Banana, a simple idle clicker game, is now reaching new heights of popularity on Steam, amid the platform's most acclaimed titles like Dota 2, Baldur's Gate, and Counter Strike 2.
Developed by a small, globally dispersed team, Banana involves players clicking on a banana image to increase a numerical value. Despite its simplicity, the game has amassed a massive following and stirred controversy due to a seemingly "Infinite Money Glitch."
Banana, a simple clicker game on Steam, has unexpectedly topped popularity charts, driven by a virtual banana marketplace and a "money glitch." However, the game faces scrutiny due to bot activity and a developer's controversial past.Image via Steam
How Is a 'Banana' So Popular on Steam?
Once players download Banana and start the game, they see a banana on a green background. Clicking on this banana increases a number. Occasionally, a banana drops into the player's Steam inventory.
These bananas come in various designs, from a Gentleman Banana wearing a top hat and dress shoes to the rare Golden Banana and a ridiculous Blackhole Banana.
Just like item drops from other Steam games, these bananas can then be put up and sold on the Steam Community Market for real money. The game's simplicity and the promise of earning some money are key to its appeal, but it is also what has caused it to explode in popularity.
The game's success can be attributed to its low resource requirements and the intriguing virtual banana marketplace likened by some to NFTs. According to Polygon, more than 141,000 people were clicking on the banana concurrently at one point.
This number doubled shortly after, and by June 10, over 252,000 computers had Banana open. The peak came on June 17, with 858,915 players, making it Steam's most-played game at the time - leading a library packed with AAA titles and fan-favorite indie games. And the numbers are still up 85% as of writing.
Banana's Bot Problem and the 'Infinite Money Glitch'
However, not all of these players were real. Developer Hery revealed that a significant portion of the initial player base was bots. "A third of that 141,000 number was real players - so around 47,000 people," Hery told Polygon. This botting issue arose because the game's minimal resource usage allowed players to run multiple accounts to exploit rare drops.
About the virtual banana marketplace: While most bananas sell for mere pennies, rarer ones can fetch significant amounts. For instance, a Diamond Banana might be worth $70 to $165, while a Special Golden Banana sold for $1,378.58 on June 9, Polygon finds.
This trading system has led to the game being described as a "legal 'Infinite money glitch.'" Hery explained, "Users make money out of a free game while selling free virtual items" (Polygon).
Players can sell their bananas and earn money for doing virtually nothing, which has contributed to the game's viral success. But for real, anything that says 'infinite money' will always be frowned upon as a scam these days. Here is what the dev has to say:
Not a Scam: Banana Developer
Despite its popularity, Banana has faced skepticism. Some players questioned whether the game was a scam or a Ponzi scheme, especially after it was revealed that one developer, Theselions, had a history of involvement in a Steam market "bitcoin" scam.
Eurogamer.net reported that the Banana team has since parted ways with Theselions and cleared his inventory of valuable bananas to reassure the community and aestheticspartan, the game's CM/co-owner has assured the player base that "no scamming/scam" going on.
In response to the game's rapid rise and the issues that came with it, the developers are planning updates to enhance the game "into something bigger and better than just a clicker game."
Potential updates include ways for players to use their items to change the banana's appearance and mini-games.
