Lagos Life Game

There are some things in life I genuinely do not understand, and one of them is how I managed to escape Nigeria, relocate abroad, build a life for myself, and then voluntarily download the stress of Lagos into my phone.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Lagos Life!

I started playing this game in October, and honestly, I did not know what I was getting myself into. I thought I was just going to entertain myself for a few minutes. Little did I know that I was about to become a virtual Lagos resident with responsibilities, financial obligations and a social life I never applied for.

First of all, who thought it was a good idea to recreate Lagos living in a game?

Whoever you are, I hope you know you have created a digital version of Nigerian suffering, and somehow, we are all enjoying it!

From living abroad to hustling in Lagos again

Let me get this straight.

I have spent years navigating life abroad. I have dealt with bills, mortgages, school runs, work, family responsibilities and the general wahala of adulthood.

Now, I log into a game, and the first thing I have to worry about is getting a job.

Excuse me?

I beg, I came here to relax, not to submit another CV!

And then there is rent. Every Saturday!

Even in a virtual Lagos, the landlord is waiting for his money. There is no grace period, no emotional consideration, no “Madam, please bear with me until month-end.”

Baba landlord is not your father.

You better have your money ready!

The Nigerian economy has entered my phone

One thing I find particularly hilarious is how seriously you have to approach your virtual finances.

You need to work, earn money, pay for things and manage your needs.

At this point, I am beginning to suspect that Lagos Life was created by someone who has personally experienced the Nigerian economy and decided that we had not suffered enough.

Imagine sitting comfortably in America, where you have real life bills to pay, and then opening your phone to discover that your virtual self is also broke.

Two economies. Two financial crises. One woman. Hia....

God abeg!

Six basic needs and absolutely no peace

Apparently, your character has six needs to manage: hunger, energy, fun, social interaction, hygiene and bladder.

Six!

My dear, even my real life responsibilities are not this organised.

You cannot just abandon your character because you are busy. You have to make sure this virtual human being is fed, rested, entertained and socially active.

I have children in real life. I have a household to manage. I have a dog called Oreo.

Now I have another human being inside my phone demanding attention.

At this rate, I should be collecting child support from the game developers. I am not even joking at this point...

The social life: Nigerians will always be Nigerians

And can we talk about the social aspect?

Of course, Nigerians cannot simply exist without turning everything into a social gathering.

Give us a virtual city and we will find a way to socialise, make friends, form connections and probably create unnecessary drama, lets not forget the beggers inside this game....choi.

It doesn’t matter whether we are physically in Lagos, Texas, London or Canada. Put Nigerians in one virtual environment and just watch.

Somebody is looking for a job, somebody is trying to make money, somebody is exploring the city, and somebody else is probably online doing absolutely nothing but monitoring everybody.

The Nigerian community spirit is alive and well!

The real question: Why am I enjoying this so much?

I think what makes Lagos Life interesting is the familiarity.

It brings back little bits of Nigerian life, the culture, the hustle, the places, the everyday interactions and the humour that comes with being Nigerian.

It is almost like having a little virtual Lagos without having to deal with actual Lagos traffic, physical heat, NEPA issues or the conductor shouting “Oshodi! Oshodi! Enter with your change!”

Although, knowing Nigerians, somebody will probably find a way to introduce that experience too.

What I particularly enjoy is that you can create your own little story. You get to build a life, explore, work, interact and see how things unfold.

It is giving The Sims, but make it Naija.

And honestly? I am here for it.

A few observations from my new virtual life

1. I escaped Nigeria physically, but apparently my subconscious still misses the hustle.

2. I now have responsibilities in two different realities.

3. Thank God i sort of worked my way up into being a Billionaire, in the game i am worth N46B...

4. I thought I was playing a game, but apparently I enrolled in another adulthood programme.

5. Whoever introduced Saturday rent into this game has unresolved issues with tenants, I THOUGHT ownwed my businesses until i had to pay rent every saturday ke?

6. I cannot believe I am voluntarily spending my free time managing somebody else’s virtual bladder.

Final thoughts: Eko for Show, even in 2D!

Jokes aside, I genuinely love how creative this game is. There is something entertaining about seeing everyday Nigerian experiences transformed into a virtual world.

It is relatable, funny and surprisingly addictive.

And for those of us living abroad, it gives us a little taste of home without having to book a flight, renew our Nigerian passports or explain to immigration why we are returning.

But I have one serious question for the Lagos Life community:

Are we actually building virtual wealth, or are we just collectively looking for another way to experience poverty? 😂

Please, let me know if you are playing too. I want to know whether we are all thriving in this virtual Lagos or secretly struggling to pay "rent" every Saturday.

As for me, I am enjoying my new life.

That Urhobo Girl Abroad has officially become a Lagosian again.

Only this time, my wahala comes with a login button.

Eko o ni baje! 🇳🇬😂

Wrote this when i started this game, but guess what i have a different perspective now.... but will share this....