Peel Out!

Fruit-Fueled Fun — Anytime, Anywhere.

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Inspiration

Peel Out! was born from the idea of making a fruit-filled, over-the-top obstacle race that’s just as fun on mobile as it is in VR. I wanted to create a game that feels like a playful party — colorful, silly, and easy to jump into — but also replayable, with leaderboards and challenges that keep players coming back. The goofy, anthropomorphic fruit characters and “slippery chaos” theme came from wanting something lighthearted and universally appealing, while leaning into a design that could scale for mobile players without losing charm.

What It Does

Peel Out! lets players dash, slip, and slide through a vibrant fruit-themed obstacle course, racing either their friends or their own personal best times. Players must:

  • Avoid “rotten” fruits (dark-colored ones) that send them back to the start.
  • Navigate swinging obstacles and launch pads that can toss them off the track.
  • Collect stars while racing to boost their score.
  • Compete for leaderboard glory with two main boards:
    • Blazin’ Bananas: Fastest time finishers (VR and Mobile).
    • Bruised Berries: Players with the most spectacular wipeouts.

Even while the full gameplay launches in Early July, players can already explore the course, hang out in the lobby, and see where they’ll soon compete for glory.

How We Built It

The world was built in Meta Horizon Worlds, with a focus on:

  • Mobile-friendly textures and assets: Custom tileable floor, wall, and ceiling textures for a polished look without tanking performance.
  • Optimized gameplay flow: A clear lobby area, start pad, and signage make it easy for new and mobile players to join.
  • Custom art and branding: All logo, characters, signs, and leaderboard frames were designed to match a bright, cartoony “fruit-fueled” theme.
  • Leaderboards and UI elements: Created to celebrate both the best players (Blazin’ Bananas) and the most entertaining (Bruised Berries).

Challenges We Ran Into

  1. Optimizing for Mobile
    • Balancing bright, detailed visuals with smooth performance so the game feels lively without lagging on phones.
  2. Clear Communication for Players
    • Designing intuitive start areas, posters, and icons so players instantly know how to play, even on a small screen.
  3. Balancing Fun with Simplicity
    • Ensuring the physics (slipping, launching, falling) feel chaotic and fun but never unfair or frustrating.

Accomplishments That We’re Proud Of

  • Building a fully branded, visually rich world that runs smoothly on both VR and mobile.
  • Creating eye-catching leaderboards and UI that make players feel rewarded (or hilariously roasted).
  • Designing a fun, social space (the lobby) where players can hang out, practice, and get ready before the race begins.
  • Developing a game that is simple to pick up but addictive to master, ensuring long-term replay value.

What We Learned

  • How to balance performance and style for cross-platform play.
  • The importance of clear visual language (textures, signs, pads) for guiding players on smaller screens.
  • How much social features and humor (like the Bruised Berries board) can enhance retention and fun.

What’s Next for Peel Out!

  • Player Rewards & Shop: Unlockable fun accessories and power-ups (like peelers or speed boosts) coming soon, making the game even more replayable.
  • More Courses: After launch, we’ll expand with additional race maps to keep the experience fresh.
  • Events & Tournaments: Community-driven competitions with rewards to boost engagement for both VR and mobile players.

Built With

  • and-cross-platform-optimization-(vr-+-mobile).-**horizon-script-(visual-scripting-system)**-?-used-for-race-logic
  • and-interactive-elements.-**custom-2d-asset-creation**-?-logos
  • blender
  • canva
  • ceilings)
  • gameplay-scripting
  • horizon
  • meta
  • player-tracking
  • star-collection
  • textures-(tileable-floor
  • timers
  • typescript
  • visual-studio
  • walls
  • worlds-editor
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