99 Nights in the Forest: The Roblox Sensation That’s Dominating Player Counts

Remember the good old days when picking up a video game was a big deal? For many of us, a new game for Christmas or our birthday was a treat, but those in-between moments were often filled with free games. Fast forward to today, and if you grew up after 2006, chances are Roblox games defined your childhood gaming experience. In an astonishing trend, in 2025, players collectively spent over 10 billion hours on Roblox each month—outdoing Steam, PlayStation, and Fortnite combined!

One of the standout hits on Roblox this year has been the survival-crafting game, 99 Nights in the Forest, which reached a jaw-dropping peak of 14.2 million players online at once. To put that into perspective, that’s more than double the population of New Zealand, the home of its developers, Grandma’s Favourite Games. The brain behind this hit, Alec Kieft—also known as Cracky4—was inspired by his flash gaming days, but it was Roblox’s multiplayer aspect that really drew him in. A math teacher once thought Roblox would be a great educational tool, but it often turned into zombie-shooting fun instead!

Despite not being the educational experience intended, this led Kieft to dive into game development. When you download Roblox, it’s not just about playing; you also get access to tools for creating games, which inspired Kieft’s very first project, Defenders of Roblox. Interestingly, he had never even played Left 4 Dead when he created it, but he loved the Roblox remakes that surfaced around 2014.

Kieft’s journey continued with his involvement in ‘war clans’—an early trend on Roblox where players would form groups, create maps, and engage in battles with laser guns. It was in this niche community that he met his co-creators for 99 Nights in the Forest. “It was a tight-knit group,” Kieft recalls. “We trained like soldiers and raided each other; that’s when my passion for Roblox deepened.”

Roblox has evolved significantly over the years, fostering unique subgenres and communities. Many players reminisce about the glory days of war clans while noting the rise of simpler games that cater to younger audiences. The release of 99 Nights in the Forest coincided with a wave of tycoon and simulator games, which, while popular, often lack the engaging gameplay that Kieft aims for. “Our game is all about collaboration and action, not just waiting around for numbers to climb,” he emphasizes.

In 99 Nights in the Forest, players need to gather resources, fend off threats like wolves, and search for missing children in a richly crafted world. At night, camping around the campfire feels safest, but brave souls can venture out—albeit at the risk of encountering the creepy Deer, a whimsical creature that adds to the game’s charm.

Despite being a survival game, Kieft believes it captures the essence of social gaming, blending survival mechanics with a social atmosphere. What’s impressive is that even after pausing their regular update schedule, 99 Nights in the Forest has maintained its solid player base, ranking high on Roblox charts. “We were worried that if we stopped updating, the players would leave us, but that fear was unfounded,” Kieft shares. “We’re still among the top games by daily active users, which is a huge relief!”

The developers are looking forward to expanding content and refining the game when they resume updates. Kieft believes that the depth of 99 Nights in the Forest appeals to a slightly older audience compared to the more simplistic games. He reflects on how gaming culture has shifted over time, noting that while younger players expect constant new content, the earlier generation simply enjoyed jumping into the game without worrying about updates.

As Kieft puts it, “We used to just play for fun; there wasn’t an expectation for immediate new content. It’s fascinating how the gaming community has evolved.” Whether you’re a long-time Roblox fan or new to the platform, 99 Nights in the Forest is definitely a game worth checking out!