Daedalic Entertainment

What Daedalic Entertainment does

Daedalic Entertainment GmbH is a Hamburg-based video game publisher and developer founded in 2007 by Carsten Fichtelmann, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the French publishing house Nacon since April 1, 2022. The company employs an international team of approximately 45 people and runs two interlocking business lines: an indie publishing operation that brings third-party and partner-studio titles to all major gaming platforms (Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch/Switch 2, Amazon Luna), and a smaller in-house development function focused on extending legacy IPs. Its catalog spans storytelling/adventure games (Deponia, Edna & Harvey, Silence, Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth, State of Mind), strategy titles (Shadow Tactics series, Inkulinati, Warpips, Partisans 1941, New Cycle, Sherman Commander), cooperative multiplayer experiences (Unrailed!, Wild Woods, Barotrauma, Fling to the Finish!), and wholesome/horror titles (The Occultist, Magin: The Rat Project Stories, Woodo, LEAVES 3). Daedalic has won 32 German Developers Awards (including multiple "Studio of the Year" accolades) and 12 German Computer Game Awards, holding the record for Germany's two most prestigious game industry honors.

The company's revenue model is one-time game license sales, with tiered editions (Standard and Deluxe, e.g., for Star Trek: Voyager - Across the Unknown) priced on standard platform SRPs across PC and console storefronts. Distribution is multi-channel: Steam (primary PC channel), PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Nintendo eShop, and a direct-to-consumer Xsolla-powered storefront at store.daedalic.com. Marketing is conducted through Steam wishlists, social media (Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram, Discord), press releases, and newsletters. Recent major releases include The Occultist (April 2026), Star Trek: Voyager - Across the Unknown (2026), and Magin: The Rat Project Stories (April 2026), with a Lord of the Rings-licensed title ("It's Magic") co-financed by a €2M German government grant (May 2023) in the pipeline. Following its acquisition by Nacon, Daedalic has shifted strategy away from in-house first-party development toward a focused publishing model, monetizing both new third-party releases and DLC/expansions on its existing catalog.

Name

Daedalic Entertainment

Legal name

DAEDALIC Entertainment GmbH

Website

https://daedalic.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Daedalic Entertainment is a Hamburg-based indie game publisher and developer (founded 2007, ~45 employees) and a wholly-owned subsidiary of French publisher Nacon. It publishes narrative, strategy, co-op, and horror games across Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, serving global consumer gamers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Video Game Publishing

NAICS

Software Publishers (5132)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)

akta.pro primary industry

Strategy/4X/Management Game Studios (MPAFAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

PC & Console Game Distribution Platforms (BPAMAKAA), Co-Development, Porting & Remaster Studios (MPAFAAAM)

Keywords

• Video game publishing
• Adventure game development
• Indie game distribution
• Console game porting
• Co-op multiplayer games

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Game Sales: Daedalic generates revenue through one-time game sales across PC and console platforms including Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and Nintendo Switch. Games are sold as digital downloads with standard and deluxe edition options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Daedalic Entertainment develops and publishes narrative-driven video games across PC and console platforms (Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, Amazon Luna), with a focus on storytelling, strategy, co-op, and wholesome games. Beyond its own IPs such as Deponia and Shadow Tactics, it operates a publishing arm that supports indie developers with marketing, distribution, localization, and platform-porting services.

