Smiley Dog Studio has revealed its latest project, “Don’t Stop Smiling,” a first-person psychological horror game that turns your own face into the controller.
Set within the eerie confines of a Japanese public high school, the game utilizes real-time facial recognition via webcam. But unlike games that use your likeness for fun, “Don’t Stop Smiling” uses it for a form of emotional torture: if the camera catches your smile fading for even a second, it’s Game Over.
The game’s core loop centers on a disturbing form of cognitive dissonance. While players navigate the eerie school, they encounter puzzles and narrative choices that are intentionally “unpleasant.” To progress, players must be complicit in harmful acts and morally troubling situations.
The challenge isn’t just solving the puzzle—it’s maintaining a grin while your conscience tells you to recoil.
In a departure from traditional “slasher” or “stalker” horror, there are no monsters lurking in the halls and no combat systems to master. The threat is entirely internal. By forcing a physical expression of joy during moments of psychological disgust, the game aims to create a visceral sense of “faking it” that mirrors real-world social pressures.
“Don’t Stop Smiling” is slated for a Q2 2026 release. The game is available to wishlist now on Steam.
