How a Slow-Paced Gardening Game Became a Record-Breaking Roblox Sensation
In a gaming world dominated by fast-paced shooting, chasing, and exploring, one of Roblox Grow a Garden most popular new titles is surprisingly… about gardening.
Grow a Garden has quickly become a sensation on the online gaming platform Roblox, attracting more than 16 million concurrent players earlier this month—surpassing the previous record held by Fortnite. Many of these players are children and young teens, captivated by the calm and simple joy of growing virtual plants.
From Tiny Patch to Virtual Empire
Developed by Janzen Madsen and his team at Splitting Point Studios in New Zealand, Grow a Garden allows players to cultivate a small patch of virtual land. With soothing background music, players plant seeds, water crops, and eventually harvest and sell their produce to earn in-game currency called Sheckles. Progress continues even when players are offline.
Young players like Eric (8) and Owen (10) from Edinburgh are among the millions hooked. “It’s a really fun game,” Eric tells the BBC. “We have competitions at school—who’s got the most Sheckles or the best plant.”
Even with its slow pace, the game has mass appeal. Eric adds, “There’s a bit of patience to it,” while Owen enjoys the competitive element and excitement of acquiring rare plants like the coveted sugar apple Roblox Grow a Garden.
Massive Growth: 9 Billion Visits and Counting
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Since its creation in March, Grow a Garden has already logged over 9 billion visits according to Roblox. Notably, 35% of the game’s player base is aged 13 and under, making it a dominant force in Roblox’s 97.8 million daily user base.
While millions love the peaceful gameplay, others are baffled by its appeal, comparing it to “watching paint dry.” However, the combination of competition, collectible items, and soothing gameplay has clearly struck a chord, particularly with younger audiences.
Real Money for Virtual Gardens
While Grow a Garden is free to play, players can purchase Robux, Roblox’s real-money currency, to speed up growth or acquire rare items. This has led to a booming market on platforms like eBay, where rare virtual items sell for hundreds of pounds.
Prof Sarah Mills from Loughborough University warns that this dynamic can affect children’s financial literacy and cause challenges for families navigating in-game purchases: “It changes the nature of pocket money.”
Can Virtual Gardening Inspire Real-Life Green Thumbs?
Some hope that Grow a Garden’s popularity might inspire children to take up actual gardening. Thordis Fridriksson, gardening podcaster and BBC presenter, believes the game taps into the addictive nature of planting seeds and watching them grow.
However, Professor Andrew K. Przybylski of the University of Oxford is skeptical: “It is unlikely that a game like this will encourage real-world gardening any more than Super Mario encourages plumbing.”
Still, Owen and Eric help tend their family’s real-life garden. Yet when asked which they prefer, Owen answers emphatically: “Grow a Garden!”
Roblox’s Growing Pains: Safety Concerns Remain
Despite its popularity, Roblox has faced criticism over safety concerns, including reports of grooming and gaming addiction among young users. Roblox insists it has strong safety tools in place, stating that “even one bad incident is one too many.”
A Global Gaming Empire Still Growing
Roblox remains one of the largest gaming platforms worldwide, with over 40 million user-generated games and experiences. In the UK, it’s the most popular platform for children aged 8 to 12, and games like Grow a Garden continue to push its boundaries.
As Grow a Garden proves, sometimes the simplest gaming experiences can capture imaginations and redefine what counts as fun in a digital world dominated by action-packed titles.
