A new online game, wplace, inspired by Reddit’s popular /r/place, has gained rapid traction, allowing users to draw on a world map by placing one pixel every 30 seconds.
The game, which emerged after /r/place closed a few years ago, has transformed the digital globe into a canvas for collaborative art, humorous graffiti, and intricate pop culture references, with gaming iconography being particularly prevalent. The widespread adoption of wplace has led to various cities being adorned with an array of digital doodles.
In Kansas City, for instance, the landscape is now populated by gaming characters such as a giant purple Zoroark, Ralsei Deltarune, and Superman with glowing red eyes. The city’s roadways and rivers are also home to characters from games like Rain World, OneShot, Metroid, Final Fantasy, Mario, Earthbound, Among Us, and Angry Birds. Beyond gaming, the map displays other pop culture icons including SpongeBob and Transformers, alongside political messages, sports team logos, national flags, and localized graffiti.
While Kansas City showcases a diverse collection, other locations on wplace have garnered specific attention. A screenshot featuring Baltimore has gone viral due to its crass nature. The fanbases of Undertale and Deltarune have shown significant engagement, with their characters appearing in disproportionately high numbers across numerous locations. Spamton, a fan-favorite character from Deltarune, is so frequently drawn that some users are reportedly finding his omnipresence unexciting.
Other gaming communities are also actively participating. Blizzard’s offices in Irvine, California, are now covered with a large Heroes of the Storm logo and various World of Warcraft-themed artwork. In the Dragon Age community, fans have expressed disappointment over the recent news that a Dragon Age: Origins remaster is unlikely. In response, some fans have been doodling messages, possibly in protest or as expressions of general Dragon Age affection, all over Kirkwall, a significant location within the game’s lore.
Adelaide, South Australia, where developer Team Cherry’s offices are located, features messages around the city that largely variations of “Silksong Tomorrow,” indicating anticipation for the game Silksong. Additionally, a drawing of a Knight wearing a top hat can be found in the city. Beyond major cities, part of the appeal of wplace lies in discovering hidden drawings in obscure or less-populated areas, such as Antarctica or in the middle of various oceans, where artistic mischief is less common.
Wplace serves as an engaging pastime for those looking to fill time, offering the opportunity to contribute to the collective artwork. However, user experience can be hampered by unreliable server performance. The game’s open-ended nature and collaborative aspects make it a unique digital space where users can leave their mark on a global canvas, potentially even encountering the ubiquitous Spamton near their own digital homes.
