When it comes to creating games, developers are often inspired by a wide variety of sources. Because of this, no two games will ever be alike. For some developers, games are similar to mediums like books, film, and television in that they’re ways to live out unique situations and gain new perspectives.
For others, games are simply a great way to pass the time and have a little fun. Then there are games that offer important insights in an engaging way, while also adding important life lessons to the mix. Hair Nah by Momo Pixel is one of these games.
The inspiration behind Hair Nah’s creation stems from something that most people should understand, yet continuously fail to grasp. Namely, white people really need to stop putting their hands into black women’s hair. It’s creepy, rude, and obnoxious.
In an interview with On She Goes, Momo Pixel elaborated how personal experiences inspired her to create Hair Nah:
“I’ll be walking, and a woman will reach her hands into my head. I’m talking to a teammate, and a co-worker I just met is holding my hair in his hand. The moment someone mentions my hair, I grab it to claim ownership,” she explained.
“Who I’m really hoping to get are those women and men who may not really be paying attention to their actions or don’t see them as offensive. I hope they see themselves in this game and are like, ‘Oh my God.’ And from there, stop doing it.”
The gameplay of Hair Nah is pretty straightforward. You start by customizing your character before jumping into awkward situations where white hands come at your hair from all directions. The goal? Smack away as many white hands as possible.
Hair Nah has gone on to receive a wealth of love on social media, with many relating to the game on a deeply personal level. This outpouring of love helps showcase why games like Hair Nah are so important. Games not only offer new territory to explore, they also help people from all walks of life connect with one another.
In short, Hair Nah helps people feel less alone, while creating some much-needed dialogue in the process. Want to experience the game for yourself? Click here to play Hair Nah.
