Meme Tycoon - July Mega Update

Meme Tycoon is a Roblox-style tycoon game where each area is based on a meme. With progress saving, leaderboards, and prestige systems, it's built for high player retention and replayability.

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Inspiration

Meme Tycoon was inspired by classic Roblox-style tycoon games and the internet’s obsession with memes. Our goal was to merge the satisfying progression of idle clickers with meme culture to create a funny, addictive, and shareable experience.

This was our second major project in Horizon Worlds, following the success of Minigame Party, which we built for a previous Game Jam. With Meme Tycoon, we focused heavily on player retention through persistent progress, satisfying upgrades, and compelling endgame features like rebirths and the Meme Pantheon. The game quickly built a dedicated fanbase, with players returning after each update to explore the new meme-themed zones and climb the leaderboards.

What It Does

Meme Tycoon lets players create and grow their own meme empire, expanding across uniquely themed zones based on viral Italian Brainrot memes. Including Tung Tung Woods, Tralalero Beach, and Lirili Larila Desert. Each area features its own unique art style. Players earn money passively or through active tasks, with the option to rebirth for faster progress and permanent bonuses.

Key Features

  • 🚀 Persistent Progression – Your tycoon and stats are saved between sessions.
  • 💸 Rebirth System – Restart your empire stronger and aim for the Meme Pantheon.
  • 🏆 Leaderboards – Track the top players.
  • 😂 Meme Zones – Each zone is inspired by a different viral meme, with matching visuals.
  • 🔁 High Replayability – Designed to keep players coming back for more.
  • 🎯 Retention-Focused Design – Thoughtful pacing and rewarding upgrades.

Meet the Team

  • LittleCreator – Designed and built the full tycoon system and world layout.
  • Varun (varunastra.hw) – Scripted the core game mechanics, including rebirths and upgrades.
  • Vilva (DreamArchitects) – Contributed to optimization, visual polish, and consistency.

How We Built It

We built Meme Tycoon entirely within Horizon Worlds, using the native editor and scripting tools. All assets were crafted in-world with a stylized low-poly aesthetic for performance and readability. Every feature was scripted from scratch, laying a solid foundation for future updates and community-driven expansions.

Challenges We Faced

  • 🧩 Balancing Progression – Making sure upgrades, income, and rebirths felt rewarding at all stages.
  • 🌍 Zone Transitions – Ensuring each zone felt unique without impacting world performance.
  • 💾 Saving & Persistence – Developing a robust system to handle player progress.

Accomplishments We’re Proud Of

  • 🧠 Smart Progression Curve – Keeps players hooked across multiple sessions.
  • 😄 Diverse Meme Biomes – Every meme has a custom zone that reflects its tone and origin.
  • 🧱 Scalable Tycoon Engine – Built to support future games with minimal effort.
  • 💾 Stable, Smooth Gameplay – Optimized for performance without compromising visuals.

What We Learned

  • Player feedback is gold – Listening to player suggestions led to many meaningful improvements.
  • Small details matter – Visual polish and themed decorations dramatically improved immersion.
  • Performance-first mindset – Optimization from day one made a big difference at scale.
  • Community retention = long-term success – Weekly updates and features like rebirths significantly boosted daily returns.

Jam Update Improvements

  • ✅ New Zones – Mining Area, Cappuccina Theater, Assassino Dojo, Fruttodrillo Swamp
  • 🏛 New Endgame Content – Persistent Pantheon
  • 🎁 Added "Mystery Gift" feature to encourage players to stay for longer in each session
  • 🧭 Navigation – Improved arrow-based guidance system
  • 🏃‍♂️ Obby Update – Easier layout with more rewards
  • 🎨 Visual Polish – New decorations (e.g., golden statue in Champizini)
  • 🔧 Performance Gains – 25% vertex reduction
  • 🎡 New Systems – Wheel of Fortune, Lucky Wheel UI
  • 💎 Additional Currency – Diamonds
  • 🧠 Brainrot Pets – Players can now unlock cute Brainrot-themed Pets that follow them around
  • 🗺 World Structure Overhaul – Redesigned layout and Start Area
  • 🕒 Retention Features – Quests and Playtime Rewards added
  • 🐞 Bug Fixes – XP reset bug resolved
  • 🎮 Tycoon Logic Enhancements – Use NeededForRebirth to exclude elements from rebirth requirements, and ResetOnRebirth to preserve selected structures after rebirth.

What’s Next for Meme Tycoon

We’re excited to keep updating the game with upcoming features like:

  • 🗓 Daily Login Bonuses
  • 📋 Daily Quests – Earn limited-time rewards and cash
  • 🧢 Meme Cosmetics – Skins, effects, and outfits
  • ⏰ Offline Earnings – Continue earning while you're away
  • 🌆 Additional Meme Areas

🗺️⚔️ Upcoming Feature: Meme Adventures A new mode where players explore massive worlds, battle enemies, and collect meme-themed loot. We're considering releasing this either as a standalone multiplayer game with shared currencies (usable in Meme Tycoon) or as a sublevel within Meme Tycoon to expand the core experience.

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