This simple online game makes $20K/month | Starter Story

When the founder of Dilly Dally Games launched MexicanTrain.com, he didn't expect it to quietly generate $16,000 a month from a single browser-based card game. The whole business took $500 to start and now pulls 300,000 monthly visitors. It is a solopreneur operation with a score of 90 out of 100 on Starter Story's scale—meaning one person runs almost everything. The episode explores how such a simple, low-effort project works, what psychological mechanisms keep players coming back, and why the founder's specific choices around monetization and design matter more than flashy features.

The psychology of casual online games

Mexican Train is a domino-based game similar to rummy, popular in social and family settings. The online version succeeds not because it is complex, but because it taps into what psychologists call "low-stakes competition" and "habit loop" reinforcement. Players return for short, satisfying sessions that provide clear wins or losses without the frustration of steep learning curves. The game's structure—turn-based, with visible progress and predictable outcomes—creates a reliable dopamine loop. Each move feels meaningful, but the consequences are small enough that losing does not feel punishing. The founder deliberately avoided adding timers or pressure mechanics, which keeps the experience relaxing rather than stressful. That choice matters: the audience