Is Grow a Garden Roblox's Most Popular Game

In a gaming world often defined by fast-paced action and high-stakes challenges, one of the most popular titles on the Roblox platform stands out for its calm and steady approach. Grow a Garden, a game focused on virtual gardening, has gained a wide following, with more than 16 million people playing during a single weekend—surpassing records previously held by more traditionally thrilling games like Fortnite.

Is Grow a Garden Roblox's Most Popular Game

Grow a Garden: Roblox's Most Popular Game

Grow a Garden allows players to cultivate a small plot of virtual land. Players can buy seeds from an in-game shop, plant them, and then watch them grow while relaxing background music plays. Growth continues even when players are not logged in, creating a sense of ongoing progress without requiring constant interaction.

Once plants mature, they can be sold for the in-game currency, called Sheckles. Some gameplay features introduce competition, such as stealing from other players' gardens, though the overall tone remains slower and more relaxed than many other popular games. 

The game was originally created by a Roblox user and later acquired and developed further by Janzen Madsen and a team of 20 employees at Splitting Point Studios, based in New Zealand. Since its relaunch, it has become one of Roblox’s most visited experiences, attracting over 9 billion visits since March. Roblox reports that approximately 35% of players have been aged 13 and under.

Is Grow a Garden Roblox's Most Popular Game

Why It Appeals to Younger Players

For many young players, the appeal of Grow a Garden lies in its simplicity and the satisfaction of growing something over time. In an interview with the BBC, Eric Watson Teire (an eight-year-old from Edinburgh) describes it as a fun casual game and says many of his school friends also play. He and his 10-year-old brother Owen enjoy competing over who has the best garden or the most Sheckles.

While some online commentators have expressed confusion over the game’s popularity, referring to it as slow or uneventful, others appreciate the deliberate pace. Owen notes that part of the fun is seeing which plant will appear—whether it will be something rare like a sugar apple or a more common carrot.

The game is free to play, though it does offer paid options using Robux, Roblox’s digital currency. This can be used to speed up gameplay or access rare items. Some of these items, such as mutated plants or decorative creatures, are even being resold on platforms like eBay for significant amounts of money.

Is Grow a Garden Roblox's Most Popular Game

The Business of Virtual Gardening

Grow a Garden’s financial model reflects broader trends in digital gaming, where in-game purchases and virtual economies play a central role. Professor Sarah Mills from Loughborough University, who has researched gaming and youth experiences, notes that these types of reward systems can influence children’s understanding of money and create new challenges for families trying to manage digital spending.

The accessibility of Grow a Garden also contributes to its success. Like most Roblox experiences, it can be played across devices without an upfront cost, making it easy for children to join and play with friends. This has helped the game become part of a shared social experience among younger users.

Is Grow a Garden Roblox's Most Popular Game

Can Virtual Gardening Inspire Real-Life Hobbies?

The question of whether games like Grow a Garden can lead to real-world interests is still open. Professor Andrew K. Przybylski, who studies human behavior and technology at the University of Oxford, is skeptical. He suggests that while the game may spark interest in plants, the connection between a digital garden and actual gardening is limited.

He compares it to the idea that playing a game like Super Mario Wonder might inspire someone to pursue plumbing. However, others are more hopeful. Thordis Fridriksson, a gardening podcaster and BBC presenter, believes the appeal of watching something grow is shared between the virtual and physical worlds.

She sees potential for players to become interested in real gardening, even if the game’s mechanics are quite different from actual planting and maintenance. In Edinburgh, where Owen and Eric play Grow a Garden, the boys also help out in their family’s real garden. Despite this, Owen is clear about his preference—he enjoys both, but the game holds more of his attention.

Is Grow a Garden Roblox's Most Popular Game

Part of Roblox’s Expanding Influence

Roblox, based in the United States, continues to be one of the most popular gaming platforms worldwide, with nearly 98 million daily active users in early 2025. It offers over 40 million user-generated games, with a strong presence among children aged eight to twelve in the UK. While the platform is praised for its creativity and accessibility, it also faces concerns around safety and potential risks. Roblox has stated that it remains committed to safety and views even a single harmful incident as unacceptable.

Grow a Garden’s rise highlights how games that focus on creativity, patience, and simple interaction can still find major success in a competitive gaming environment. As it continues to attract players, the game also contributes to broader discussions around screen time, in-game spending, and how digital experiences shape young people’s lives.

Source: BBC