Out of nowhere, a new game on Steam has gained popularity, with a peak of over 800,000 players at once. This game simply involves clicking on a Banana to increase a number. So, what is the reason for all the hype?
‘Entitled ‘Banana’, the game is incredibly uncomplicated. It consists of a Banana image placed on a bright yellow background, and with each click, a number increases. That is the extent of the game.’
In contrast to other clicker games like Cookie Clicker, which have visual representations of progress and upgrades to increase clicking efficiency, Banana simply displays a numerical increase above the fruit with each click. There are no additional features.
Despite the seemingly simple concept, the game has already accumulated an impressive number of players, reaching a peak of 815,679 and continuing to grow.
Therefore, what exactly is Banana, and what is the reason behind the game’s popularity among thousands of players?
What is the Banana game on Steam?
The game, Banana, was launched on April 16, 2024, but did not gain significant attention until May 20. However, it reached its peak of over 38,591 concurrent players on May 31.
In June, the game gained widespread attention and reached its peak of just over 800,000 players on June 16, according to data from SteamDB.
In comparison, this game has similar numbers to Baldur’s Gate 3 and Elden Ring, and has surpassed popular titles such as Starfield and GTA 5. In fact, at the time of writing, it has the highest number of concurrent players on Steam, even surpassing Counter-Strike 2.
Although the gameplay is extremely simple, what really draws players in is the opportunity to earn Steam items while playing. These items can then be listed on the Steam Marketplace.
The Dogenana was made in remembrance of Kabosu
The drop system operates as follows: by playing for at least one minute, you will receive one item every three hours. Additionally, playing for at least one minute every 18 hours will earn you an additional item.
Essentially, in order to make the most of your banana drops, make sure to open the game every three hours and spend a minute clicking on the banana.
There is currently no in-game functionality for utilizing these items, such as Counter-Strike 2’s skins. However, they are able to be sold and some of these items are surprisingly scarce.
Why are so many people playing the Banana game?
The reason for the immense popularity of the Banana game is not easily determined. It could be due to the amusement of a straightforward game based on clicking bananas, or it could be the opportunity to make real money from it.
Despite the majority of Banana drops selling for just a few cents, there are also some highly sought-after and rare bananas that players can acquire, which are currently being listed for hundreds of dollars online.
A lot of bananas reference memes
Limited-time events are the only occasions when exclusive bananas are available to players, who have the opportunity to obtain rare bananas if luck is on their side. Events such as the Shiny Banana event or the Crypticnana event provide players with the chance to acquire these elusive bananas.
Many of these bananas are being sold for high prices on the Steam Marketplace, and they are actually being purchased. Items such as the Shiny Banana and the Diamond Banana are generating hundreds of dollars in sales.
The current highest-priced item available on Steam’s marketplace is the Crypticnana, listed at $1,144.
The Diamond Banana is one of the most expensive bananas on the Steam Marketplace
Therefore, if gamers are not engaged in the gameplay, it is likely for the purpose of obtaining aesthetically pleasing bananas and earning a fast profit, or maybe just to join in on the trend.
Who created the Banana game?
Based on the Steam listing for the game, it can be concluded that the developers and publishers have exclusively worked on Banana and have not released any other games.
Despite the game’s Steam forums being filled with discussions, a developer known as Robert Partyson (who also signs off as Boris in announcements) has been actively assisting players with their questions. Therefore, it can be assumed that they are the creator of the game.
We don’t know why Robert Partyson, also known as Boris, created Banana, but it was likely just for fun. According to their playful comments in the game’s forums, it seems that they made it as a joke and referred to it as a “poorly-made egg game”. It bears resemblance to a game called “The Egg game”where the objective is to click on an egg and increase a number.
Despite the possibility that the game was created as a joke, it is evident from the Banana’s trailer that the developer intentionally included their Nvidia Shadowplay notification in the recording, fully embracing the game’s absurdity.
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