If you look into the origin stories of most games, you realize that they started off as concrete game concepts. A game developer came up with several ideas, narrowed down the options to specific elements, implemented what they had in mind, and launched the game. These stories read like templates that follow a tried-and-tested approach that many developers use to this date. But Skibidi Toilet is nothing like this. In fact, if you could go back to 2023 and tell the original animator that his idea would blow up into a series of games, he would likely not believe you.
So, how about we go back in time and discover the beginnings of this game and learn how it came to be as big as it is today?
Back in 2023, animator Alexey Gerasimov came up with an 11-second funny short that he posted on his YouTube channel. He did not invest loads of money into the short, nor did he partner with known names in the industry. Instead, using a free professional 3D graphics program, known as Source Filmmaker, he created a video in which a human head popped out of a toilet and started singing a remixed mashup of the songs “Give It to Me” by Timbaland and “Dom Dom Yes Yes” by Biser King. And once people saw the singing toilet and listened to the music, they were sold on the idea. And it was not long before viewers were sharing the video with others, thus making it go viral.
Soon after the clip started making rounds, Alexey started adding twists to it, thus making it even more engaging. On one side, there were antagonists, which were the Skibidi toilets. They followed their boss, the G-Toilet, and they worked together to increase in numbers and expand their territories with the sole aim of taking over the world. On the other side, we had the alliance that was fighting these toilets. And instead of having humans do the fighting, Alexey created three types of characters, which were Cameramen, Speakermen, and TV men. All of them had electronics for heads rather than human faces. For example, Cameramen wore suits and had CCTV cameras for faces.
In the early episodes, the series just featured the alliance fighting the toilets in very fast and local fights. But the more traction that the series got, the more the characters developed. Not only were the settings changing to include various landscapes, such as ruined cities, but the characters were also adopting new technologies. It got to the point that the toilets had laser eyes, legs, attachments, and all sorts of innovative add-ons that made them formidable enemies. But the alliance was not left behind in this regard, and they also featured developments to keep up with the toilets.
When viewers were not watching the factions fight, they were paying close attention to the dramatic twists and betrayals within the series. And the more the watch time went up, the more game developers started paying attention to what was unraveling right before their eyes.
Unlike many games, which can be tied to one developer, Skibidi Toilet is an open internet phenomenon, which means that anyone is free to create their own version of the game. For this reason, we have various categories serving the same purpose. In the first case, we have official as well as independent games that have been built around the Skibidi Toilet Franchise, which are available on digital game platforms. On top of this, we have user-generated games on Roblox where creators are able to create their own custom games, which serve millions of players. And in the last category, we have simple web and mobile mini games that feature Skibid Toilet themes with simple mechanics.
So, how did so many game developers end up dipping their toes in the same water? Well, they all realized that they could capitalize on the following things:
The Skibidi Toilet series grew so much on YouTube that it started pulling in billions of views from all over the world. As such, developers knew that if they created a game along this line, they would be targeting an existing audience and would be able to avoid the substantial marketing costs that come with new releases.
On top of this, this series was created at a time when people were already turning internet trends into immersive, playable experiences. People no longer wanted to sit on the sidelines and instead wanted to be part of the action. And so, they knew that if they created a game that allowed the audience to embody the characters, they would be serving a real market need.
Game developers were not starting from scratch. Given that Alexey had spent time coming up with graphics and fine-tuning details such as characters, settings, and weapons, the developers already knew what they needed to include in the gameplay. And that took a load of work off their shoulders.
As you would imagine, the Skibidi Toilet game varies based on the game developer behind the specific version. Even so, since they tend to follow the patterns that were evident in the YouTube series, they tend to have similarities, as follows:
Mechanics. Players can engage in either Shooter or Tower Defense games. In Shooter games, players have a first-person perspective as the Cameraman, such that they get attacked by the toilets and are expected to fight back. In Tower Defense games, toilets march towards a base, and players are expected to line up units to shoot down the toilets to keep them from making their way through.
Points. Players get rewarded with coins or points for defeating their enemies or surviving waves. They can use these rewards inside the game to buy weapons, unlock new heroes, or progress to harder levels.
It helps to note that players are not just thrust into battlefields and are instead also able to explore their environments, which feature iconic characters and features from the YouTube series.
Origin story aside, there is a lot to Skibidi Toilet that has fans streaming in by the throngs. To start with, rather than going for the grim tones in traditional video games, this game serves as a refreshing find by posing the enemies as singing toilets. Even people who would have turned away from shooter games find it fun to launch an attack or defend themselves from toilets because the whole idea is just absurd.
Secondly, many players have watched the game from the sidelines and wished they could step in and save the world. To them, playing is personal, and that makes it all the more exciting. Plus, they get to share their experiences with their friends on social media, which adds to the fun.
Additionally, despite all the humor, the game is actually quite challenging. Players cannot get enough of the adrenaline rushes they get from facing off toilets, and they delight a great deal in strategizing their next moves.
And with more developments coming up, the perks keep increasing. Through our independent gaming publication at Skibidi Gaming Hub, we continue to explore the ins and outs of Skibidi Toilet, its developments over time, and the impact it has had on playable experiences, including the path it has carved out for game developers all over the world.