two & a half gamers From VR Meme to Mobile Empire 👑 How I Am Cat & I am Security Took Over TikTok AND App Stores
What happens when a cat simulator, born as a VR meme on Meta Quest, lands on mobile with aggressive monetization and viral magic? You get a $300,000/day monster hits. I am Cat with I am Security = 300k/day ad revenue!
Today, we break down the bizarre and brilliant rise of I Am Cat and I Am Security — the mobile games that took over app stores in March 2025 with:
Over 2.6M DAU
$170K/day from I Am Cat
$120K/day from I Am Security
60s interstitial loops and mandatory rewarded ads
Origin story: a team call about cats turned into a Goat Simulator-style sandbox hit
From VR on MetaQuest to top-ranked free games on Android & iOS
Almost no IAP – ads are the economy
Insane virality via YouTube Shorts & TikTok (34M+ views!)
Get our MERCH NOW: 25gamers.com/shop
--------------------------------------
PVX Partners offers non-dilutive funding for game developers.
Go to: https://pvxpartners.com/
They can help you access the most effective form of growth capital once you have the metrics to back it.
- Scale fast
- Keep your shares
- Drawdown only as needed
- Have PvX take downside risk alongside you
+ Work with a team entirely made up of ex-gaming operators and investors
---------------------------------------
This is no BS gaming podcast 2.5 gamers session. Sharing actionable insights, dropping knowledge from our day-to-day User Acquisition, Game Design, and Ad monetization jobs. We are definitely not discussing the latest industry news, but having so much fun! Let’s not forget this is a 4 a.m. conference discussion vibe, so let's not take it too seriously.
Panelists: Jakub Remiar, Felix Braberg, Matej Lancaric
Youtube: https://youtu.be/zVjfrpqeKSw
Join our slack channel here: https://join.slack.com/t/two-and-half-gamers/shared_invite/zt-2um8eguhf-c~H9idcxM271mnPzdWbipg
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Game Overview
04:24 The Rise of Astotti and Their Games
06:50 Exploring the Success of 'I'm Cat' and 'I'm Security'
10:24 The Transition from VR to Mobile Gaming
13:10 Ad Monetization Strategies in Mobile Games
16:30 User Engagement and Game Mechanics
19:31 Revenue Insights and Market Performance
20:19 The Rise of Simulation Games
23:37 Analyzing Game Revenue and User Engagement
24:51 Exploring IAM Security Game Mechanics
29:23 Revenue Insights and Market Sustainability
32:35 Future of Game Development and Marketing Strategies
36:28 Viral Marketing Strategies in Gaming
39:56 The Impact of Social Media on Game Popularity
43:40 Analyzing Game Monetization and Profitability
46:50 The Evolution of Game Concepts and Trends
52:06 Conclusion and Future of Gaming
---------------------------------------
Matej Lancaric
User Acquisition & Creatives Consultant
https://lancaric.me
Felix Braberg
Ad monetization consultant
https://www.felixbraberg.com
Jakub Remiar
Game design consultant
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakubremiar
---------------------------------------
Takeaways
VR to mobile = untapped goldmine, especially for meme-ready content
Aggressive ad placement can work if player retention is fueled by curiosity + chaos
Low CPI + high engagement = ideal organic UA funnel
"I Am Cat" and "I Am Security" are a masterclass in viral design, zero-to-monetization speed, and how to turn meme energy into millions..
---------------------------------------
Please share the podcast with your industry friends, dogs & cats. Especially cats! They love it!
Hit the Subscribe button on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple!
Please share feedback and comments - matej@lancaric.me
---------------------------------------
If you are interested in getting UA tips every week on Monday, visit lancaric.substack.com & sign up for the Brutally Honest newsletter by Matej Lancaric
Do you have UA questions nobody can answer? Ask Matej AI - the First UA AI in the gaming industry! https://lancaric.me/matej-ai