Vango is riding the wave of the continued success of The #UpsideDownChallenge Game, a party game that asks players to complete simple tasks while their vision is flipped upside down! 

Amassing more than half a billion views across TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, thanks to the game’s hilarious (and seemingly easy) challenges, The #UpsideDownChallenge Game has continued to dominate the game aisle since its launch five years ago. Formula 1 teams, professional gymnasts and even Super Bowl LIX champions, the Philadelphia Eagles have used the iconic upside down goggles in their social content.

The game actually launched right as the pandemic was closing down the world. And while there was a lot of uncertainty as to whether Vango would even be able to continue selling the game, it instead wound up providing just the right setting to show exactly how the game works, providing a simple, and much needed laugh with close friends and family members of all ages. As Vango Founder and CEO Alex Tongue likes to say, when the world was flipped upside down, he just gave families the upside down goggles to enjoy the view!

While COVID significantly impacted our world - and our industry - the dramatic shifts in the way consumers behaved while dealing with the pandemic did manage to produce a few success stories.

Enter The #UpsideDownChallenge Game from Vango. The party game’s premise: players perform seemingly simple tasks, like write their name, connect dots or give a high five, but all while wearing a now iconic pair of goggles that literally flips your vision upside down. The game provided exactly what families needed during this time: entertainment, laughter and the opportunity to connect with each other.

Now, almost 5 years later, The #UpsideDownChallenge Game continues to be a huge success story for Vango, with sales increasing globally each year. Vango has sold millions of units worldwide and has been translated into dozens of different languages in over 40 countries. It has also spawned multiple successful spinoffs - including a Backyard Edition, Faceoff, Showdown, and Ultimate Edition, among others.

Vango’s unique marketing strategy has also helped build upon its continued success. Beyond traditional toy, game and lifestyle influencers, the game has been featured by high-profile outside-the-box creators including chefs, makeup artists, and professional football, hockey, soccer, and baseball teams.

Award recognition has also followed the game’s success, with the #USDC winning numerous awards around the globe and being shortlisted for Toy of the Year in its first year.

The #UpsideChallenge Game is poised to take its place alongside such iconic and enduring games as Connect  Four, Monopoly and Scrabble. Not a small feat for a small toy maker!

Looking ahead, Vango plans to continue the momentum, supporting the original game with more outside-the-box marketing, launching additional game extensions next year, and using these same marketing strategies for other Vango product launches.