Grow a Garden, a simple Roblox game created by a 16-year-old, has shattered records for the most concurrent players in gaming history, surpassing Fortnite with over 21.6 million concurrent players at once. The game allows players to fill a plot of land with plants and animals, harvest and sell, trade or steal each other’s bounty, with a low-stress environment and a soothing classical soundtrack reminiscent of Minecraft. Its popularity has further cemented Roblox’ place in both the gaming world and popular culture, where it is now a primary hangout spot for many.
Interestingly, the game’s sudden rise in popularity coincided with the announcement by Take-Two Interactive that it would delay the launch of its highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6 until next year. As of late June, ‘Grow a Garden’ had logged 21.6 million concurrent players, surpassing Fortnite’s previous record of 15.2 million. Analysts believe this surge in traffic is helping to boost Roblox’s revenue and is likely to push the company’s quarterly earnings above Wall Street’s expectations.
While it’s unclear whether the GTA audience flocked to this gardening game out of boredom while waiting for the delayed release, the timing has reignited a long-standing debate about who is considered a ‘true gamer’ and which titles are taken seriously by the gaming establishment. This debate echoes past discussions surrounding games like Candy Crush, puzzle games, and Animal Crossing. Are players of these cozy, low-intensity games truly gamers, or do they fall outside the definition of serious gaming, which is often associated with action or simulation titles like Call of Duty or GTA?
The game’s success also raises questions about the evolving landscape of gaming culture and the growing acceptance of casual and creative titles. As the gaming industry continues to diversify, the lines between different genres and player demographics are becoming increasingly blurred, with games like ‘Grow a Garden’ challenging traditional notions of what constitutes a ‘gamer’ and what games deserve recognition in the broader gaming community.