Game Origins & Inspiration - The True Story Behind Road-Side Shawarma

The concept for Road-Side Shawarma originated from a TikTok video by the Russian creator @lost_archive5. The video depicted a creepy scenario: a night shift worker following strange rules while serving food, with paranormal entities visiting the stand.

Developer nv1sh saw this video and was inspired to bring the concept to life as a playable Roblox experience. The game's official description credits @lost_archive5 as the inspiration source.

Road-Side Shawarma is primarily a solo project by @nv1sh, with contributions from talented collaborators:

The game was created under the studio name "nv1sh works" and launched on October 1, 2025. Within two months, it surpassed 70 million visits, making it one of the fastest-growing horror games on Roblox.

Some community members have drawn comparisons between Road-Side Shawarma and another Roblox game called Kiosk, which also features a similar "night shift anomaly" concept.

Developer's Response

In the official Discord server, developer nv1sh directly addressed these concerns:

"I know only ONE GAME that got the same idea as I got... here's the inspiration video. I credited them in game's description."
— nv1sh, Discord (November 2024)

The development team has been transparent about their inspirations:

1. Credit is given - The game description explicitly credits @lost_archive5
2. Concept ≠ Copy - The "rules horror" genre is a broader category, not owned by any single game
3. Unique execution - Road-Side Shawarma features its own cooking mechanics, story, and anomalies

As co-developer danya explained:

"The only thing we 'copied' is the concept. Can't even call it copying... we don't need permission to make something similar and inspired, that's not how it works."

While inspired by a viral video, Road-Side Shawarma carved out its own identity through several distinctive features:

🥙 Tactile Cooking Mechanics

Unlike other "rules horror" games, Road-Side Shawarma features actual food preparation. Players must:

• Slice meat from the spinning trompo
• Layer ingredients on lavash bread
• Wrap and throw completed orders

📞 The Phone System

The save feature via phone calls (dial 1304) and easter eggs (dial 1987 for the "Call of 87" badge) add layers of interactivity not found in the original concept.

👥 Multiplayer Focus

The game was designed from the ground up for cooperative play, with up to 32 players per server and dedicated team roles.

📖 Deep Lore

The "Object Experiment" ending and the mysterious Phone Guy create a narrative that extends beyond simple jump scares.

Road-Side Shawarma belongs to a broader genre known as "Rules Horror" or "Anomaly Games". This genre is characterized by:

• A mundane setting (workplace, home, school)
• A set of rules the player must follow
• Paranormal entities that appear when rules are broken (or followed)
• Tension built through anticipation rather than constant jump scares

Other games in this genre include:

• The Backrooms (various versions)
• SCP-inspired games
• "Night Shift" simulators

The genre itself was popularized by TikTok creepypasta content and has become a staple of Roblox horror. Road-Side Shawarma's success helped define and popularize this genre further on the platform.

Despite occasional debates about originality, the community reception has been overwhelmingly positive:

• 70M+ visits in under 2 months
• 198K+ favorites on Roblox
• Active Discord community with regular developer interaction
• Content creator coverage from major YouTube/TikTok gaming channels

The game's success demonstrates that execution and polish matter as much as the original concept. Players appreciate:

• The satisfying cooking mechanics
• The genuine scares and atmosphere
• The multiplayer chaos with friends
• The ongoing updates and developer transparency