Why viral Banana clicker is still dominating Steam’s top games list

Why viral Banana clicker is still dominating Steam’s top games list

As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I’ve seen my fair share of scams and shady operations in the gaming community. But let me tell you, my dear reader, “anana” is not one of them.


Starting from June, one of Steam’s most-played titles has been more of an automated process than a game: All you need to do is keep clicking on a banana to see the numbers increase.

At its height, over 917,000 people had the game “Banana” running on their computers. This game, nicknamed “Banana,” would occasionally bestow a Steam item, one of many decorated bananas, into the player’s inventory. Players didn’t need to be actively clicking their bananas to receive these drops; they merely needed to keep the program open. Although the number of simultaneous players in “Banana” has decreased significantly, it remains among Steam’s top five games, with an average of around 300,000 players using it at any given moment.

As a gamer, I’ve noticed the craze around bananas in this game. In an interview with TopMob, the community manager Hery explained why these digital bananas are so coveted. He described it as a sort of “legal loophole” or “infinite money glitch,” where even the cheapest bananas hold value on Steam. Some rarer ones are going for hundreds of dollars! Hery also shared that when the game first gained popularity, there were quite a few bots contributing to its rapid climb up the Steam charts. However, once word got out and real players joined in, the community grew exponentially.

Why viral Banana clicker is still dominating Steam’s top games list

The popularity of Banana has sparked a surge of imitators: You can now click on various objects such as butts, watches, cats, dogs, raspberries, milk, and melons. All these games operate under the same principle – they produce Steam inventory items of varying rarities. The potential earnings are insignificant, but they represent an opportunity to spend money on the Steam marketplace. There are at least four dozen of these clicker games readily accessible on Steam, most of which are free. However, Banana did not initiate this trend. That honor goes to Egg, which was launched in February. Like its counterparts, Egg‘s path to success follows a similar trajectory. Initially played as a joke (free money!), more people were drawn in by the intrigue and novelty factor. These games pose little threat unless you’re investing heavily in a seemingly valuable banana or egg, expecting exorbitant returns, much like non-blockchain NFTs.

According to Keeg, who manages Banana’s social media and community, the unexpected surge in Banana’s popularity has taken the development team by surprise. “It evolved from a small, lighthearted group to a massive following where members were on the lookout for issues,” he shared with TopMob over Discord. “This shift brought about new challenges such as dealing with copyright concerns, addressing rumors of scams, and handling trolls and toxic individuals in the community.”

During Banana’s climb to prominence, the developers faced numerous accusations: Was it a fraudulent scheme? An NFT initiative? Did it harbor malware? Were bots manipulating its success? The developers refuted all allegations except for the use of bots. While there have been bumps in the road (the team dismissed one member due to scam claims), Banana is not a fraudulent scheme.

Why viral Banana clicker is still dominating Steam’s top games list

In general, people assume that we’re in this for the wealth and recognition, or they believe it’s a hoax based on false rumors they’ve heard. However, this isn’t true. Our goal was to create a game that would bring joy to people when they stumbled upon it. The world has enough sadness, and I assure you, our project is not one of those things. I am open and honest, so feel free to subject me to any truth verification methods you’d like. Our community means the world to us, and I enjoy engaging with skeptics. Above all, I value the support of those who have stood by us throughout this journey.

Global Offensive” and “Team Fortress 2.” These games have more of a problem with bots because they affect other players, taking up lobby spaces to farm drops. Keeg approximated that around 40% of “Banana’s” user base is made up of bots, equating to approximately 180,000 bots playing the game for drops. Although they have managed to eliminate a considerable number of bots, it remains challenging to accurately determine the game’s true player count. If Keeg’s estimation holds, there are about 270,000 real players currently using “Banana,” placing it third in terms of concurrent players behind “Elden Ring.” Since “Banana” doesn’t necessitate constant clicking, you can leave it open while using minimal resources and even play other games like “Elden Ring” simultaneously.

The developers are currently focusing on enhancements for the game, including improvements to crafting, solving mysteries, and alterations to drop pools, as announced on Steam. In addition, they have been dealing with copyright issues by removing old bananas, such as the Amazin’Horsenana, which featured MrWeel’s Amazing Horse art without permission. A new version has since replaced it. The team has also invited players to contribute their own banana designs via Steam Workshop, allowing them to earn a portion of the sales. For every sold banana, creators receive 25%, equivalent to 25 cents in the game’s Banana store. Previously an active Discord art community existed for Bananas, but this update expands opportunities for more individuals to profit from the game’s popularity.

“Through this project, we’ve all formed new friendships. In the end, I believe it provided a nice escape from the chaos of the world for everyone involved. Initially, some team members had less than desirable reputations, but working with them has made me incredibly proud of our entire team and their dedication to improving the game. The original project was just a simple, humorous concept. Now, we’re collaborating with Razer, and have started partnering with influencers like Ricky Berwick – it’s all quite amazing!”

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2024-07-16 19:20

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