A Nigerian-developed browser game that offers players a virtual taste of life in Lagos has recorded a massive surge in popularity, drawing millions of visits since it was launched earlier this month.
The game, Lagos Life, allows users to create characters and navigate a digital version of the city while working jobs, earning and spending virtual naira, paying rent and interacting with other players.
According to reports, Google Trends data showed that searches for “Lagos life” in Nigeria jumped by more than 5,000 per cent during the week following the game’s launch.
Players begin their virtual journey under one of two profiles. “Nepo”, derived from “nepo baby”, represents players who start out with money and connections, while “Lapo”, a reference to LAPO Microfinance Bank, is designed for players who begin with limited resources and depend on small loans.
The game was developed by Shalom Rayhamen, a Nigerian developer based in the United Kingdom. She has identified The Sims 3 and Lagos Run, a Nigerian browser game centred on driving a danfo, as some of the inspirations behind the project.
Rayhamen disclosed on X on Wednesday that the game had reached 3,387,866 players, with 161,676 people playing at the time of her post.
She also reported 4,495,785 visits within a single day and 28 million visits overall. According to her, the game generated about $46,900 during its first four days.
The figures, however, were self-reported and had not been independently verified.
Since its release, Rayhamen has broadened the virtual world beyond Lagos, adding Abuja and Port Harcourt to the game.
Unlike conventional mobile games, Lagos Life can be accessed directly through a web browser, meaning users do not need to install an application before playing.
In an interview with Zikoko, Rayhamen said the game’s success had influenced her decision to consider leaving her current job so she could dedicate herself fully to Lagos Life and other personal projects.
She also disclosed plans to take the game beyond Nigeria and introduce versions based on other African countries, with major announcements expected in the coming weeks.
“I can say with full confidence that Lagos Life isn’t dying out anytime soon,” she said.
Rayhamen said managing the game’s growing audience had presented difficulties, particularly because she remains the only person handling its coding. However, the increasing number of players has motivated her to keep expanding and improving the game.
