Animal Company, the free-to-play game that’s been turning heads on Quest, has wowed fans and claimed the top spot as the highest-earning game of the week, surpassing the long-standing hit Gorilla Tag. Wooster Games, the brain behind this success, shared with Road to VR that not only has Animal Company become profitable, but it also boasts over a million monthly active users, making it a formidable contender in the world of VR games.
Since its launch on Quest’s early access in July, Animal Company has drawn inspiration from Gorilla Tag with its arm-powered movement and low-poly animal avatars. However, the twist comes with its gameplay, which closely mirrors the mechanics of Lethal Company. Players roam through quirky environments, gathering loot to bring back to base, while maneuvering around monsters and traps that demand a team-spirited blend of stealth and strategy.
Wooster Games explained, “We took cues from viral hits like Gorilla Tag, Yeeps, and Among Us VR, and during a hackathon, we explored VR experiences inspired by games such as Lethal Company and Content Warning.” This strategy seems to have worked, as the game recently leapfrogged Another Axiom’s Gorilla Tag to become Quest’s top earner. Gorilla Tag has been a sensation since 2022, raking in over $100 million in gross revenue last summer.
Of course, weekly earnings charts won’t eclipse Gorilla Tag’s lifetime revenue any time soon, but it marks an exciting shift in the landscape. Animal Company generates income entirely through in-app purchases, which include certain cosmetic items and the game’s own currency, Company Coins, used for seasonal cosmetics.
Although specific revenue numbers remain undisclosed, Wooster revealed that Animal Company’s success places it in “a strong and healthy position.” Recent updates—like the Tech Tree, Mining, and Planetarium—have spurred significant player engagement and activity.
Since monetization began in September, Animal Company has witnessed steady revenue growth month after month, more than doubling since December. What’s striking is the player base, with over 1 million monthly users, a fourfold upsurge since last December, Wooster said. The surge in success during the holiday season, the influx of new Quest 3 owners, and new Winter update content—like maps and items—have all been vital to this growth. Even in typically quieter months like February, player participation and revenue have only climbed.
The game’s use of familiar movement mechanics from Gorilla Tag, coupled with fresh and engaging gameplay, undoubtedly plays a part in its rise. Moreover, Animal Company’s social media presence has been a key factor. TikTok and YouTube have propelled the game into the spotlight, with hashtags on TikTok racking up over 410 million views.
Wooster notes that rather than splurge on marketing, they’ve focused on nurturing relationships with content creators, both new and seasoned, like Jmancurly. They’ve discovered that offering content that fascinates creators is much more beneficial than paid sponsorships, fostering deeper and longer-lasting engagement.
To bolster this strategy, the studio introduced ‘The Drip Department’—an invite-only program giving members early access and exclusive content to help grow their channels alongside the game.
The timing for Animal Company couldn’t be better. Meta confirmed a demographic shift following the Quest 3S release last year, observing increased F2P content and revenue from in-app purchases. “The success of viral, player-driven games like ours highlights the Quest platform’s evolution,” Wooster Games said. “We foresee this focus on social and creator-led content shaping VR’s future.”
While it remains to be seen if Animal Company will outshine Gorilla Tag in the long run, there’s no denying that it’s reshaping the VR landscape with social, community-driven experiences. With its rapid growth and thriving community, Animal Company is already more than a trend. It’s poised for a remarkable journey, and the industry is watching closely to see just how far it will go.
