Sure, Call of Duty is cool and all, but have you ever dodged potholes as a Lagos bus conductor or tried to outrun angry gods? Nigeria’s gaming scene is bursting with creativity, culture, and digital adrenaline. From centuries-old board games gone digital to pandemic parkour, these homegrown hits blend local flavor with global game mechanics—and we’re so here for it.

Let’s press start:

1. Awale Online - Oware Awari

Developer:Ghislain Pellegrin
Platform: Android (Google Play Store)

What’s the Game About?
Ayo, also known as Ayo Olopon, Awale, or Oware, is a classic West African strategy board game that’s been played for centuries using seeds and carved wooden boards. Think of it as chess’s more social, more mysterious cousin.

How Do You Play?

• The board has 12 holes (6 on each side) and 48 seeds (4 per hole).

• Players take turns picking up seeds from one of their holes and "sowing" them counterclockwise, one per hole.

• If the last seed lands in a hole on the opponent’s side with 2 or 3 seeds, you capture those.

• The goal is to capture more seeds than your opponent—and maybe prove you’re the smartest one in the room (or at least in your family WhatsApp group).

Released: Updated on September 15th 2024
Get it here: Free on Google Play Store

2. Aboki Run

Developer: Maliyo Games
Platform: IOS

What’s the Game About?
Three friends—Danjuma, Gbenga, and Chinedu—wake up the wrong gods while hanging out in the forest. Now they must run back to the city before the forest spirits turn them into soup.

How It Works:

• Choose a character and dash through forests, caves, and cityscapes.

• Swipe to dodge and jump obstacles like roots, fallen logs, and spirit traps.

• Grab power-ups like shields and speed boosts.

• Beat your friends on the leaderboard and prove you're the fastest Aboki in the digital village.

Released: December 2016
Play it now: Free on Apple Store

3. Safari City

Developer: Maliyo Games
Platform: Android & iOS

What’s the Game About?
A match-3 puzzle game with an African twist! You solve colorful puzzles to fix up houses across the continent. It’s like Candy Crush, but you’re an architect with vibes.

Gameplay:

• Match 3+ tiles of the same color to clear them and earn coins.

• Use coins to renovate homes, unlock new cities, and reveal character stories.

• Every new level introduces iconic African architecture and cultural elements.

Latest Update: Africa Day Edition, May 21, 2025
Available on:GooglePlay & App Store

4. Mama Atingi Shop

Developer: Enovation Solutions + Maliyo, Leti Arts, Usiku, Kayfo
Platform: Android & iOS

What’s the Game About?
Welcome to your first small business—a souvenir shop full of hustle. Manage inventory, handle impatient customers, and try not to run out of change.

Gameplay:

• Stock products like carvings, crafts, and colorful kitenge

• Sell to tourists with specific tastes (and questionable patience).

• Expand your shop, upgrade interiors, and avoid customer rage quits.

• Learn time management, budgeting, and real-world business lessons—without the real-world stress.

Latest Update: May 2024
Download now: Google Play & App Store

5. Crazy Ludo

Developer: Maliyo Games
Platform: Android

What’s the Game About?
Ludo, but louder, faster, and spicier. It’s your favorite childhood board game reimagined with African flair—new rules, flashy boards, and power-ups that make your uncle’s version look like child’s play.

Rules of Engagement:

• Classic Ludo mechanics: roll dice, move your four tokens around the board, and try to get them home.

• Use power-ups to block opponents, move double, or reroll dice.

• Compete in daily challenges, unlock themed boards, and customize your tokens.

• Play online or pass the phone for hotseat multiplayer mayhem

Latest Release: April 23, 2025 (Africa Day Edition)
On Google Play: Free and fabulously chaotic

6. Outliver: Tribulation

Developer: Gbrossoft
Platform: Windows PC (Steam)

What’s the Game About?
A survival horror experience steeped in African mythology. You play as Bola, a Nigerian soldier mysteriously transported to the Realm of Tribulation—a creepy limbo full of ancient spirits, dark secrets, and supernatural enemies.

Core Gameplay:

• Third-person action with exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving.

• Battle demons from African folklore using mystical weapons and good old-fashioned courage.

• Make choices that affect the storyline—yes, there are multiple endings.

  Inspired by Yoruba cosmology, but scary enough to make you turn on the lights.

Released: July 18, 2023
Available on: Steam for Windows PC (Still being updated!)

Final Thoughts:

Nigeria’s game dev scene is no joke. Whether you’re outsmarting your auntie in Ayo, avoiding COVID-themed chaos, or surviving Yoruba horror realms, these games bring storytelling, style, and savvy gameplay—African-style.

Go ahead: download, play, support, and tell your friends. The African gaming renaissance is here. And it’s got power-ups.