| Trade name | HandyGames |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | April 25, 2000 (age 26)[1] |
| Founders |
|
| Hq location city | Giebelstadt |
| Hq location country | Germany |
| Products | Townsmen |
| Num employees (2024) | 80[2] |
| Parent | THQ Nordic (2018–present) |
| Subsid | Massive Miniteam |
| Website | handy-games.com |
www.handy-games.com GmbH[3] (trade name: HandyGames) is a German video game developer and publisher based in Giebelstadt. In July 2018, the company was acquired by THQ Nordic.
History
The company was founded in 2000 by brothers Christopher and Markus Kassulke along with Udo Bausewein. In 2006, HandyGames released its first free, ad-funded game and began the gradual transition to a largely ad-funded business model. Since 2010, all new HandyGames mobile titles are either free or freemium. By 2014 HandyGames had 150,000 app downloads per month and more than 100 million downloads in total.[4] They have developed all the Townsmen games.
In 2012, HandyGames expanded onto other platforms like PC or Smart TVs. In January 2014 and 2015, the company were main sponsors for the "HandyGames Charity Day" in Würzburg, which aimed to raise funds for cancer research. On both occasions the event was able to raise roughly 50000 Euros.[5][6]
HandyGames was one of the first companies to launch games for wearable technology in 2014.[7] The games are compatible with Android Wear devices, including the Moto 360 by Motorola, the Huawei Watch, the Sony SmartWatch and the LG G Watch.[8]
The company began developing VR (virtual reality) games 2015 and released titles like "Hidden Temple – VR Adventure".[9] They can be played in 360° mode or in VR using one of the supported head-mounted displays like Oculus Rift, Samsung Gear VR, or Google Cardboard.[10] Simultaneously, HandyGames began developing games for the Eighth generation of video game consoles like the PlayStation 4, Xbox One[11] or later the Nintendo Switch.
On 9 July 2018, THQ Nordic announced that it had acquired HandyGames and all of its intellectual property. THQ Nordic said that the studio management and all employees remain with the company.[12][13]
Townsmen Expeditions (working title), which will mark the most recent entry in the Townsmen IP, received €150,000 development funding from Creative Europe.[14] As of 2020, HandyGames employs 60 people.[15]
In May 2021, Embracer Group announced the acquisition of Massive Miniteam by HandyGames, which will be fully integrated within the HandyGames organization, under the operative group THQ Nordic.[16]
Awards
- Deutscher Entwicklerpreis — Bestes Studio (Best German Studio)[17]
Games
| Title | Platform | Release date | Developer | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Townsmen | Java | 2003 | HandyGames | |
| Android | August 3, 2013 | |||
| Nintendo Switch | November 9, 2018 | |||
| Townsmen 2 | Java | 2003 | ||
| Townsmen 3 | Java | 2005 | ||
| Sexy Puzzle 2 | Java | 2006 | [18] | |
| Porn Manager | Java | 2006 | [19] | |
| Bulldozer Inc. | Java | 2006 | [20] | |
| Townsmen 4 | Java | 2007 | ||
| Porn Manager 2 | Java | 2007 | [21] | |
| Townsmen 5 | Java | 2008 | ||
| The Egyptians | Java | 2008 | [22] | |
| 4 in a Wheel | Java | 2008 | [23] | |
| AD 1066 – William the Conqueror | Java | 2008 | [24] | |
| The Great Bible Game | Java | 2008 | [25] | |
| Romans and Barbarians | Java | 2008 | [26] | |
