The Nigerian-made online game Lagos Life has attracted more than 4.7 million players within nine days of its launch, as its parent company, Vatar Inc., secures $500,000 in angel funding at a reported $10 million valuation.
The game, which launched on October 1, 2026, has gained widespread attention for recreating everyday life in Lagos through a virtual world where players can work, earn virtual naira, pay rent and interact with other users.
According to a report by TheCable, Vatar announced the funding round on Friday, October 9, with investments led by AB Hassan, Nathan Nwachuku and Olugbenga Agboola, chief executive officer of Flutterwave.
Shalom Rayhamen, the game’s creator and Vatar’s co-founder and chief executive, announced the development, describing the company’s ambitions as extending beyond Lagos.
“Lagos is just the beginning. We’re building entire worlds, and there’s so much more to come,” she said.
Inspired by The Sims 3 and the Nigerian browser game Lagos Run, Lagos Life allows users to create characters, secure virtual jobs, earn money, pay rent and socialise in a digital city featuring familiar Nigerian experiences, including danfo buses, electricity generators and recognisable locations.
The game was reportedly developed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools. Rayhamen told TechCabal that she began building it at 9 p.m. on September 30 and released it at 7 a.m. the following day after working through the night.
Beyond gaming, Lagos Life offers commercial opportunities through virtual billboards, brand partnerships, music promotions and other advertising arrangements. Businesses can promote their products within the virtual environment, while musicians can pay to have their songs featured in the game’s virtual clubs.
The company has also begun expanding its virtual world, with Port Harcourt added shortly after the initial launch.
The rapid growth and new investment mark an early milestone for Vatar as it seeks to develop additional virtual environments and build on the growing interest in Nigerian-made digital entertainment.