A new gardening game developed by a teenager on Roblox has set an impressive record, attracting 21 million players all at once—an achievement that’s quite unusual in the gaming world.

Dom Tait, an analyst with the UK-based company Omdia, remarked to AFP that while many might not know about “Grow a Garden,” it’s currently one of the most popular video games available.

On June 21, over 21 million players logged in simultaneously to Grow a Garden, where they could buy seeds, plant crops, harvest their yields, sell them, and even “borrow” items from their neighbors’ virtual gardens.

This record beats the previous high of 15 million concurrent users held by Fortnite, which achieved those numbers during a special Marvel-themed event in late 2020.

Tait described the game’s success as “enormous.” However, he noted it’s hard to confirm if Grow a Garden has officially broken all concurrent user records. Other popular games, like Honor of Kings, might not disclose their player counts.

Nonetheless, he believes it’s safe to say Grow a Garden has set a record for Roblox, as the platform has provided those statistics.

Since its launch in 2005, Roblox has become a favorite among kids and teens, and it’s accessible on nearly all gaming consoles and smartphones.

The platform has evolved into one of the largest gaming ecosystems globally, enabling users to create their own games and enjoy those made by others.

Games on Roblox are free to play, and the platform generates revenue through in-game purchases, advertising, and royalties.

Created in Just Three Days

Grow a Garden made its debut in late March, developed by an almost unknown teenage creator.

The game caught the attention of Splitting Point Studios, who soon took on a stake in it.

According to CEO Janzen Madsen, the original creator developed the entire game in just three days!

Tait suggests that the game’s simple graphics and straightforward mechanics contribute to its appeal, offering players a calming experience.

“There’s little danger, and it’s mostly about enjoying the process,” he said, noting how players take pleasure in watching their gardens grow—even when they’re not logged in. It’s similar to gardening in real life, just at a faster pace.

The game shares similarities with Animal Crossing, a beloved life simulation game that provided a soothing escape for many during the early COVID lockdowns of 2020.

According to Gamediscover, another appealing aspect of Grow a Garden is how user-friendly it is, which is advantageous for Roblox, given that 40% of its users last year were under 13.

A Vast Audience

It remains unclear exactly how much revenue Grow a Garden has generated for its developers.

Tait explained that the creators of popular paid experiences generally earn about 70% of the spending by gamers, with Roblox taking a portion for itself.

In 2024, Roblox reported that it paid out $923 million to developers.

Such figures raise questions in the industry about whether platforms like Roblox are drawing audiences away from traditional console games.

This indicates the growing significance of major platforms like Roblox and Fortnite, which have recently reached peaks of 350 and 100 million monthly players, respectively.

Tim Sweeney, the CEO of Fortnite’s publisher Epic Games, remarked that both platforms offer vast audiences comparable to any console gaming community and provide excellent opportunities for creators.

Despite its successes, Roblox has faced some criticism. A report by Hindenburg Research claimed in 2024 that the platform may be overstating its active player numbers and not doing enough to safeguard users from bad actors.

In response, Roblox dismissed Hindenburg’s financial claims as misleading and stated on its investor relations site that it has extensive safety measures in place to detect and prevent harmful activities.