Social deduction game Among Us has soared to such heights of popularity that last month it was almost as successful as Pokemon GO in its heyday. The online game has reached levels of fame far beyond what it achieved during its initial launch in 2018. Among Us is such a prominent part of modern culture that it was even streamed by United States politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
A mobile game even coming close to reaching the heights of Pokemon GO is a big deal. When the augmented reality game released in 2016, it was a nearly unprecedented cultural phenomenon. Fans flocked to the streets, making new friends, visiting landmarks, and clearing gyms. Nearly every player has at least one story to tell about a huge social event that they got caught up in simply because everyone present was on the hunt for Pokemon. Everyone knew about Pokemon GO; for better or worse, the game even made a brief appearance in the world of politics.
Among Us has now come close to replicating Pokemon GO's immense success. Super Data reports that in September this year, the mobile version of Among Us reached nearly as high a player count as Pokemon GO did in August of 2016, when fervor for the title was at its peak. It does note that profits for the multiplayer game aren't exceptionally high, but that's mostly due to the low entry cost and small amount of in-game purchases offered. It should also be noted that these player numbers represent just the mobile version of the game; considering the fact that the game drew 4 billion views on YouTube last month, its overall player count must be astronomical.
It's hard to overstate just how successful Among Us has been, and as Super Data notes, that's very impressive for an indie title with a three-person development team. The game has changed a lot of lives and impacted popular culture in many different ways. It seems like every day, more and more bizarre, unique, and immensely creative fan projects sprout up all over the internet, commemorating the beloved multiplayer game.
The summer of 2016 was a once in a lifetime event. It's all but unheard of for a video game to bring people together in such a visible, tactile way. In 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic keeping people confined to their homes, the real life social aspect of Pokemon GO's big month is an impossible and dangerous proposition. But fans will always have the memories of that glorious summer, and by getting together with their friends online and playing Among Us, they can still experience that experience of shared purpose and enjoyment that only a video game can bring.
Source: Super Data