A surgical horror game where players are ordered by the government to make patients smile — by force, on the operating table — sounds like the kind of fever dream that gets dismissed as a gimmick. But Smile More is sitting at 95% positive reviews on Steam, and it earned every one of them by hiding serious depth underneath its grotesque exterior.
A Dystopian Operating Room Where Happiness Is the Law
The setup is bleak in the best possible way. In the world of Smile More, smiling is the only facial expression the government allows. Players step into the role of a surgeon tasked with making sure every patient on the table wears that approved grin — whether they want to or not. The patients are sedated. The tools are laid out. The orders come in through a fully voice-acted announcer who briefs players on their duties before each procedure, and that voice performance alone does a lot of heavy lifting in setting the tone.
The visuals lean into the discomfort hard. Everything is dark and washed out, and the surgical instruments look unsanitary in a way that feels very intentional. The character designs are exaggerated and almost inhuman, which keeps players at an uneasy distance even as they work up close. The surgery animations themselves are grotesque and highly detailed, and the sound design matches every cut and stitch with something that will make players wince. It is the kind of atmosphere that does not let up.
Now, here is the kicker — the game is not just gross for the sake of being gross. Players work through three patients, performing tasks like fixing broken limbs, closing wounds, and removing marks. Miss too many steps and the game punishes the mistake. Three strikes and the run is over. That pressure, paired with the sterile horror of the setting, keeps the tension tight from start to finish.
There Is a Lot More Story Hiding Beneath the Surface
Smile More looks simple on the surface. Go in, perform the surgery, follow orders. But players who slow down and look around will find that the game has been quietly building a much bigger world around them. Hidden objects and scattered lore reveal layers of story that are easy to miss on a first run. Logs tucked into the environment and interactions buried in the main menu add context that reframes the whole experience once players find them.
The biggest narrative hook is the ending system. There are three distinct endings, and which one players get depends entirely on how compliant they choose to be with their assigned duties. Follow orders without question and the game goes one way. Push back, or find a way to work around the system, and things shift in a different direction entirely. That branching structure gives the story real weight, because the choices feel like they actually matter rather than just window dressing.
One of the more surprising discoveries players can make is entering the code 7476 into the system. Doing so hacks the game and unlocks hidden minigames that sit completely outside the main surgical loop. It is the kind of secret that rewards curious players and adds a layer of agency that most short horror games do not bother with. Finding it for the first time feels like stumbling onto something that was not meant to be found — which is exactly the right feeling for a game like this.
When Does Smile More Come Out?
Smile More released on March 13, 2026, for PC via Steam. A Mac build became available shortly after launch.
Short Runtime, Surprisingly Strong Replay Value
Here is a practical question worth asking: how much game is actually here? A first playthrough can be done in just a few minutes. That sounds like a knock against it, but in practice it works in the game’s favor. The first ending does exactly what it needs to do — it hooks players and sends them straight back to the start to find out what else is in there. The runtime is short enough that a second or third run never feels like a chore.
For players who want something to chase, there are 18 Steam achievements tied to Smile More, and earning all of them requires multiple playthroughs and deliberate exploration. Most of them are accessible without too much trouble. The exception is Anti-Anti-Malware, which demands flawless hacking across all three patients. That one will take some practice. But the branching paths and hidden content mean that going back through the game never feels repetitive — each run can reveal something new depending on how players approach it.
Smile More is a strong pick for anyone who bounced off longer horror titles because of the time commitment. The low entry barrier makes it easy to start, and the depth of what is hidden inside makes it hard to put down before every ending and secret has been found. It is the kind of short-form horror that respects the player’s time while still making them earn the full picture.
Smile More is available now on Steam for PC and Mac. For fans of atmospheric horror, narrative-driven games, and titles that reward players who go looking for answers, it is worth the time — and probably more than one sitting. The real question is whether players will follow their orders, or find out what happens when they do not.
F.A.Q.
What is Smile More about?
Smile More is a short medical simulation horror game set in a dystopian world where smiling is the only government-approved facial expression. Players take on the role of a surgeon tasked with performing procedures on sedated patients to force them to smile. The game involves surgical tasks like fixing broken limbs, closing wounds, and removing marks, all while an unsettling fully voice-acted announcer briefs players on their duties. Beneath the grotesque surface, the game hides significant narrative depth through hidden lore, scattered logs, and branching story paths that reward players who take the time to explore.
When did Smile More come out?
Smile More released on March 13, 2026, for PC via Steam. A Mac build became available shortly after the initial launch, making it accessible to both PC and Mac players.
What platforms is Smile More on?
Smile More is available on PC and Mac. Players can find it on Steam, where it currently holds a 95% positive review rating.
Is Smile More worth it?
Based on its 95% positive reviews on Steam, Smile More has earned strong praise for its cohesive art direction, immersive sound design, and surprising narrative depth. While a single playthrough can be completed in just a few minutes, the game features three distinct endings, hidden secrets, and 18 Steam achievements that reward multiple runs. The low time commitment makes it easy to jump back in, and the branching story structure means each playthrough can reveal something new. It is a particularly strong pick for players who enjoy atmospheric horror but do not want to commit to a longer game.
Does Smile More have multiple endings?
Yes, Smile More has three distinct endings. Which ending players receive depends entirely on how compliant they choose to be with the government-assigned surgical duties. Following orders without question leads the story in one direction, while pushing back or finding ways to work around the system shifts the outcome significantly. This branching structure gives the narrative real weight and is one of the primary drivers of replay value in the game.
Are there secrets and hidden content in Smile More?
Yes, and finding them is a big part of what makes the game worth revisiting. Players who explore carefully will uncover hidden objects, environmental logs, and lore tucked into the main menu that build out the world considerably. One of the most notable secrets involves entering the code 7476 into the in-game system, which hacks the game and unlocks hidden minigames that exist entirely outside the main surgical loop. It is the kind of discovery that feels genuinely surprising and adds a layer of agency that most short horror games skip entirely.
How many achievements does Smile More have?
Smile More has 18 Steam achievements in total. Most of them are accessible without too much difficulty and are tied to exploring the game’s branching paths and hidden content across multiple playthroughs. The standout exception is the Anti-Anti-Malware achievement, which requires flawless hacking performance across all three patients and is considered the most challenging achievement in the game. Earning all 18 will take deliberate effort and several runs through the experience.
