While there are other similar games available, IMVU has developed its own sophisticated in-game economy, and has been praised for the depth and immersive nature of its environments.

With the video game market now bigger than film and music combined, IMVU has carved out a very individual niche, and one particularly appeals to female players. Market research indicates that IMVU has a primarily female audience, which is extremely unusual in the world of video games, and thus particularly valuable.