Editor’s note: African-Startups is a sister publication of EU-Startups, bringing trusted coverage of startups, venture capital, and innovation across Africa.
Nigerian developer Shalom Rayhamen built Lagos Life overnight and woke up to 4.7 million players. Kanessa Muluneh, an Ethiopian refugee born in Ethiopia and raised in the Netherlands, bootstrapped a battle royale game rooted in the Battle of Adwa to 15,000 downloads. Vatar Inc., the company behind the viral browser game Lagos Life, raised a $500k angel round at a $10 million valuation, just nine days after launch, while the battle royale game Rise of Fearless secured $1 million in funding this week.
These are not outliers but the strongest examples of a gaming revolution taking shape across sub-Saharan Africa, where over 349 million gamers, more than 95% of whom play on mobile devices, are looking for games that not only speak their language but also reflect their culture and world.
Now, Google has thrown its weight behind the rise of Africa’s gaming ecosystem with its first-ever Indie Games Fund in Africa, backing 10 African indie studios with $1 million in total funding. Google Play opened applications for the Indie Games Fund earlier this year and committed $1 million to help close the funding gap that constrained game development in sub-Saharan Africa.
Each of the 10 selected studios will receive a share of non-dilutive funding, meaning they give up no equity, alongside direct access to commercial and growth resources, hands-on one-on-one mentorship from Google Play specialists, and tailored technical support from Unity. Here are the 10 studios selected by Google to take African indie games to the next stage:
Clockwork Acorn
HQ: South Africa
Game: Jetstream
Clockwork Acorn is a South African indie game studio founded in 2014 with focus on making what it describes as timeless games with chunky design. In other words, its games are systemic, thought-provoking experiences built by small teams without crunch. Their selected title, Jetstream, is a puzzle game featuring more than 100 hand-crafted levels with a minimalist art style, and mechanics that challenge players to guide a plane through the clouds.
Deluxe Entertainment Studios
HQ: Lagos
Game: Rasta Santa
Founded in 2013 by Edu Shola, Deluxe Entertainment Studios is an independent studio creating original games and visual content rooted in African immigration for global audiences. Rasta Santa, a 2D action performer set in Lagos where players take on the role of an undercover cop disguised as Santa, rescuing children from traffickers and defending an orphanage, is their entry into the fund.
Disputed People
HQ: Johannesburg
Game: Mitts and the Divine Recipes
Disputed People is another South African studio to be selected for Google Play Indie Games Fund. It was founded in 2023, and the studio is focused on designing character-driven video games filled with creativity and wonder rooted in African stories and mythology. Their selected title, Mitts and the Divine Recipes, is a 3D retro-inspired adventure set in the cozy world of Epicuria, where players gather divine ingredients, cook meals to unlock special abilities, and solve puzzles to advance.
Fer Factor
HQ: Lagos
Game: Chore Master
Fer Factor is the solo indie studio of Feranmi Oladosu, a Lagos-based developer who taught himself game development through YouTube at age 15. The independent game development studio focuses on crafting fun, innovative, and memorable gaming experiences for players worldwide. The studio’s entry to the fund is Chore Master, a cosy and satisfying game where players use intuitive controls to scrub stains, clean spaces, and transform chaotic rooms into immaculate environments.
Gazuntype Entertainment
HQ: Nigeria
Game: Go North
Gazuntype Entertainment is the indie game studio of Tade Ajiboye, a solo developer and innovative game builder with more than a decade of experience creating immersive video games and VR experiences in Nigeria. Their title, Go North, is a cosy, story-driven exploration adventure where players guide a character named Dara through beautifully unique mazes, discover magical items, and uncover a sinister mystery.
Leti Games Limited
HQ: Ghana
Game: Sweave
Operating as Leti Arts, this Ghanaian studio was founded by Wesley Kirinya and Eyram Tawia, who are widely considered pioneers of the African video games industry. Since 2009, the studio has built its reputation for transforming the continent’s rich histories, legends, and folklore into interactive experiences. Their selected title, Sweave, is a rhythm-based hyper-casual mobile game inspired by traditional African weaving techniques, challenging players to navigate a weaving ball across a digital loom while dodging cultural obstacles and battling bosses.
Maliyo Games
HQ: Lagos
Game: Safari City
Maliyo Games was founded by Hugo Obi in 2012, and one can argue that it has become the central player in Nigeria’s gaming industry. The Lagos studio not only builds games but also develops talent through its GameUp Academy programme, and publishes research on Africa’s games market. Their entry, Safari City, is a vibrant mobile puzzle and renovation game where players solve match-3 puzzles to restore a rundown town into a thriving community.
Studio Bo
HQ: Cape Town
Game: Idle Sands
The Cape Town-based animation and games company, Studio Bo, is known for its playful visual style and quirky humour. The firm is led by director and animator Richard Bolland, and the studio works across TV ads, motion design, e-learning, and game development. Idle Sands, their title selected for Google Play Indie Games Fund, is a 2D idle-clicker where players manage a fleet of robots to clean up a beach, uncover treasures, and automate operations to relaxing music and charming artwork.
Vetkoek Studios
HQ: South Africa
Game: Taxi Ranked
Vetkoek Studios is a youth-owned South African game development studio committed to building high-quality, accessible mobile games with authentic African themes while empowering the next generation of local creators. Their selection, Taxi Ranked, is a casual, retro-style driving game that captures the chaos and humour of South African minibus taxi culture through vibrant comic-book graphics, multiple game modes, and deep vehicle customisation.
Weza Interactive
HQ: Kenya
Game: Riziki
Founded in 2017 by twin brothers Odongo George Ahere and James Ahere, Weza Interactive is a Kenyan studio building original, culturally rich worlds that educate, empower, and entertain. Their game, Riziki, is a free-to-play mobile rhythm adventure where players guide twins Nabo and Moja across Africa, tapping and swiping to Afrobeats, Amapiano, and Rhumba to restore harmony and bring vibrant environments to life.
Google Play backing for these African indie game studios comes on the back of an exponential rise in Africa’s gaming market. One projection says the market will reach roughly $2.29 billion in 2026 and $4.1 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 12.32%. Studios across Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana and Kenya are jumping with original IP and games that are rooted in the continent’s shared experiences.
Vatar and Rise of Fearless have shown that Africa’s game developers can take regular experiences and turn them into something truly immersive and virtual. By backing 10 African indie game studios, the Google Play Indie Games Fund not only agrees with that notion but aims to help them scale.
