Pixl
What is Pixl?
A pixel-themed YSWS where you build real projects to level up your character and unlock real-world funding. Go on an adventure to explore new things, create fun projects with others, chat with NPCs, and test projects with others and stuff.
Join the World
Enter Pixl, create your character and join others in a retro 2D open world
Explore Regions
Discover cyberpunk cities, underwater zones & more
Pixl
Coming Soon
Accept Sidequests
Build apps, websites & hardware for in-game characters
Pixl
Coming Soon
Get Rewarded
NPCs reward you for your work with real prizes and pixels, the in-game currency you can spend in shops
Pixl
Coming Soon
Spend your Pixels
Take your pixels to merchants and spend them on items, upgrades and real-world rewards
You Ship
Hardware & software sidequests given by NPCs, harder quests unlock as you level up
We Ship
Niche prizes & grants matched to what you built, every level has its rewards
Examples
Sidequests and Rewards
These are only examples and might change over the weeks.
How rewards work
You get the base prize for each sidequest you complete. The more hours you put in, the more currency you earn to spend in the shop. Don't want the listed prize or already have it? No problem, swap it for anything of equivalent value.
~6h of work
Sidequest
Build a merchant's storefront
Zara the cloth merchant needs a simple website to showcase her wares. Build her a clean landing page with item listings and a contact form.
Prize
Domain + Sticker Pack
A custom domain of your choice (.com, .dev, .xyz…) + a Hack Club sticker pack shipped to your door.
~20h of work
Sidequest
Ship a mobile app for the Traveler
Marco the traveling merchant needs a mobile app to track his routes, log his inventory on the go, and send notifications when he arrives at a new region.
Prize
Apple Developer Account
A 1-year Apple Developer Program membership ($99). Publish your app on the App Store under your own name.
~35h of work
Sidequest
Secure the Cyberpunk City network
GHOST, a rogue hacker NPC, needs a network intrusion detection system that monitors traffic, flags anomalies, and sends real-time alerts to a dashboard.
Prize
Flipper Zero
A Flipper Zero shipped to you. The multi-tool for hardware hackers. Sub-GHz, NFC, infrared, GPIO and more.
~5h of work
Sidequest
Make me a Roblox game!!
Tim, a 9-year-old NPC from the village, really wants a Roblox game where you collect coins. Build it in Roblox Studio and publish it so he can play with his friends.
Prize
2000 Robux
A grant of 2000 Robux to spend on the Roblox platform, items, avatar upgrades or whatever you want.
~15h of work
Sidequest
Design your own region
Create a brand new region for the Pixl world. Design the map, the NPCs, the assets and the sidequests that come with it. If it's polished enough, your region gets added to the real game for everyone to explore.
Prize
Graphics Tablet
A graphics tablet to keep drawing regions, character sprites and UI assets, whether your region ships or not.
~5h of work
Sidequest
Draw sprites for the Item Shop
Loot, the item shop NPC, needs a pack of pixel art icons for his inventory: potions, weapons, tools and collectibles. The best ones get added to the real game.
Prize
Sticker Pack + Poster
A Hack Club sticker pack and a printed poster of your sprite sheet shipped to you.
~65h of work
Sidequest
Build a robot arm for the Factory
ARIA, the automation NPC at the Industrial District, needs a working 3-axis robot arm controlled via a custom web interface, with live position feedback and programmable sequences.
Prize
Full PCB Manufacturing Run
Budget for a full PCB manufacturing run. Boards, components and shipping covered. Build the real thing.
~6h of work
Sidequest
Build a merchant's storefront
Zara the cloth merchant needs a simple website to showcase her wares. Build her a clean landing page with item listings and a contact form.
Prize
Domain + Sticker Pack
A custom domain of your choice (.com, .dev, .xyz…) + a Hack Club sticker pack shipped to your door.
~20h of work
Sidequest
Ship a mobile app for the Traveler
Marco the traveling merchant needs a mobile app to track his routes, log his inventory on the go, and send notifications when he arrives at a new region.
Prize
Apple Developer Account
A 1-year Apple Developer Program membership ($99). Publish your app on the App Store under your own name.
~35h of work
Sidequest
Secure the Cyberpunk City network
GHOST, a rogue hacker NPC, needs a network intrusion detection system that monitors traffic, flags anomalies, and sends real-time alerts to a dashboard.
Prize
Flipper Zero
A Flipper Zero shipped to you. The multi-tool for hardware hackers. Sub-GHz, NFC, infrared, GPIO and more.
~5h of work
Sidequest
Make me a Roblox game!!
Tim, a 9-year-old NPC from the village, really wants a Roblox game where you collect coins. Build it in Roblox Studio and publish it so he can play with his friends.
Prize
2000 Robux
A grant of 2000 Robux to spend on the Roblox platform, items, avatar upgrades or whatever you want.
~15h of work
Sidequest
Design your own region
Create a brand new region for the Pixl world. Design the map, the NPCs, the assets and the sidequests that come with it. If it's polished enough, your region gets added to the real game for everyone to explore.
Prize
Graphics Tablet
A graphics tablet to keep drawing regions, character sprites and UI assets, whether your region ships or not.
~5h of work
Sidequest
Draw sprites for the Item Shop
Loot, the item shop NPC, needs a pack of pixel art icons for his inventory: potions, weapons, tools and collectibles. The best ones get added to the real game.
Prize
Sticker Pack + Poster
A Hack Club sticker pack and a printed poster of your sprite sheet shipped to you.
~65h of work
Sidequest
Build a robot arm for the Factory
ARIA, the automation NPC at the Industrial District, needs a working 3-axis robot arm controlled via a custom web interface, with live position feedback and programmable sequences.
Prize
Full PCB Manufacturing Run
Budget for a full PCB manufacturing run. Boards, components and shipping covered. Build the real thing.
See a full example submission
Not sure what a complete submission looks like? Check out this example that hits every deadline.
FAQ
Quick answers