Pizza Volcano

SURVIVE THE ERUPTION!

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Pizza Volcano ID: 863854840150466 For World Broadcast submission

Inspiration

Pizza Volcano was inspired by the idea of creating a fast, mobile-first arcade world that could only exist inside Horizon Worlds. I wanted to design something bright, chaotic, and instantly fun — the kind of pick-up-and-play experience that feels natural on a smartphone. The concept of a living pizza volcano erupting toppings evolved into a full 14-round progression game supported by four expressive NPC hosts. The goal was to merge mobile ergonomics, character personality, and arcade pacing into one cohesive experience.

What it does

Pizza Volcano challenges players to survive 14 escalating rounds as toppings erupt from the volcano and fall toward the player at the base. Each round increases speed, patterns, difficulty, and combo opportunities. Four NPCs guide and enhance the experience:

Chef Pepperoni — Teaches rules, movement, power-ups, and scoring.

Mama Mia — Announces round transitions, highlights, and tips.

Vinny Volcano — Manages quests, leaderboards, daily rewards, and social features in the Spectator Lounge.

Basil — A real-time in-game announcer hyping match events while players queue or spectate.

Players can compete, spectate, socialize, take photos, shop cosmetics, or wait in queue for the next round.

How we built it

Pizza Volcano is built using Horizon World's Typescript, physics, and mobile-optimized creator tools. The game uses: -Mobile-first controls (swipe, drag, tap for power-ups) -Modular round logic with custom difficulty scaling -Object pooling for toppings and hazards to maximize performance -Adaptive VFX tuned specifically for mobile devices -NPC animation + behavior scripting for onboarding, commentary, and rewards -Spectator Lounge designed as a social hub with live match info

Art direction focuses on bold colors and readable shapes to preserve clarity on small screens.

Challenges we ran into

-Balancing mobile performance with large amounts of VFX during eruptions -Creating 14 rounds with distinct pacing and challenge without overwhelming players -Ensuring UI and text remained readable on smaller screens -Designing four NPC systems that feel natural and non-intrusive -Building a spectator mode that remains fun while waiting for the next match -Ensuring safety zones for all cover images in Horizon’s various aspect ratios

Accomplishments that we're proud of

-Developing a full round-based progression system optimized for mobile -Creating four fully-scripted NPCs that enhance onboarding, pacing, rewards, and spectator experience -Achieving smooth performance during high-intensity gameplay through optimized pooling + VFX -Building a mobile-friendly visual language that stays readable, bright, and fun -Designing a social Spectator Lounge that makes waiting engaging

Producing professional cover art, hero banners, thumbnails, and branding for all Horizon formats

What we learned

-How to optimize particle systems and physics for mobile devices -How NPCs can replace traditional menus and improve onboarding -How to create meaningful social spaces linked to gameplay -How small UI decisions dramatically impact mobile clarity -The value of designing art intentionally for mobile contrast and readability

What's next for PIZZA VOLCANO

-Additional rounds and eruption patterns -More NPC dialogue and personality -Special event weeks (Spicy Week, Mega Mushroom Madness, etc.) -Expanded cosmetics, rewards, and quests from Vinny Volcano -Multiplayer cook-off competitions -A global leaderboard + social media sharing tools

More mobile-exclusive features aligned with Horizon’s evolving toolset!

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