Quarantine Zone Developer Shares Three Factors Behind Its Viral Success on TikTok
The co-founder of Brigada Games elaborates on why their game became popular on social media and what makes it ideal for streamers.
Quarantine Zone: The Last Check is a simulation game set in a post-apocalyptic world where players need to check survivors for signs of a zombie virus before deciding whether to allow them past a military checkpoint. If they fail the check, it can end badly for the players.
The game’s demo was released in May and became an immediate success, securing over a million wishlists on Steam and a publishing deal with Devolver Digital—a noteworthy achievement for a debut demo.
Key Factors for Success
Speaking to Stas Staryk, the CEO and co-founder, I explored what contributed to the game’s viral popularity on platforms like TikTok and what lessons other developers might glean from its success.
Staryk highlighted three main elements:
- Engagement Opportunity: The game allows streamers to interact with their audience by asking for advice and making decisions on-the-fly.
- High-Stakes Decisions: Players face significant choices, which viewers love to witness. The balance between life and death decisions adds tension and excitement.
- Short Game Loops: The game has a one-minute cycle for inspecting each survivor, making it well-suited for quick demonstrations on social media.
Additionally, the setup of seeing just one survivor makes it straightforward for creators to make engaging TikToks that easily capture attention. Staryk noted that one streamer garnered 30 million views on a TikTok made during a playtest before the demo launch—an impressive feat for any game.
(Image credit: Brigada Games)
