These Are the Most Played Games in Nigeria

Video games are a fast-growing industry in Nigeria. It is a rather young sector, with only a handful of companies developing games since 2015. However, due to the state’s young population and a flourishing mobile phone market, video games are becoming very popular. 

Gaming in Nigeria had modest beginnings. As most people could not afford to have a console or PC at home, opportunities for playing were usually available in barbershops or football viewing centers that had a couple of consoles. However, today the gaming industry in the country is worth $67 million and it is estimated that this sum will triple by 2023. What’s more, most of the revenue comes from mobile gaming, and not from PC or console gaming. 

And the citizens love to play both video games released by big publishers from abroad, as well as those locally-themed ones published by Nigerian developers. In this article, we take a closer look at which video games are most popular in Nigeria.

FIFA Series

As a football game that has been translated into 18 languages and is available in 51 countries, the FIFA series is one of the best-selling sport video games franchises in the world. Since the 2000s, it is also growing in popularity in Africa. In Nigeria, football has been extremely beloved since the 1920s when the sport first appeared in the country. That is why the success of the FIFA franchise comes as no surprise. The versions FIFA 18, FIFA 19, and FIFA 20 are particularly loved. Even though competing on a global level is still not possible for some Africans, this sports video game is not losing its popularity.

Dota 2

This multiplayer online arena game is yet another best-selling game that is also hugely popular in Nigeria. In this game, a player controls a character, called a “hero”, who has specific abilities. He joins a team of players that compete against another team. The goal is to occupy and defend a base on the map. The game is usually played with two to five other players. Dota 2 came out in 2009, and since then its creator Valve has been constantly updating it. That is why it is one of the most advanced multiplayer arena video games available today.

Online Casino Games

The ban on gambling which was in force in Nigeria was lifted in 2004, making it possible for Nigerians to indulge in some popular games such as blackjack, roulette, and slots. Besides the brick-and-mortar venues, online casino games are also very well accepted and popular in the state. A similar trend is also seen in other African countries, like South Africa for example, and it’s not a coincidence that Nigeria and South Africa are among the top leading gaming and online casino markets on the continent. There are many online casinos available for players in both countries, and they are usually out-of-state venues. In SA, for example, Malta-based Yeti Casino received many good reviews.

Grand Theft Auto V

Grand Theft Auto V is a 2013 release of the Grand Theft Auto action-adventure franchise originally developed by Rockstar Games in 1997. The franchise has been tremendously popular in Africa since 2008 when the San Andreas Set GTA IV was released. GTA is set in the fictional state of San Andreas and the single-player narrative follows three main characters and their attempts to commit robberies while being chased by a corrupt government agency and dangerous criminals. The game can be played either from a first-person or third-person perspective, and its world can be explored by vehicle or on foot.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

Developed in 2012 by Valve and Hidden Path Entertainment as the fourth game of the Counter-Strike franchise, CS: GO is another multiplayer game that is very popular in Nigeria. It is a first-shooter game in which players join a team and compete against another. Generally, in Africa, there are millions of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive players, and there are even teams that compete professionally against one other. Goliath Gaming, Big 5 Esports, and Energy sports are just some of the best CS: GO teams competing in Africa today. People can even place bets on CS: GO, as the game is available Betway. This is also one of the reasons why there are whole scenes developing around Counter-Strike, and the game growing popular in Africa by the day.

From its humble beginnings in barbershops to becoming a million-dollar industry, gaming in Nigeria evolved drastically and rapidly. The country’s young population is very passionate about gaming, and whole communities and professional gaming are being developed around certain popular games. Even though some games are still not available in Nigeria, both gamers and game developers are getting ahead in the gaming world by participating in online competitions and creating games for the Nigerian as well as the world’s game market.