One Billion Users, a new card game from Techdirt and Diegetic Games, offers a lighthearted yet insightful take on the cutthroat world of social network building. Inspired by the classic racing card game Mille Bornes, One Billion Users replaces the pursuit of mileage with the accumulation of users, transforming flat tires and speed limits into server overloads and funding woes. Players compete to build the largest online community, deploying a mix of community, blocker, hotfix, and event cards to simultaneously grow their own platform and sabotage their opponents’. The game captures the essence of the digital race for dominance, albeit with a touch of playful exaggeration.
The core gameplay retains the satisfying simplicity of its predecessor. Players draw and play cards, adding community cards to increase their user base. However, progress isn’t always smooth. Opponents can deploy blocker cards representing real-world challenges like server crashes or funding shortages, hindering growth. These blockers can be countered with hotfix cards, simulating quick fixes and upgrades, or by sacrificing other cards. This dynamic creates a constant push and pull, mirroring the competitive landscape of the tech industry where companies capitalize on each other’s vulnerabilities.
One Billion Users injects new mechanics that reflect the unique dynamics of the social media landscape. The concept of “toxicity” introduces a strategic layer, requiring players to balance growth with the potential negative consequences of a toxic online environment. Each community card contributes a varying degree of toxicity, and exceeding a certain threshold at the game’s end results in penalties. This mechanic adds a layer of realism, forcing players to consider the impact of their growth strategies on the overall health of their platform.
Influencers, another key addition, represent high-profile users with dedicated followings. These cards are awarded to players based on specific conditions, such as having the largest or smallest network, or even the most toxic. The ability to steal influencers from opponents introduces an element of strategic maneuvering, mimicking real-world scenarios where platforms compete for top talent. This mechanic adds another layer of complexity and competition, mirroring the high-stakes battles for online attention.
Event cards further spice up the gameplay by introducing temporary rule changes or requiring all players to take specific actions. These unpredictable events inject an element of chaos and can dramatically shift the balance of power. One particularly potent event card can force all influencers to re-evaluate their platform allegiance, potentially leading to a mass exodus of users and a dramatic reshuffling of the leaderboard.
While the game draws inspiration from the complexities of managing a social network, it avoids becoming overly technical or bogged down in details. Unlike its predecessor, Trust & Safety Tycoon, which offers a more rigorous simulation of the challenges of online moderation, One Billion Users prioritizes fast-paced fun and strategic gameplay. The focus is on the thrill of building a thriving online community, albeit with the added satisfaction of occasionally sabotaging your competitors.
However, the game is not without its quirks. The complexity of the scoring system, including the toxicity penalty, proved cumbersome for some playtesters, who often opted for a simpler “most users win” approach. Additionally, the reliance on card draws can sometimes lead to imbalances, with players accumulating an excess of hotfix cards when no blockers are in play, or a surplus of influencer-stealing cards before any influencers have appeared. These inconsistencies can occasionally disrupt the flow of the game, leading to periods of stagnation.
Despite these minor drawbacks, One Billion Users shines in its ability to capture the spirit of the social media landscape. The game encourages players to develop their own unique platform identity, from thriving influencer hubs to chaotic, toxicity-ridden communities. This emergent narrative element adds a layer of personalization and enjoyment, allowing players to project their own interpretations onto the virtual worlds they create. One Billion Users ultimately succeeds in translating the complex dynamics of social media into a fun, engaging, and surprisingly insightful card game experience. It’s a game about building empires, one click at a time, while navigating the treacherous terrain of online virality and the ever-present threat of the competition.
