A Nigerian-made browser game recreating everyday life in Lagos has become a viral sensation, drawing millions of players to a virtual city where they can work, earn money, pay rent and socialise.

Lagos Life, created by UK-based Nigerian developer Shalom Rayhamen, allows players to create characters and navigate a virtual version of Lagos while dealing with familiar aspects of everyday life.

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Players can find jobs, earn and spend virtual naira, pay rent and interact with other players in real time.

The game, which was launched in early October, has quickly attracted attention across social media, with interest surging as more Nigerians discover its humorous and familiar portrayal of life in the commercial capital.

According to WeeTracker, citing Google Trends data, searches for “Lagos life” in Nigeria increased by more than 5,000 per cent in the week following the game’s launch.

The game offers players two starting profiles, reflecting different economic backgrounds.

The first, known as “Nepo”, is a reference to “nepo baby” and represents players who begin the game with money and connections.

The second, “Lapo”, takes its name from LAPO Microfinance Bank and represents those who start with little money and may rely on small loans to progress.

The contrasting profiles add a distinctly Nigerian flavour to the game, allowing players to experience different approaches to navigating its virtual economy.

Rayhamen said in a post on X on Wednesday that 3,387,866 players had played Lagos Life, with 161,676 people online at the time of her post.

She also said the game recorded 4,495,785 visits in one day and had accumulated 28 million visits in total.

Rayhamen further claimed that Lagos Life generated about $46,900 in its first four days.

The figures were provided by the developer herself and have not been independently verified.

Rayhamen said she drew inspiration from The Sims 3 and Lagos Run, another Nigerian browser game in which players drive a danfo.

Unlike conventional video games that require downloads or installations, Lagos Life can be played directly through a web browser.

The developer has also continued expanding the virtual world since its launch, with Abuja and Port Harcourt added to the game.

The expansion gives players the opportunity to explore experiences beyond Lagos while maintaining the Nigerian identity that has helped drive the game’s popularity.

Speaking about the game’s rapid growth in an interview with Zikoko, Rayhamen revealed that she was considering leaving her job to concentrate on Lagos Life and her other personal projects full-time.

She also hinted at plans to take the concept beyond Nigeria and expand Lagos Life to other African countries.

According to the developer, major announcements are expected in the coming weeks as she works on the game’s next phase.

“I can say with full confidence that Lagos Life isn’t dying out anytime soon,” Rayhamen said.

Despite the game’s rapid growth, Rayhamen acknowledged that scaling the platform has been challenging because she remains its only coder.

However, the growing number of players has encouraged her to continue developing the project.

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What began as a Nigerian developer’s digital interpretation of everyday Lagos life has quickly developed into a viral gaming phenomenon, with its blend of humour, familiar experiences and local culture attracting a rapidly expanding audience.