| Little Firefighter | Java | 2008 | [27] | |
| Sexy Twins 1 | Java | 2008 | [28] | |
| Townsmen 6 Revolution | Java | 2009 | ||
| Android | February 4, 2011 | |||
| The Great Beer Quiz | Java | 2009 | [29] | |
| World of Dice | Java | 2009 | [30] | |
| Porn Tycoon | Java | 2010 | [31] | |
| Casino Crime | Java | 2010 | [32] | |
| Shark or Die | Java | 2010 | [33] | |
| Guns 'n' Glory | Java | 2010 | [34] | |
| Truth or Lies | iPhone | February 15, 2011 | [35][36] | |
| Romans and Barbarians Gold | Java | 2011 | [37] | |
| The Egyptians Gold | Java | 2011 | [38] | |
| Cyberlords: Arcology | Java | 2011 | [39][40] | |
| Android | ||||
| Clouds and Sheep | Android | 2011 | [41] | |
| iOS | ||||
| Guns 'n' Glory WW2 | Android | 2011 | [42] | |
| iOS | ||||
| Aporkalypse: Pigs of Doom | Java | 2011 | [43][44] | |
| Android | ||||
| Happy Vikings | Android | 2011 | [45] | |
| 1941 Frozen Front | Android, iOS | 2013 | ||
| Aces of the Luftwaffe: Squadron | Microsoft Windows | July 24, 2018 | ||
| PlayStation 4 | ||||
| Xbox One | ||||
| Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams - Owltimate Edition | Nintendo Switch | September 28, 2018 | Black Forest Games | |
| Aces of the Luftwaffe: Squadron - Nebelgeschwader | Microsoft Windows | November 13, 2018 | HandyGames | |
| Nintendo Switch | ||||
| PlayStation 4 | ||||
| Xbox One | ||||
| Jagged Alliance: Rage! | Microsoft Windows | December 6, 2018 | Cliffhanger Productions | |
| PlayStation 4 | ||||
| Xbox One | ||||
| Clouds & Sheep 2 | Nintendo Switch | December 21, 2018 | HandyGames | |
| Dynamite Fishing: World Games | Nintendo Switch | December 21, 2018 | ||
| Stunt Kite Party | Nintendo Switch | February 8, 2019 | ||
| Microsoft Windows | June 7, 2019 | HandyGames | ||
| PlayStation 4 | ||||
| Xbox One | ||||
| Rad Rodgers: Radical Edition | Nintendo Switch | February 26, 2019 | Slipgate Studios | |
| Townsmen: A Kingdom Rebuilt | Microsoft Windows | February 26, 2019 | HandyGames | |
| PlayStation 4 | February 20, 2020 | |||
| Xbox One | ||||
| SpellForce: Heroes & Magic | Android | April 26, 2019 | Hex Games | |
| iOS | ||||
| ChessFinity | Android | July 4, 2019 | Orkitec | |
| iOS | ||||
| Battle Chasers: Nightwar - Mobile Edition | Android | August 1, 2019 | Airship Syndicate | |
| iOS | ||||
| This Is the Police 2 | Android | September 12, 2019 | Weappy | |
| iOS | ||||
| Lock's Quest | Android | September 26, 2019 | Digital Continue | |
| iOS | ||||
| Little Big Workshop | Macintosh | October 17, 2019 | Mirage Game Studios | |
| Microsoft Windows | ||||
| Xbox One | September 24, 2020 | Massive Miniteam | ||
| PlayStation 4 | ||||
| Nintendo Switch | October 1, 2020 | |||
| Through the Darkest of Times | Macintosh | January 30, 2020 | Paintbucket Games | |
| Microsoft Windows | ||||
| Android | May 7, 2020 | |||
| iOS | ||||
| Nintendo Switch | August 13, 2020 | |||
| PlayStation 4 | ||||
| Xbox One | ||||
| Stadia | ||||
| Townsmen: A Kingdom Rebuilt – The Seaside Empire | Microsoft Windows | February 20, 2020 | HandyGames | |
| Nintendo Switch | ||||
| PlayStation 4 | ||||
| Xbox One | ||||
| Spitlings | Stadia | Spitlings | Massive Miniteam | |
| Aces of the Luftwaffe: Squadron – Extended Edition | Android | February 28, 2020 | HandyGames | |
| iOS | ||||
| Rebel Cops | Android | April 23, 2020 | Weappy | |
| iOS | ||||
| Spitlings | Microsoft Windows | August 4, 2020 | Massive Miniteam | |
