A Nigerian developer has turned the everyday realities of living in Lagos into a multiplayer game where players have to find jobs, earn money, pay rent, manage their needs and build relationships to keep their virtual lives going.
Lagos Life, created by Nigerian developer Shalom Mathew, allows players to create characters and experience a digital version of the city while making decisions about work, housing, transport, spending and social life.
Unlike games built around a single storyline, Lagos Life leaves players to determine how their characters live. One player could be focused on earning enough to secure a better home, while another could spend more time exploring the city or interacting with other users.
Brandspur Brand News reports that the game gained rapid attention after its launch, reportedly reaching more than one million players within its first few days. Its dashboard was also said to have recorded about $46,900 in revenue after four days.
The idea for the game came from Mathew’s experience with The Sims and the Nigerian browser game Lagos Run, created by Opeyemi Adeniran. After encountering the Lagos setting in Lagos Run, Mathew began exploring the possibility of creating a game that would allow people to experience a broader version of life in the city.
She reportedly built the first version of Lagos Life in less than 12 hours, with the help of AI tools.
The virtual city is populated with locations familiar to Nigerians, including CcHub in Yaba, Eko Hotels & Suites, New Afrika Shrine, Ikoyi Golf Club and Naija Radio House. Players can also use different transport options while moving around the virtual Lagos.
Money plays a major role in the game. Players can secure jobs and earn virtual currency, which they need for rent, food, transportation, entertainment and other expenses. The currency is strictly for use within the game and cannot be converted into real naira.
Housing is another part of the simulation. Players can rent and furnish homes, but accommodation comes with a recurring financial responsibility because rent is paid weekly.
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The game does not guarantee every player an easy start. Some characters can begin with financial difficulties, including loans from in-game lenders, forcing players to look for ways to earn money before they can comfortably enjoy other parts of the virtual city.
Players must also keep track of six basic needs: hunger, energy, hygiene, bladder, fun and social interaction. Ignoring them can affect a character’s mood and how well they perform in the game.
What makes the experience particularly different is that the people encountered in the virtual city are not necessarily computer-controlled characters. Lagos Life is multiplayer, meaning real people can interact with one another, form relationships and send virtual money between accounts.
That has produced some amusingly familiar situations, including players receiving messages from strangers asking them for money.
Lagos Life is available through a web browser and can be accessed on mobile devices without a conventional PC installation. The game can also be installed on a phone through the browser, although it is not currently available on the Google Play Store.
The game’s terms state that players must be at least 18 years old. While the browser game can be accessed for free, it also offers paid features and in-game purchases.
At its core, Lagos Life takes familiar pressures of urban Nigerian life — finding work, keeping money, paying for accommodation and maintaining social relationships — and turns them into a virtual challenge, allowing players to decide what kind of life they want to build in digital Lagos.
