New horror game forces you to smile to survive

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A new indie horror game is coming out that has a unique challenge: you have to keep smiling, even when things get scary!

The game Don’t Stop Smiling seems cheerful at first, but you’ll quickly discover a dark secret hidden beneath the surface.

Smiley Dog’s new horror game has a unique twist: you have to smile to stay alive! The game uses your computer’s camera to read your facial expressions, so your real-life reactions directly impact gameplay.

Don’t expect any leniency from this game. A single moment of hesitation – even a brief loss of composure – means instant death for your character.

You’ll need to keep smiling to play this horror game

The game takes place in a spooky school with shadowy hallways, classrooms, and other dark spaces. You’ll solve puzzles and encounter frightening creatures as you explore, all while trying to stay positive.

Okay, so this game is kinda cool – it actually shows my face on screen! There’s this little 3D model in the top-left corner that uses my webcam to copy my expressions. It’s a neat way to see how I’m reacting to everything that’s happening in the game.

The trailer shows exactly what happens when someone stops smiling: a pair of hands abruptly cover their eyes, and the screen cuts to static displaying the message, “Smile Broken.”

According to Steam, a full playthrough takes around 45 to 60 minutes. Additionally, while there’s no exact release date yet, the game is planned to launch in Q2 2026. 

Don’t Stop Smiling isn’t alone in trying new things with horror games. For instance, Eyes Never Wake makes you actually hide when the monster spots you. And Cling to Blindness takes it a step further by removing visuals altogether, so you have to navigate using sound alone.

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2026-01-12 08:19