Welcome to the third edition of our Gaming the Future of Travel series. This time, we explore one of Roblox’s most enduring—and wildly popular—genres: the Obby.

Short for “obstacle course,” Obbies combine speed, reflexes, and challenge-based gameplay into highly engaging virtual experiences. With billions of plays across thousands of variations, Obbies are a proven format for grabbing Gen Z attention—and increasingly, for creatively reimagining real-world environments

What Is an Obby?

At its core, an Obby (obstacle course) is about getting from point A to point B—but the path is anything but easy.

✅ Jump over lava

✅ Dodge swinging axes

✅ Balance across narrow beams

✅ Sprint through speed zones

✅ Ride moving platforms

✅ Repeat, retry, improve

Obbies are fast to learn, hard to master—and endlessly replayable.

Why Obbies Matter for Tourism & Travel

Obbies can recreate landmarks, natural terrain, cultural environments, or event-based activations in a way that’s kinetic and fun. Players don’t just walk through a space—they interact with it.

🧠 Imagine:

• Leaping rooftop-to-rooftop through a futuristic Tokyo skyline
• Navigating a floating temple course over Qatar’s desert canyons
• Parkouring across zip lines, bridges, and waterfalls in a Costa Rica rainforest
• Racing through ancient ruins in Petra, Machu Picchu, or Angkor Wat

Destinations become playgrounds—offering a sense of movement, tension, and reward that sticks in memory.

Top Roblox Obby Examples – and What We Can Learn from Them

1. Tower of Hell

📍 Developer: YXCeptional Studios One of the most popular and challenging Obbies on Roblox. Players race to the top of a randomized tower filled with difficult jumps, traps, and no checkpoints—if you fall, you start over.

✅ Best Practices:

• High-stakes gameplay keeps players coming back
• Randomized towers add endless replay value
• Time-based rounds encourage speedrunning and social competition

🎯 Tourism Angle: Timed tower challenges could simulate extreme hikes, volcano climbs, or city rooftops—think “Race to the Top of the Burj Khalifa.”

2. Escape Rooms Obby

📍 Developer: LitFam Games This hybrid game blends puzzle-solving and Obby mechanics. Players navigate different “escape room” themes like ancient temples, haunted castles, and jungle environments.

✅ Best Practices:

• Strong environmental storytelling
• Puzzles create more immersive and slower-paced Obby segments
• Encourages group play and replayability

🎯 Tourism Angle: Ideal for cultural destinations or museums—turn exhibits or ruins into interactive challenges (e.g., escape the lost tomb of Petra or a Venetian carnival maze).

3. Nike Air Obby (from Nike Land)

📍 Developer: Nike (via Roblox Studio partnership) Part of Nike’s branded experience, the Air Obby challenges players to jump across Nike Air bubbles and branded platforms to collect rewards.

✅ Best Practices:

• Integrates brand IP visually and mechanically
• Uses Obby format to gamify product exploration
• Includes currency collection tied to virtual items

🎯 Tourism Angle: Brands or events can tie Obbies to merch, VIP access, or loyalty programs—imagine a “Fashion Week Obby” where players unlock branded accessories.

4. Qatar Adventure (Obby Elements)

📍 Developer: Inside the Creator Studio / Qatar Tourism A branded Roblox experience that includes mini Obby segments across the city and desert landscapes as part of the exploration. Players must jump, climb, and parkour through certain challenges.

✅ Best Practices:

• Seamless integration of Obby gameplay into a broader world
• Short segments enhance variety and mobility
• Local architecture and geography used to guide movement

🎯 Tourism Angle: Demonstrates how real-world elements—like souks, dunes, and stadiums—can be used as part of an interactive, gamified journey.

5. Rainbow Obby (Classic Format)

📍 Developer: Various Creators A brightly colored, beginner-friendly format found across thousands of Roblox games. Simple jumps, checkpoints, and visual variety make it a fan favorite for casual players.

✅ Best Practices:

• Easy onboarding for all ages
• Low complexity makes it ideal for brand-first games
• Customizable aesthetic for any visual theme

🎯 Tourism Angle: Great for first-time branded games—destinations can recreate iconic views and attractions with a simple platforming format to test engagement.

🛠️ Best Practices for Obby-Style Tourism Games

✔️ Design in Zones: Create environmental sections that match the real-world location (beach → rainforest → volcano) ✔️ Use Landmarks as Obstacles: Build parkour into statues, monuments, temples, and terrain ✔️ Make It Spectator-Friendly: Add leaderboards, social areas, and emotes to encourage sharing ✔️ Add Replay Mechanics: Timed runs, collectibles, and badges make players come back ✔️ Keep the First 30 Seconds Fun: Obbies need instant gratification to hook new players

📣 Tourism Use Cases

🎡 Theme Parks – Obby zones tied to specific rides or attractions 🏝️ Island Resorts – Water-based parkour, jet-ski jumps, tiki-temple climbs 🗺️ Historical Sites – Blend Obby gameplay with cultural exploration and discovery 🏙️ City Destinations – Rooftop runs, subway dodges, neon tunnels, skyline dashes 🎟️ Events – Obbies can simulate races, marathons, or scavenger hunts tied to festivals

📩 Want to Create a Branded Obby for Your Destination?

Obbies are low-lift, high-impact formats to showcase destinations in motion—and one of the fastest ways to test engagement in the Roblox ecosystem.

💬 I’m offering a free 1-hour consultation to any tourism or hospitality brand curious about how to bring Obby mechanics into their virtual strategy. Just DM me on LinkedIn.

🔗 Follow Destinate on LinkedIn for the latest trends in gamified tourism marketing

🔮 Coming Next:

Simulators – Training the Next Generation of Virtual Travelers And if you missed it:

• 🎡 Tycoon Games – The Blueprint for Building a Tourism Empire
• 🎮 Series Kickoff – Core Gameplay Loops and Genres on Roblox

Stay tuned as we continue unlocking the future of digital tourism one genre at a time!

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