How I created viral Lagos life game, by Nigerian developer

The creator of Lagos Life, a Nigerian-made browser game that recreates everyday life in Lagos, Shalom Rayhamen, has shared insights into how she developed the concept.

The UK-based developer created the game that has hit the internet by storm with over 1 million registered players in less than three days.

The game was launched on October 1 as a browser-based life simulation game set in a virtual version of Lagos.

Rayhamen, who grew up in Lagos, said the game was sim-inspired.

Speaking with Fisayo Fosudo, in a virtual interview, she said: ‘’I grew up with a Nokia phone playing Sims and I was able to socialise with the sims.’’

She said she had no idea the game was going to be so easily embraced, stating she had reservations and fears up till the September 30, few hours to the launch.

However, on October 1, she said she launched the game by 7am and went back to bed, waking up to find it had become a sensation as at 10am.

The game has taken social media by storm since its release with players flocking to a virtual city built around jobs, rent, money and nightlife.

Lagos Life lets players create a character, find work, earn and spend virtual naira, pay rent and chat with other players in real time.

As of Wednesday, it had 3,387,866 players in total, with 161,676 online, the creator said in a post on X.

According to her, it generated 4,495,785 visits that day and 28 million in all. She also said the game earned about $46,900 in its first four days.

The game had grown so much that Rayhamen was offered $100,000, which she dismissed as peanut in terms of value.

According to her: ‘’ Lagos Life is valued at $1bn. I won’t sell for $100,000. What is that?’’ She said she had no idea the game would go viral, stating the initial rush to the concept was a pleasant surprise.

Despite the shock, she said she was more than prepared for the big break.

‘’I didn’t prepare for Lagos Life to be the next big thing but because over the course of the years, I have been working so hard so I feel so prepared to make the most of it.

‘’Because of how prepared I have been, I am able to do a lot of things. I know how many times the server would have gone down and I rescued things.

‘’Because I have been showing up consistently for things, I am strong enough to stay awake for three days. We have had lots of attacks that would have shut down the business and I believe God was preparing me for this moment. I am taking control and I am in charge,’’ she explained.

On the next level, she said: ‘’The next thing I am seeing as a software developer is how I can make what I have built as a company that is investable, a company longer than five years.

‘’ We are planning to add more things and add more States tonight. You get to explore Abuja and Port-Harcourt. We are planning our refineries and airports. My dad used to drive taxi. I added things to make the experience relatable and infuse the real Lagos life.’’

On advice to Nigerians planning for the next big step, she said: ‘’ Get ready to work. People feel that they want to be big but it is a lot of work. It’s been a lot of works.

‘’In fact, they had to bring to my attention today that I haven’t eaten today, literally. It’s a lot of work. Prepare yourself if you want this kind of life. I haven’t had a lot of sleep, just naps.

‘’In the next 90 days, success for me would be that we have opened another game while Lagos Life is still there. I am taking everything I can take from it; even if it fails tomorrow, I would be proud of myself because people now know that I build things and I scale up.

‘’We are making it big and we have come to stay. We are here for a long time. We are here to prove that innovation can come from Nigeria and from a Nigerian. We are ready to provide values for all of our users.’’