How a locally made 8-bit game based on an old joke became a global phenomenon

Crossy Road, an 8-bit mobile game produced by Melbourne-based game developer Hipster Whale, was never meant to be taken too seriously. Based on one of the oldest jokes around – “why did the chicken cross the road?” – it took only two people, a minuscule budget, and less than three months to make.

But despite its humble origins, Crossy Road has made an extraordinary mark on the Australian games industry since its launch in 2014. To date, it has been downloaded more than 350 million times , has won various awards, and has inspired multiple spin-offs, including Crossy Road Castle.

President of Hipster Whale, Clara Reeves, and Andy Sum, Hipster Whale director and original co-creator of Crossy Game.Credit: Joe Armao

“It feels amazing,” says Andy Sum, one of the game’s creators. “Ten years ago, we really weren’t expecting it to blow up this big.”

The game, which is about a chicken, and a range of other characters, braving ridiculously dangerous road crossings, was developed by Sum, Matt Hall, and artist Ben Weatherall. To celebrate its 10-year anniversary, Hipster Whale is hosting a life-size Crossy Road experience at this month’s Melbourne International Games Week, using a jump pad, a large screen and an inflatable chicken costume – like a Crossy Road version of Dance Dance Revolution.

Crossy Road was inspired by earlier productions such as 1980s arcade game Frogger and Flappy Bird (which has been on a 10-year hiatus). However, unlike these games, Crossy Road has been able to remain consistently popular for more than a decade.

Clara Reeves, president of Hipster Whale, says this is largely thanks to its simple, universal humour, namely the gag it’s based on.

“Humour connects us all,” she says. “Even if people don’t know about the chicken crossing the road joke, they all know what a chicken is. When you see the chicken, or any of the characters, placed in front of an obstacle course, everyone understands that silly humour. The chicken itself has become iconic.”

The game’s collection mechanics also contributes to its ongoing appeal, Reeves says. Players are encouraged to collect as many new characters as possible, such as floppy fish and mad wizard, which in turn unlock increasingly engaging jokes and twists. This, paired with game’s ease of controls and accessibility, has made Crossy Road a stand-out, Sum adds.

The Australian games industry has long been strong. However, Reeves says small-scale independent projects such as Crossy Road have been gaining momentum over the past decade. Games such as Cult of the Lamb, Untitled Goose Game and Hollow Knight have all enjoyed global success, and impressive financial returns – revenue from indie games increased from $114 million in 2016 to $284 million in 2021.

Hipster Whale intends to continue expanding Crossy Road, with new characters and collaborations. However, the game’s overall aesthetic – its bright colours and abstract 8-bit style – is here to stay.

“The game has this language of sorts, so people can jump in and play immediately without having to do much processing. Sticking true to that is really important.”

Crossy Road will be part of the Big Games Night Out on Thursday, October 10, at Fed Square for Melbourne International Games Week.

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