Obby is a genre of game that is essentially an obstacle course – players complete levels (frequently called stages) that typically gradually ascend in difficulty and intensity until they beat the game. There are many forms, variations, and gimmicks spun on the classic obby genre. The term 'obby' (derived from 'obstacle course') begun gaining popularity around 2015-2018 on Roblox, and has since become one of the most popular genres on the platform collecting billions of visits on the platform across hundreds of thousands of individual unique obby games.
Obby Sub-genres (Obby Types)
Obby types - or obby sub-genres - are highly varied, with different mechanics, themes, and challenges that cater to different skill levels and player preferences. While all obbies share the core concept of navigating obstacles, they can differ significantly in structure, difficulty, and gameplay elements. Below are some of the most common and notable obby sub-genres:
The most traditional form of obby, featuring basic platforming challenges such as jumping across gaps, avoiding moving obstacles, and navigating narrow pathways, you name it. These obbies often have straightforward, linear progression with increasing difficulty as players advance through the stages.
These obbies incorporate a loose narrative or theme, where players progress through a series of obstacle courses that follow a storyline. Common themes include escaping from prison, surviving a disaster, or infiltrating a secret base. While the platforming remains central, story obbies often include cutscenes, dialogue, and themed environments.
Instead of a linear path, tower obbies challenge players to ascend a vertical structure filled with obstacles. These obbies can be timed, randomized, or procedurally generated, making each attempt different. Tower of Hell is one of the most famous examples, featuring a time-limited climb with no checkpoints.
A difficulty chart obby is similar to the classic obby sub-genre, sharing similar features. Instead of a linear progression system, difficulty chart obbies use a 'Difficulty Chart' containing multiple difficulties. Typically, groups of 20 stages are assigned to each difficulty in the chart, ramping up in intensity every 20 stages. This sub-genre originated as a spin-off to popular Roblox obby game Eternal Towers of Hell's (fka. Juke's Towers Of Hell or Jupiter's Towers of Hell) tower 'Tower of Difficulty Chart' or 'ToDC' for short. Since their introduction, slight variations have been made, including Per-Difficulty-Chart-Obbies, featuring one stage per difficulty, allowing them to ramp up in intensity very quickly. Additional gimmicks have been added to the difficulty chart obby formula over the years, making it appear more like a game progression structure, rather than a sub-genre.