Spookality is back! That means it’s time to gather around the campfire and tell each other spooky stories and– wait, who is that? Did anyone see that shadowy figure? Hey, why does that guy over there have a retro goalie mask and a knife?
…was that a scream?
I’m sure it’s nothing! Anyway: Spookality! This year, we’ll be doing more than just a Jam for Spookality – but we’ll have more about that later in the month. For now, we wanted to give you a head start, so the freaky-looking masked murderer doesn’t stab you–er, I mean, so you can get going on making your best worlds and avatars!
This year’s theme? We’re bringing you to Camp Whispering Screams: a tribute to 80s-style horror. Think slashers, creepy tales, and the birth of modern horror.
Let’s get into the Jams – but first up, important dates for both:
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Submissions Open: Sept 3 – Oct 1
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Judging: Oct 2 - Oct 15
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Showcase Period: Oct 16 - Nov 2
Avatars: Spookality 2026 – In the Safe Zone
Objective: survive.
The avatar you craft is a survivor: someone who is still here despite the odds. The apocalypse? A massacre? A zombie uprising? A weird cult? An abandoned space station? We leave it up to you – what does this unlikely hero look like after they’ve crawled through the horrors?
Anything goes, as long as it also fits into the overarching 80s theme mentioned above!
Avatars submitted to the Spookality 2026 Avatar Jam will be judged on a scale of 1 - 10 across the following categories:
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Performance: Must be Medium or better on all platforms (PC, Android, iOS)
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Style / Aesthetics: Is this a good-looking avatar?
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Survival Rate: Does it match the “Survivor” theme? How was this interpreted?
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Retro Horror: Is this something that would fit in with a 80s Retro Horror Movie?
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Extra Features: bonus points for face tracking, neat tricks or gimmicks, etc.
Avatars MUST be cross-platform (PC, Android & iOS!) Likewise, avatars must have been uploaded after the start of the jam!
There will be 12 winners! Of course, we’ve got prizes:
The twelve (12) highest-rated avatars by judges will be awarded:
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A one (1) year VRC+ subscription;
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A special Spookality 2026 badge
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Fast-tracked into the Avatar Marketplace Seller Program, if they’re not already in it
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A spot in a special Spookality public avatars row
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A spot in the Hub world mirror during the Showcase period
All other entrants will be considered to be featured in the Spookality Avatar Row, although they will be featured after the winners.
Worlds: Spookality 2026 – Huddle Around the Campfire
Something has gone horribly wrong. Nothing is as it seems. Yet… even stranger, this one place seems to be safe. Is it because of the light? A certain vibe? An ancient ritual? The toasty marshmallows!?
Maybe safety isn’t tied to one place, but rather one that’s moving. Maybe you unlock more with artifacts from the entity’s past. Maybe you need to claim it all back from the encroaching darkness. It’s up to you! Use your imagination!
For this Jam, create a world that has two types of areas. First: a creepy, horrifying, or unnerving atmosphere with something lurking… then, second: one or more Safe Zones that you can temporarily escape to. In these Safe Zones, you can meet up with your friends to coordinate, match up key items, exchange puzzle info, or just relax for a bit from the horrors of the world outside. Maybe you can’t even communicate at all outside of them…
But, something’s knocking on the window. It knows you’re in here. To solve the mystery and escape, you must head back out and face your fears…
Worlds submitted to the Spookality 2026 World Jam will be judged on a scale of 1 - 10 across the following categories:
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Concept Execution: What’s out there in the hazard zones? How were the Safe Zones implemented? Is the game design clever? How fun is the experience? How’s the writing? Does it feel like it pays off to finish things up?
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Technical Execution: Is this world free of technical bugs?
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Retro Horror: Is this something that would fit in with a 80s Retro Horror Movie?
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Overall Experience
Worlds MUST be cross-platform (PC, Android & iOS!) Likewise, worlds must have been uploaded after the start of the jam!
As with avatars, we’ll be selecting twelve (12) winning entries! These winners will receive:
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A one (1) year VRC+ subscription;
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A special Spookality 2026 badge
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Fast-tracked into the Creator Economy Seller Program, if they’re not already in it
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Featured in a special Spookality World Row during the Showcase period
All other entrants will be considered to be featured in the Spookality World Row – although they will be featured after the winners.
As a note, the Year of VRC+ can be split with up to 4 team members.
The badge can be granted to up to 5 collaborative members per winning entry.
Stay Safe Out There!
The clock starts now! Get working on your creations! Don’t remember, though, we’ve got some additional surprises for Spookality this year. What are they? Here, lean in, and I’ll tell you. Just wait for October – wait, was that another scream?
Agh! There’s no time! Run!