Subathon Playbook

Subathon Challenges
50 chat-votable challenges

A curated list of 50 subathon challenges chat can vote on. Fast, repeatable, and built to prevent dead air during long streams.

Feb 03, 2026
7 min read
By ContentLoop.gg

How to run challenges without chaos

Rule 01
Time-box everything

5–15 minutes. Then reset. Long challenges drain energy.

Rule 02
Vote > random

Voting turns chaos into ownership. Chat feels responsible.

Rule 03
Curate the shortlist

Mods filter, chat votes. You execute. Easy.

Starter pack (12) — seed your board

If you don’t want to curate live yet, start with these 12 and let chat vote. It’s enough to run a full hour of subathon momentum.

Top Vote Wins
Chat Driven
Chat submits options for 2 minutes; vote decides winner.
Wheel of Chaos
Chat Driven
Spin a wheel with 12 short consequences.
One Weapon / One Tool
Gameplay
Use only one weapon/tool for 10 minutes.
No HUD
Gameplay
Turn off HUD for 10 minutes (if possible).
No Map
Gameplay
No map/minimap for 10 minutes.
No Jump
Gameplay
No jumping for 10 minutes.
Radio Host
Stream Behavior
Talk like a radio host for 5 minutes (no dead air).
Narrator Mode
Stream Behavior
Explain every decision for 5 minutes (like a coach).
Mini AMA
Stream Behavior
Answer 5 rapid-fire questions.
Guess the Outcome
Chat Driven
Chat votes: success/fail within 5 minutes.
Emoji Only Vote
Chat Driven
Use 2–4 emojis as vote options for 2 minutes.
Community Side-Quest
Chat Driven
Chat chooses the side quest from 3 options.
Pro tip: pair this with Subathon Between Goals so the loop never dies.

The execution loop

Step 01
2 min
Collect

Let chat submit 5–10 challenges. Keep it constrained: “challenge for the next 10 minutes”.

Step 02
1 min
Curate

Mods filter + pick the best 3–5 options. (This prevents dumb/unsafe stuff.)

Step 03
3 min
Vote

Chat votes. Lurkers click. You get a clear winner.

Step 04
10 min
Execute

Run the winner. Time-box it. Then reset the loop.

Guardrails: keep consequences reversible, time-box everything, and curate a shortlist before voting.

50 challenges (full list)

No HUD

Gameplay

Turn off HUD for 10 minutes (if possible).

One Weapon / One Tool

Gameplay

Use only one weapon/tool for 10 minutes.

No Sprint

Gameplay

Walking only for 5 minutes.

Left-Handed Mode

Gameplay

Swap a keybind or controller layout for 10 minutes.

Pacifist Window

Gameplay

Avoid combat for 5 minutes; focus objectives only.

Inventory Lock

Gameplay

No inventory/menus for 10 minutes.

Random Loadout

Gameplay

Chat picks a loadout/build from a shortlist.

Speedrun Attempt

Gameplay

Try a short segment as fast as possible; one attempt only.

Hard Mode Switch

Gameplay

Increase difficulty for 10 minutes (then revert).

No Map

Gameplay

No map/minimap for 10 minutes.

Narrator Mode

Stream Behavior

Explain every decision for 5 minutes (like a coach).

Radio Host

Stream Behavior

Talk like a radio host for 5 minutes (no dead air).

ASMR Minute

Stream Behavior

One minute of “quiet focus” (don’t overdo it).

Accent/Voice

Stream Behavior

A silly voice for 5 minutes (keep it respectful).

No Swearing

Stream Behavior

Family-friendly mode for 10 minutes.

One Word Answers

Stream Behavior

Only answer in one word for 3 minutes.

Storytime

Stream Behavior

Tell a short story while playing (5 minutes).

Commentary Only

Stream Behavior

No reacting to chat, only gameplay commentary for 5 minutes.

Chat First

Stream Behavior

You must read chat before acting for 5 minutes.

Streamer Bingo

Stream Behavior

Chat gets a quick bingo card; you call out squares.

Top Vote Wins

Chat Driven

Chat submits options for 2 minutes; vote decides winner.

