Charles Esther
Roblox’s game Grow a Garden has taken the platform by storm this spring.
This game involves buying seeds, planting crops, and selling virtual produce to grow your garden.
It started with a few simple strawberry plants but quickly became a phenomenon.
As of late May 2025, over 2.2 million players were playing the game simultaneously, making it four times more popular than the next biggest Roblox game.
At one point over a weekend, the game peaked at around 9 million concurrent players — a new Roblox record.
I tried Grow a Garden myself and quickly saw how players can advance faster by spending real money on seeds and other in-game items.
Bloomberg reported that a secondary market has sprung up for these virtual goods.
Seeds, livestock, and other items are being bought and sold on platforms like Discord and even eBay, generating millions of dollars in weekly turnover.
Although selling items outside Roblox violates the platform’s rules, it still happens frequently.
How Grow a Garden Sprouted to Success
Grow a Garden was originally created by a 16-year-old Roblox user in just a few days.
The teen’s identity remains anonymous, and they were unreachable for comment.
Roblox’s user base is largely young, with about 40% under age 13, according to CEO David Baszucki.
Users create their own games using Roblox’s tools, and with the platform’s currency called Robux, both players and developers can earn money.
Robux can be purchased with real money, approximately one cent per Robux, with various discount bundles available.
The game grew further when well-known Roblox developer Janzen “Jandel” Madsen acquired part of it and expanded the game with a development team.
Later, Florida-based Do Big Studios partnered in the project, although details on ownership remain unclear.
Playing Grow a Garden
Grow a Garden is free to start.
You plant basic seeds like carrots and strawberries, which quickly grow into plants you can sell for the game’s virtual currency, Sheckles.
Sheckles are then used to buy more seeds, animals, and other items to grow your garden.
I began with just enough Sheckles to plant carrots.
Compared to my real-life gardening attempts, the crops grew impressively fast.
I harvested my carrots and sold them at a virtual farm stand, then bought more seeds to expand.
Exploring other players’ gardens, I saw some elaborate setups, suggesting players had invested significant time or money.
One top player had nearly 1 billion Sheckles and a sprawling garden filled with plants and animals.
Real Money and Virtual Competition
Players can use Robux to buy special in-game items, including the ability to “steal” crops from others.
This creates incentives to spend real money to advance faster.
The gameplay follows a familiar model: trade points for better assets over time.
Patience pays off, but cash can accelerate progress — a dynamic not unlike the real world.
What Makes Grow a Garden So Compelling?
Justin Watkins, host of popular Roblox YouTube channel ThinkNoodles, praised the game’s design.
He noted the developers optimized the game to succeed within Roblox’s algorithm and understand what players value.
Grow a Garden combines multiple player hooks, including live events that players consider “must-attend” to gain rare items and status.
These features create a strong community and sense of competition.
Criticism and Monetization
Some adult gamers on forums like Reddit and YouTube dismiss Grow a Garden as a game for “dopamine-addled children.”
They argue it requires little skill but acknowledge many find it soothing and enjoyable.
Others criticize Do Big Studios’ involvement, claiming the increased focus on monetization has hurt the game’s community feel.
The company did not respond to requests for comment on these points.
What’s Next for Grow a Garden?
Launched in March 2025, Grow a Garden’s rapid rise shows no signs of slowing.
After a few minutes a day over several days — without spending any Robux or real money — I grew my garden to over 180,000 Sheckles, with tulips, watermelons, tomatoes, and rare bamboo plants.
The game offers a surprisingly rewarding experience without a big financial investment.
For many players, Grow a Garden is more than a game — it’s a virtual world where creativity, strategy, and a bit of money can grow into a flourishing digital garden.