| Nintendo Switch | ||||
| PlayStation 4 | ||||
| Xbox One | ||||
| Neighbours back From Hell | Microsoft Windows | October 8, 2020 | FarbWorks | |
| Nintendo Switch | ||||
| PlayStation 4 | ||||
| Xbox One | ||||
| Stadia | ||||
| Android | August 3, 2021 | HandyGames | ||
| iOS | ||||
| Chicken Police: Paint it Red! | Microsoft Windows | November 5, 2020 | The Wild Gentlemen | |
| Nintendo Switch | ||||
| PlayStation 4 | ||||
| Xbox One | ||||
| Android | June 29, 2021 | HandyGames | ||
| iOS | ||||
| MacOS | November 4, 2021 | The Wild Gentlemen | ||
| Stadia | ||||
| PlayStation 5 | March 30, 2022 | |||
| Xbox Series X/S | ||||
| Little Big Workshop | Stadia | November 6, 2020 | Massive Miniteam | |
| El Hijo: A Wild West Tale | Microsoft Windows | December 3, 2020 | Honig Studios | |
| Stadia | ||||
| Nintendo Switch | March 25, 2021 | Quantumfrog | ||
| PlayStation 4 | ||||
| Xbox One | ||||
| Android | January 25, 2022 | HandyGames | ||
| iOS | ||||
| SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated | Android | January 21, 2021 | HandyGames | |
| iOS | ||||
| Titan Quest: Legendary Edition | Android | February 2, 2021 | ||
| iOS | ||||
| Pile Up! Box by Box | Microsoft Windows | March 18, 2021 | Seed by Seed | |
| Nintendo Switch | August 17, 2021 | |||
| PlayStation 4 | ||||
| Xbox One | ||||
| Skydrift Infinity | Microsoft Windows | July 29, 2021 | HandyGames | |
| Nintendo Switch | ||||
| PlayStation 4 | ||||
| Xbox One | ||||
| One Hand Clapping | Android | December 14, 2021 | Bad Dream Games | |
| iOS | ||||
| Microsoft Windows | ||||
| Nintendo Switch | ||||
| PlayStation 4 | ||||
| Xbox One | ||||
| Stadia | ||||
| Xbox Series X/S | March 31, 2022 | |||
| PlayStation 5 | April 5, 2022 | |||
| Scarf | Microsoft Windows | December 23, 2021 | Uprising Studios | |
| Townsmen VR | HTC Vive | March 24, 2022 | HandyGames | |
| Oculus Rift | ||||
| PlayStation VR | ||||
| This Is the President | Android | May 10, 2022 | HandyGames | |
| iOS | ||||
| Endling: Extinction is Forever | Microsoft Windows | July 19, 2022 | Herobeat Studios | |
| Nintendo Switch | ||||
| PlayStation 4 | ||||
| Xbox One | ||||
| PlayStation 5 | November 3, 2022 | |||
| Xbox Series X/S | ||||
| Android | TBA | |||
| iOS | ||||
| Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? | Microsoft Windows | August 23, 2022 | Massive Miniteam | |
| Nintendo Switch | ||||
| PlayStation 4 | ||||
| PlayStation 5 | ||||
| Xbox One | ||||
| Xbox Series X/S | ||||
| Wreckfest Mobile | Android | November 16, 2022 | HandyGames | |
| iOS | ||||
| Perish | Microsoft Windows | February 2, 2023 | Item 42 | |
| De-Exit: Eternal Matters | Microsoft Windows | April 14, 2023 | SandBloom Studio | [46] |
| PlayStation 4 | ||||
| Xbox One | ||||
| PlayStation 5 | ||||
| Xbox Series X/S | ||||
| Airhead | Microsoft Windows | TBA | Octato | |
| Nintendo Switch | ||||
| PlayStation 4 | ||||
| Xbox One | ||||
| A Rat's Quest: The Way Back Home | Microsoft Windows | TBA | The Dreamerians | |
| Nintendo Switch | ||||
| PlayStation 4 | ||||
| Xbox One | ||||
| Devil and the Fairy | HTC Vive | TBA | HandyGames | |
| Meta Rift | ||||
| Steam VR | ||||
| Lethal Honor: Order of the Apocalypse | Microsoft Windows | TBA | Viral Studios | |
| Nintendo Switch | ||||
| PlayStation 4 | ||||
| Xbox One |
References
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