Bongo Cat Takes the Spotlight: The Rise of the Next Internet Sensation

A new idle clicker game has taken the Steam charts by storm, surpassing Banana. Introducing Bongo Cat from Irox Games, this title maintains the essence of Banana while offering unique twists. Instead of traditional gameplay, the adorable cat resides as an overlay on your screen, playfully tapping along as you type. From time to time, you’ll earn treasure chests that contain delightful surprises—such as new hats for your feline friend.

Like its predecessor, Banana, the items you unlock can be sold on the Steam marketplace, with their value set by rarity. While most items are priced in cents, some hats have surged into the tens of dollars. Although the market isn’t as frenetic as it was during Banana‘s peak—when bananas could fetch hundreds of dollars—there’s still a viable trading environment. The charm of Banana, as noted by team member Hery in a Polygon interview, was its perception as an “infinite money glitch.” You spend nothing and yet acquire items of value. Bongo Cat shares this allure but enhances the experience with its cuteness. The hats offer a whimsical touch, and I find myself wanting to adorn the cat that resides at the bottom of my screen. As Irox Games’ managing director Marcel Zurawka explained to Polygon, “people love cats, and they love cosmetics.”

“I receive countless screenshots from players showcasing their customized cats based on their activities,” Zurawka shared. “During the demo, I saw someone play Construction Simulator with a construction helmet equipped.” He added, “Numerous reviews mention, ‘I thought it would be like Banana, but it’s genuinely enjoyable,’ which inspires me to create something truly impactful.”

Zurawka drew inspiration from Banana and how its developers used the Steam marketplace to fund their project. Cats felt like a natural fit. Then the idea of using Bongo Cat, an internet sensation that emerged in 2018, came up. Initially created by a Twitter user named @StrayRogue and later modified by @DitzyFlama to include bongos, the character has spawned numerous iterations since then. While there are various claims to the Bongo Cat name that predate the meme, Polygon could not identify any specific instances.

“The legal side of this is complicated and varies internationally,” Zurawka noted. “We’ve had extensive internal discussions on the matter.” He opted not to elaborate further on copyright issues.

Players also express concerns—not just about Bongo Cat, but alongside Banana—related to potential scams resembling NFTs. Zurawka reassured users that this isn’t the case. It’s simply about cats with hats. Participation in the marketplace is optional; it’s available for those interested, but easy to ignore otherwise. Addressing rumors of the game acting as a keylogger, he confirmed that it does not require internet connectivity for “this very reason.”

“I also don’t obfuscate the code, making it accessible for anyone with a bit of coding knowledge to