As hide-and-seek paint game Meccha Chameleon rockets past seven million copies sold, some players have gotten so invested in finding the perfect hiding spot that they’ve started recreating the Mona Lisa in-game.
Developer lemorion_1224’s hit multiplayer game isn’t just the latest ‘friendslop’ experience to reach viral status – it might also be one of the biggest. It took less than a week to reach two million sales after its June 9 launch on PC via Steam, and it’s now picked up another five for a total of seven million in its second week.
The stats get even more impressive on its SteamDB page. Meccha Chameleon reached a concurrent player peak of a little more than 20,000 users in its first day on the market. Its all-time peak, recorded yesterday, June 21, sits at 340,534.
That positions lemorion’s colorful spin on hide-and-seek as an especially popular game, even when compared to other friendslop success stories like Peak, R.E.P.O., and Lethal Company – but what has everyone so excited? Aside from its unique premise, which primarily sees players using paint to blend into different environments while hiding from hunters, many seem to be attracted by the many highlights being posted online.
Unique gameplay, mixed in with a little luck on social media, is a friendslop recipe that has catapulted similar titles into the mainstream eye in the past – but the ability to freely paint has opened the door for some of the more creative players to attract attention online. Instagram user artofmenevir is so skilled with a brush, in fact, that their best hiding spots serve as miniature recreations of famous paintings, like Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. Other players have already done their best to put their art skills to the test, too.
@hoviagaming The Art Museum Custom Maps are SO fun 🖼️🤍 #viralgames #newgame #mecchachameleon #gaming #hidenseek ♬ Bach unaccompanied cello suite “Prelude” – Jianteng
Most players probably aren’t going to have the skills to accurately camouflage themselves within detailed works of art like the Mona Lisa, especially considering Meccha Chameleon matches typically have strict time limits during the hiding and hunting phases. If you want to try your hand at this particular challenge, you can download the Art Gallery map by Popunia in the game’s Steam Workshop page.
The fact that it is possible, though, is what’s so intriguing – especially since it’s remarkably easy to create such a bad paintjob that you stick out like a sore thumb. Some players are really flexing their creative musles by not trying to fit in at all, while others are just doing their best.
Meccha Chameleon has shown no signs of slowing down as lemorion continues delivering sales and game updates. The seven million sales figure was achieved yesterday and, at this rate, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see at least one more milestone announcement before the week is out. Meanwhile, update 1.7.0 added the new Osaka map, as well as a report feature, when it launched earlier today.
What’s next for Meccha Chameleon, specifically, remains unclear. For more on how friendslop has taken over the world of multiplayer gaming, you can check out IGN’s interview with the developers behind Gamble With Your Friends.
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
