Nope Challenge is a game where you face your fears while escaping on Quest.
Nope Challenge, created by Happy Manic, is a psychological game that allows you to confront more than 40 common phobias, such as clowns, spiders and heights. Described as a journey of empowerment, you can express 'NOPE' at any time by placing a NOPE button on your arm, which will take you out of these stressful situations and put you into a more relaxing 'breather'.
Nope Challenge contains nine individual challenges with three intensity levels: light, medium and extreme. Happy Manic states that it uses “advanced dynamic AI” to ensure encounters are never the same, while every choice determines how these experiences unfold.
Our video producer Don Hopper recently spoke with Joe Halper, founder and creative director of Happy Manic, to learn more. We discuss how the game's challenges and 'breathers' work, how VR immersion benefits this premise, possible post-launch plans, and more: Here's our full GDC 2024 interview:
Nope Challenge is available today on the Meta-quest platform, while other headsets are currently being considered.
Note: This article was originally published on April 11, 2024. It was updated on April 25 to reflect the release of Nope Challenge.