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Fly.Pieter.com – the first viral vibe coded game

First viral vibe code MMO free-to-play flying simulator game
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Author: @levelsio
Released: February 23, 2025
Pricing: Free
Made with: Cursor ThreeJS
Genres: Game Simulator

Background

Fly.Pieter.com, by indie developer Pieter Levels known as @levelsio on X, is a browser-based, free-to-play, massively multiplayer online (MMO) flight simulator. Built using AI tools in a rapid, experimental coding style often dubbed “vibe coding,” the game gained viral attention in early 2025 for its minimalist design, real-time multiplayer features, and unconventional development process.

Origins of the Project

The project began in February 2025 as an experiment by Pieter Levels, a self-taught programmer and serial entrepreneur with no prior game development experience. Using AI tools like Cursor, he crafted the initial prototype in just three hours, prompted by a simple idea: “make a 3D flying game in the browser.” This rapid development aligns with his “vibe coding” philosophy—prioritizing speed and intuition over polished codebases. The game launched on February 23, 2025, as noted by X users like @johnrushx, who praised @levelsio for building it in public and catching widespread attention.

@levelsio shared the process live on X, leveraging his existing following of over 500K to generate buzz. The game’s early aesthetic—a low-poly world of cliffs, a runway, and real-time dogfights—reflected his beach town surroundings, adding a personal touch to the project.

Success

The game exploded in popularity shortly after launch, fueled by thousands of players and high-profile endorsements. Elon Musk retweeted a post by @levelsio, saying, “Wow, this is cool. AI gaming will be massive,” amplifying its reach. This led @levelsio to add a Mars planet, as it is Elon’s favourite planet. By March 5, 2025, the game reported 89K total players and a peak of 26K online simultaneously, surviving a DDOS attack that hit his broader product suite.

Financially, it proved lucrative fast. Early stats showed $1,270 from micro-transactions within days, and by mid-March 2025, estimates suggested monthly revenue hit $67K, driven by a $29.99 F-16 plane upgrade. The game hit $1M ARR on 12 March.

How It Was Made

The game’s creation emphasizes “vibe coding”—a loose, AI-assisted approach where @levelsio directed tools like Cursor, ClaudeAI, Grok 3 to build a functional game without traditional planning. Key technologies include:

  • Three.js: For 3D rendering in the browser.
  • PeerJS and WebSockets: Enabling real-time multiplayer.
  • Stripe: Handling transaction.
  • Vanilla HTML/JS: Keeping it lightweight and accessible.

@levelsio openly discussed using these tools on X, emphasizing speed over perfection. The result is unpolished but functional, sparking debates on X about AI’s role in game dev—some praised its innovation, others critiqued its simplicity.

Legacy

Fly.Pieter.Game stands as a case study in AI-driven development and indie hustle. Its success inspired a wave of “vibe-coded” games, with directories like aibuiltgames.com emerging by March 2025. Despite criticism from traditional developers, its rapid rise underscores how timing, community, and AI can disrupt norms.

(Written by Grok, edited by human)