Wheel of Chaos

Chat Driven

Spin a wheel with 12 short consequences.

Two Truths & a Lie

Chat Driven

Chat guesses; wrong guess triggers a small consequence.

Guess the Outcome

Chat Driven

Chat votes: success/fail within 5 minutes.

Chat Writes the Rule

Chat Driven

Chat proposes rules; mods shortlist; vote decides one.

Prediction Jar

Chat Driven

Collect predictions, reveal after 10 minutes.

Community Side-Quest

Chat Driven

Chat chooses the side quest from 3 options.

Hot Take Poll

Chat Driven

Chat votes on a safe hot take question.

Emoji Only Vote

Chat Driven

Use 2–4 emojis as vote options for 2 minutes.

Boss Picker

Chat Driven

Chat picks the next boss/challenge from a shortlist.

No Healing

Gameplay

No healing for 10 minutes.

Reverse Controls (light)

Gameplay

Invert one axis for 5 minutes.

Low Sensitivity

Gameplay

Lower sensitivity for 10 minutes.

No Jump

Gameplay

No jumping for 10 minutes.

Craft/Build Only

Gameplay

Spend 5 minutes on crafting/building (if applicable).

One Life Attempt

Gameplay

One “no death” attempt for 10 minutes.

Randomizer

Gameplay

Randomize a minor setting or perk via chat vote.

Minimal UI

Gameplay

Hide UI elements for 10 minutes.

No Reload

Gameplay

Reload only at safe points for 10 minutes.

No Talking During Combat

Gameplay

Silent focus during fights for 5 minutes.

Compliment Mode

Stream Behavior

Compliment chat ideas for 5 minutes (build vibe).

Coach Mode

Stream Behavior

Explain what you’re improving and why for 5 minutes.

Timer Pressure

Stream Behavior

Set a 5-minute timer and finish a mini-objective.

No Backseating Sign

Stream Behavior

Let chat vote if backseating is allowed for 10 minutes.

Mini AMA

Stream Behavior

Answer 5 rapid-fire questions.

Channel Point Pitch

Stream Behavior

Chat suggests a new channel point reward; vote picks one.

Theme Switch

Stream Behavior

Change music vibe chosen by chat (if you use music).

Tech Breakdown

Stream Behavior

Share one streaming tip you learned (2 minutes).

Clip Moment

Stream Behavior

Set up a “clip this” moment and do something fun.

Slow Mode

Stream Behavior

Enable slow mode for 5 minutes and do a vote.

Mystery Box

Chat Driven

Chat picks 1 of 3 mystery outcomes you prepared.

Community Lore Vote

Chat Driven

Chat votes on a recurring inside-joke rule.

Raid Plan

Chat Driven

Chat votes who to raid from a shortlist.

Tier List Minute

Chat Driven

Chat votes items into S/A/B for 5 minutes.

Truth or Dare (safe)

Chat Driven

Use safe dares; mods curate; vote decides.

Name the NPC

Chat Driven

Chat names a character/pet/thing; vote decides.

Mini Prediction

Chat Driven

Chat predicts what happens next in 5 minutes.

Chat Chooses Segment

Chat Driven

Pick the next segment: game/just chatting/challenge.

Rules Draft

Chat Driven

Chat drafts 3 rules; vote picks one to apply.

Punishment Picker

Chat Driven

Chat votes a mild punishment from 3 options.

Common Questions

How do I keep subathon challenges from becoming annoying?
Use time boxes (5–15 minutes), keep consequences reversible, and let chat vote so the challenge feels earned.
Should I let chat submit their own challenges?
Yes, but with guardrails: a whitelist of allowed types + mods filtering. Then vote on a curated shortlist.
What’s the best format for running challenges live?
Run a loop: collect challenges → vote → execute → reset. Repeat every 15–30 minutes.
Do these work outside gaming streams?
Yes. Many are “stream-behavior” challenges (voice, constraints, mini games) that work in Just Chatting too.

Make chat run the challenge board

Put challenges on a board. Let chat submit, vote, and keep the momentum alive while you focus on the stream.

No credit card required • Setup in 60 seconds

Next: patch the “dead air” gap with Subathon Between Goals .