One of the Best Social VR Games: Gorilla Tag
Extended Reality | Games
2-minute read
Gorilla Tag has defied expectations to become a new favorite among teenagers. Despite its rough graphics and simple gameplay, many were puzzled by its success. However, recent revenue reports confirm that 《Gorilla Tag》 is indeed a highly successful VR game, even being considered by some as the best VR game in its genre.
According to data provided by the development team at Another Axiom, as of June 2024, 《Gorilla Tag》, a standout VR app, has generated over $100 million in total revenue, with a player base exceeding ten million and daily active users reaching one million. Notably, the primary sources of revenue for the game are in-game apparel and decorative items.
Gorilla Tag: A Triumph in the VR Universe
Why has Gorilla Tag achieved such remarkable success? Beyond its unique gameplay and precise marketing strategies, there are background factors worth exploring. Launched in February 12, 2021 during the global pandemic, a period that drastically altered many families' lifestyles. Parents had to work from home and also care for children unable to attend school, making finding a quiet entertainment option a priority. With its low hardware requirements and ease of play, Gorilla Tag quickly became an ideal choice for many children.
As a social VR game, Gorilla Tag focuses on player interactions rather than high-quality graphics or complex gameplay. It encourages players to enjoy the simple pleasures of gaming together in a virtual world, fulfilling the social VR needs of people, especially children, during the pandemic.
Gorilla Tag: Awakening Primitive Joy? (Source: Gorilla Tag)
How Does It Differ from VRChat?
You might wonder why VRChat, another well-established VR social application, hasn't become as sensational as Gorilla Tag. Although VRChat offers a variety of worlds and highly customizable avatars, making it a great platform for user-generated content (UGC), it also requires higher technical and hardware specifications, presenting a significant barrier to entry for casual users and younger children. In contrast, Gorilla Tag, often hailed as one of the best VR games for its accessibility, focuses on simplicity and allows enjoyment without high-end VR headsets.
VRChat offers a rich and diverse experience.
Moreover, VRChat's interface and interaction mechanisms are relatively complex, requiring new players to spend time learning how to use them. This learning curve is a significant hurdle for those who want to just pick up and play. In contrast, Gorilla Tag's intuitive gameplay—moving by swinging the arms—significantly lowers the barrier for new players, making it a more approachable VR app.
Another point of discussion relates to recent controversies over age restrictions. We know that platforms and games targeting social communities strive to attract young people, the future main consumer group. While we all appreciate the open and diverse VRChat, it has necessitated stricter age verification policies to prevent minors from accessing adult content. Although Gorilla Tag also requires age verification, its age limit is 13, and children under 13 can play with parental consent, undoubtedly broadening its appeal to a younger and larger user base.
The success of Gorilla Tag has surprised many, including John Carmack, who tweeted after hearing the news: "Many in the industry don't understand Gorilla Tag because it doesn't fit their traditional notion of a 'successful VR game.' However, when the market speaks, we should listen!" While many developers continue to pursue the detail and quality of AAA titles, a successful VR game not only benefits from good timing but also relies on clever game design and strategy. Gorilla Tag costs USD 19.99 on Steam, get yours today!
