree

Use This Skill When

• the project already uses React
• the 3D scene must share state with the rest of the app
• declarative scene composition is a net gain
• the team wants pmndrs helpers instead of building every helper layer by hand

Do Not Use This Skill When

• the app is not React-based
• the project wants a cleaner imperative runtime with minimal React coordination
• the problem is asset packaging rather than runtime composition

Best Fit Scenarios

• 3D configurators and tool-rich browser products
• React apps with embedded game or scene surfaces
• 3D menus, editors, or world maps in an existing React app
• 3D game UIs that depend on shared app state and non-canvas shells

Core Rules

1. Keep simulation state outside render components.
   • React components should describe scene composition, not become the source of truth for gameplay rules.
2. Use React state and scene state deliberately.
   • Shared UI state can live in app state.
   • High-frequency simulation should not force the whole app through unnecessary React churn.
3. Use pmndrs helpers intentionally.
   • Drei for controls, loaders, helpers, environments, and common scene primitives.
   • @react-three/rapier for physics integration.
   • @react-three/postprocessing for optional effects.
   • @react-three/a11y when the interaction model benefits from accessible scene semantics.
4. Keep HUD, settings, and menus in DOM by default.
5. Keep starter scaffolds visually restrained.
   • Start with one compact objective or status surface and transient prompts.
   • Keep notes, maps, and multi-step checklists collapsed until opened.
   • Do not surround the Canvas with equally weighted glass cards.

Architectural Guidance

• Use a dedicated scene root component that owns the Canvas.
• Keep camera rigs and control components isolated from gameplay systems.
• Keep loader and asset wrappers predictable.
• Keep DOM overlays and the 3D scene coordinated through explicit state boundaries.
• If a system needs tight imperative control, isolate it rather than forcing everything into declarative patterns.
• If the scene is immediately playable, keep the initial overlay budget low and let the world do more of the onboarding.

Anti-Patterns

• Treating React components as the gameplay state store
• Pushing heavy per-frame mutation through broad app state
• Using R3F only because React is available, even when the project needs a cleaner imperative runtime
• Building HUD or inventory UI inside the 3D scene by default
• Shipping an initial scaffold with large cards occupying every side of the viewport

References

• Shared architecture: ../web-game-foundations/SKILL.md
• Frontend direction: ../game-ui-frontend/SKILL.md
• 3D HUD layout patterns: ../../references/three-hud-layout-patterns.md
• React Three Fiber stack: ../../references/react-three-fiber-stack.md
• React starter: ../../references/react-three-fiber-starter.md
• GLB loader starter: ../../references/gltf-loading-starter.md
• Rapier starter: ../../references/rapier-integration-starter.md
• 3D asset pipeline: ../../references/web-3d-asset-pipeline.md
• WebGL debugging and perf: ../../references/webgl-debugging-and-performance.md