Depending on the study you reference, Nigeria is either top of the tree or very close to it when it comes to the percentage of its population that engages with online games on a daily basis. Perhaps this is no surprise seeing as the country is the most populous in Sub-Saharan Africa, but dig a little deeper and there are plenty more reasons as to why the country is experiencing something of an online gaming revolution.
Of course, any time there is an upwards trend such as this, businesses need to be on their toes and ready to react so that they can take advantage of the surge of interest in a certain sector. Here we highlight just some of the trends found within the online gaming community in Nigeria, which companies can then choose to take advantage of if they so wish.
Mobile gaming is becoming more and more commonplace in Nigeria and across the African continent as a whole
Nigeria and the Wider World Is Going Mobile Crazy
The first trend within the online gaming industry is that people are playing more and more via their mobile devices rather than on expensive PCs and consoles. The first obvious reason for this is that a large section of Nigerian society now owns at least one mobile smart device.
Allied to this is the fact that mobile data networks are becoming more expansive within the country. This allows people to play games whether they have a Wi-Fi connection to hand or not, and also means that a game’s level or stage won’t be interrupted by a poor signal.
Another reason for mobile gaming being the way forward in Nigeria is that most new gaming titles are now tailored to perform as well on mobile as they do on PC or console, with many even being markedly cheaper on mobile rather than other more static hardware formats. This all means that any business related to the tech industry should be ensuring that their products and services are tapping into the trend for mobile, which is partly being driven by gamers.
Reinventing Classics Is the Way Forward
While most trends connected to gaming tend to be geared towards futuristic technology and searching out the next big thing, there is also a counterculture among many gamers, both in Nigeria and abroad, whereby developers and providers are reimagining games of the past that spark nostalgia.
This can be seen everywhere in Nigerian gaming culture, where the likes of chess, blackjack, roulette, and retro platformers are all being repurposed so that new generations of gamers across all platforms can enjoy the eternal appeal of such games. This has led to online communities of Nigerian chess players popping up as well as more Nigerians getting to grips with online blackjack rules and variations. There are now even a whole host of pop-up gaming centres that cater to those players who want to either engage in modern online video games or those retro ones that they remember from back in the day.
This all shows that any business hoping to latch on to the online gaming movement needs to look to the past at the same time as looking to the future, with hitting 21 in blackjack or checkmate in chess being just as rewarding for players as engaging in battle royale melees.
Many classic games such as chess and blackjack are now making roaring comebacks among online gamers, who love their simple yet effective gameplay dynamics
Homegrown Games Make a Connection with Locals
Although it will always be difficult for Nigerian games developers to keep pace with the mammoth operations found in Asia and the US, there are some plucky entrepreneurs whose companies are managing to cut through and form unbreakable bonds with a growing client base that is hungry for more homegrown content.
One great example of this is Maliyo Games, which was founded by Hugo Obi and specialises in creating original games that incorporate aspects of everyday life in Nigeria. The games have been incredibly well-received, showing that any new online gaming business should always tap into their burgeoning local market before venturing further afield.
