Indie developer Smiley Dog has announced Don’t Stop Smiling, a psychological horror game set to launch on PC in Q2 2026. The game introduces a terrifyingly simple mechanic: you must keep smiling at all times to survive. Using a PC camera to track your real-time facial expressions, the game monitors your face as you explore. If your smile falters for even a moment, your character dies. This innovative link between real-world emotions and in-game consequences turns a natural human expression into a source of constant tension and dread.

Exploration and Psychological Tension

The game places players in dimly lit school corridors where they must solve puzzles and navigate increasingly hostile environments. As the atmosphere grows more oppressive and frightening, maintaining a smile becomes a physical and emotional challenge. Don’t Stop Smiling is designed as a short but intense experience, with a typical playthrough lasting around 45 to 60 minutes. This compact format ensures that the tension remains high from start to finish, providing a focused session that tests the player’s nerves and facial control.

Streamer Friendly and System Specs

Smiley Dog is actively encouraging content creators to share their experiences, making the game ideal for live-stream reactions. Streamers are free to monetize their videos as long as they provide a link to the game’s Steam page. For those looking to run the game, the minimum requirements include Windows 11, an Intel Core i5 processor, and an NVIDIA GTX 960 GPU. For the best experience, recommended specs suggest an Intel Core i7 and an NVIDIA GTX 1080 Ti. With its unique premise, Don’t Stop Smiling aims to redefine immersion in the indie horror scene.

Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/4229600/DONT_STOP_SMILING/