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Writer's pictureAnca Agapi

5 Key Ingredients for a Popular Roblox Game

Every Monday morning our team starts the day with a long and fun session of playing Roblox games together. We each pick a game that we find interesting on the platform and, while playing it together, we try to dissect it and understand what makes it successful (or unsuccessful) to its audience.

After playing dozens of Roblox games together, we found some patterns that most popular games share.


  • Players love the social aspect of the metaverse

The most important element of any Roblox game is the social aspect. Most popular games thrive on creating a sense of togetherness, inspiring players to team up and embark on missions together. While playing different game genres, none of us found enjoyment in single player experiences that lacked interaction or visibility into what the others were doing. We wanted to explore the virtual realm together, with friends by our side, and most often on the other side of a voice chat. At the same time, these games are spiced up by a sense of friendly competition, and that's where leaderboards come into play. While players collaborate, a hint of rivalry emerges through leaderboards.


  • Aspiration creates a powerful emotional connection

The concept of aspiration is a key driver of success in Roblox games. It taps into a fundamental human desire to emulate and achieve what they idolise or what cannot be attainable at that point in time. Children, who often look up to role models are drawn to games that allow them to step into the shoes of their heroes or immerse themselves in experiences they might not otherwise encounter. Whether it's aspiring to be a professional football player, a restaurant owner, explore street culture, or even emulating the life of an adult, these games provide a platform for their dreams.


  • Players know immediately what’s expected of them

Every popular game has a clear objective, many times inferred by the game icon and title. The players understand what to do within the first minutes. They can easily navigate the game's mechanics, objectives, and challenges without the need for hand-holding instructions. It ensures that players can jump right into the action, free from complex or lengthy tutorials.


  • Players feel the progression

Most successful games give a sense of progression, a tactic that keeps players invested. The player has a clear path for improvement, whether it's leveling up, unlocking new content or items, or mastering challenges. This feeling of growth and achievement contributes to an ever-evolving virtual world that keeps players coming back for more.


  • The game needs to feel like a Roblox game

A successful game doesn't have to be flawless, but it must follow the style and design that captures the essence of the Roblox universe. The Roblox style is defined by distinctive art and the random fun elements that surprise and delight. From bringing your friends' avatars into the game to intentionally injecting amusing bugs into the gameplay, this gives an air of unpredictability and laughter into every session. Unlike mobile games, Roblox experiences can sometimes be very raw with a simplistic interface. They are launched with a minimum viable product (MVP) approach, inviting players to actively participate and contribute to their development right from the outset.


Nonetheless, there's no one-size-fits-all formula for creating a successful Roblox game. It's remarkable how two seemingly identical games can have vastly different metrics, especially in terms of upvotes. play visits and concurrent players. In many instances, the key differentiator lies in the timing, current trends and the game's marketing strategy. A well-timed and skilfully executed marketing campaign can elevate one game above its competitors, giving it the opportunity to shine and stand out in the highly competitive Roblox ecosystem.



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