A new VR game called UG has quickly risen to the top of the Meta Quest charts, captivating young players with its dinosaur trading mechanics. Similar in movement to Gorilla Tag, UG lets users hatch, raise, and trade imaginary dinosaurs in open prehistoric worlds. Released just three months ago, it has already amassed 163,000 ratings, surpassing the three-year total of its predecessor.
Game Overview
UG is a free-to-play VR title on Meta Quest where players embody cavemen navigating large, open environments using arm-based locomotion borrowed from Gorilla Tag. Unlike its tag-focused inspiration, UG centers on collecting and trading dinosaurs. Players hatch eggs to raise creatures, feed them items like chickens or pigs that transform into cooked meat for XP gains, and saddle them at level 5 for riding. Boss fights offer rare egg drops, but the core appeal lies in trading at hub-area tables, where kids negotiate swaps in a frantic, market-like atmosphere.
In-app purchases enable cosmetics and special dinosaur variants, drawing criticism from parents over pricing—such as $30 bundles for digital assets. Free acquisition is possible through trading or gameplay, with private instances available via four-digit codes to escape crowds.
Popularity and Community
Since its release three months ago, UG has dominated the Meta Quest store, holding the top spot for weeks ahead of Beat Saber in second and Animal Company in third, while Gorilla Tag slips to fourth. It boasts 163,000 ratings, nearly matching Gorilla Tag's 164,000 accumulated since 2022. The game's Discord server recently hit 100,000 members, reflecting its rapid growth among Gen Alpha.
The community buzzes with rumors, like the debunked claim that Mammothors would be deleted due to an admin leak. A post-Halloween update instead spotlighted these creatures, fueling conspiracies about 'admins' and past bugs like 'duping.' Parents observe this evolution, often bemused by the social dynamics in a game that promotes active play without sedentary habits.
Implications
UG's success highlights shifting VR trends for younger audiences, siphoning players from established hits like Gorilla Tag. However, its free-to-play model and knock-off vibes suggest it could fade quickly as kids chase the next phenomenon.