Nigerian game recreating everyday Lagos life goes viral

A Nigerian browser game called Lagos Life, which simulates everyday life in the bustling West African city, has become an internet sensation since its release earlier this month. The game allows players to create a character, secure employment, accumulate virtual currency, pay rent, and engage in real-time chats with other users. Lagos Life's popularity was evident in a surge of searches for "Lagos life" on Google, which surged by over 5,000 percent in the week following the game's launch.

The game's creator, Shalom Rayhamen, a UK-based Nigerian developer, has reported that the game has amassed a total of 3,387,866 players, with 161,676 players online at the time of her latest update. She also shared that the game garnered 4,495,785 visits that day and a cumulative total of 28 million visits. Rayhamen highlighted that the game generated approximately $46,900 in its first four days, figures that she herself has provided and have not been independently verified.

Since its initial release, Rayhamen has expanded the game by adding Abuja and Port Harcourt to the virtual world. She has plans to continue developing the game, potentially extending its reach to other African nations. Rayhamen, who currently holds a full-time job, expressed her intention to dedicate her time to Lagos Life and other personal projects.

She also hinted at upcoming major announcements related to the game. Despite the challenges of maintaining the game as a one-person development team, Rayhamen remains optimistic about Lagos Life's enduring popularity.