Product overview

Daedalic Entertainment is both a game developer and publisher of video games, operating a diversified portfolio organized around four strategic areas: storytelling (adventure games), strategy, co-op games, and wholesome games. As a publisher, Daedalic supports indie developers by bringing their titles to all major gaming platforms (PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Amazon Luna). Recent flagship releases include The Occultist (psychological horror), Star Trek: Voyager - Across the Unknown (story-driven survival strategy), Barotrauma (multiplayer submarine horror with Home & Harbor Expansion planned), and Magin: The Rat Project Stories (dark fantasy deck-builder). The company also develops original IPs including the classic Deponia adventure series, Shadow Tactics stealth strategy series, Edna & Harvey, Inkulinati, and more. Since April 2022, Daedalic Entertainment has been a subsidiary of the French publishing house Nacon.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Occultist Psychological horror game where folk horror adventure unfolds in a world shaped by memory, ritual, and unease; available for purchase on Steam, PS5 and Xbox Series.
• Star Trek: Voyager - Across the Unknown Story-driven survival strategy game where players command the U.S.S. Voyager stranded in the Delta Quadrant, manage the ship and resources, and make difficult decisions to bring the crew home; available on Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series in Standard and Deluxe editions.
• Barotrauma Multiplayer submarine horror game set in the depths of Europa where players manage a submarine and survive hostile underwater threats with co-op gameplay.
• Magin: The Rat Project Stories Dark fantasy narrative deck-builder launching across PlayStation 5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch and PC.
• LEAVES 3 Surreal puzzle-adventure game from developer ZAR21 in which real art becomes a surreal video game world.
• Sherman Commander Combat simulation and strategy game released on Steam as part of Daedalic's war simulation portfolio.
• STVATU Game available on Steam, PS5, Xbox Series and Switch 2 with demo available.
• Woodo Upcoming game with demo available on Steam, part of Daedalic's indie portfolio.
• Unrailed! Co-op train-building game where players work together to construct railways across challenging terrain; available on PC (Steam) and Switch.
• Wild Woods Co-op forest exploration and building game where players work together to survive in woodland environments.
• New Cycle Strategy game involving urban development and resource management.
• Bloodgrounds Action game available on Steam, part of Daedalic's action and adventure catalog.
• Deponia Classic adventure game series including Deponia The Complete Journey, known for puzzle-solving and narrative-driven gameplay.
• Shadow Tactics Series Historical stealth strategy series including Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun and anniversary bundles.
• Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth Narrative adventure game based on the bestselling novel by Ken Follett, released for various platforms.
• State of Mind Futuristic adventure game exploring themes of transhumanism and identity.
• Edna & Harvey Series Adventure game series featuring Edna and Harvey characters with puzzle-solving gameplay.
• Inkulinati Strategy game featuring medieval manuscript illustrations come to life with unique hand-drawn art.
• Warpips Strategy and war simulation game optimized for quick matches and accessible gameplay.
• Partisans 1941 World War II strategy game featuring partisan warfare and tactical combat.
• Hidden Deep Action and exploration game set in deep underground environments with thriller elements.
• Fling to the Finish! Co-op physics-based platformer where players control characters tethered together.
• Once Upon a Puppet Upcoming game announced as part of Daedalic's expanding portfolio of narrative titles.
• Curse of the Crimson Stag Folk-horror adventure game developed with One-O-One Games, featuring narrative mystery with mythical themes.
• Silence Narrative adventure game known for its emotional storytelling and cinematic presentation.
• Daedalic Entertainment Publishing Publishing service for indie developers, bringing titles to all major gaming platforms including Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and Amazon Luna with marketing and distribution support; recent published titles include Wild Woods, New Cycle, Inkulinati, Barotrauma, Unrailed!, Shadow Tactics Series, Warpips, and Partisans 1941.
• It's Magic (Lord of the Rings) Lord of the Rings game in development focusing on Middle-Earth's wizards, exploring new regions and perspectives within the franchise; funded by a €2 million grant from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.
• Surviving Deponia Upcoming title in the Deponia universe, extending the classic adventure series.

Quantifiable outcome

• 32 awards at German Developers Awards including multiple Studio of the Year accolades
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Devolver Digital: Independent video game publisher specializing in indie titles across PC and console, with a similar portfolio breadth (narrative, strategy, co-op) and a multi-platform publishing model that closely mirrors Daedalic's go-to-market.
• Raw Fury: Stockholm-based indie publisher focused on narrative, strategy, and unique-art-direction titles — directly comparable to Daedalic in catalog mix, indie developer relationships, and cross-platform release strategy.
• Team17: UK-listed indie publisher with a broad multi-genre catalog including strategy, co-op, and adventure titles (e.g., Worms, Overcooked-style co-op). Closely comparable to Daedalic's four-pillar portfolio and PC/console distribution approach.
• Paradox Interactive: Stockholm-based publisher and developer specializing in strategy and management games (including licensed IP titles). Comparable to Daedalic's strategy vertical and its experience publishing licensed franchises like Star Trek: Voyager.
• 505 Games: Italy-based multi-platform publisher with a portfolio spanning indie and mid-market titles. Comparable to Daedalic in scale, regional positioning (European HQ), and multi-platform publishing model.
• Annapurna Interactive: US-based publisher focused on narrative-driven, artistically distinctive indie games. Comparable to Daedalic's storytelling/adventure pillar and its emphasis on quality, award-recognized indie titles.
• Microids: French publisher of adventure, narrative, and licensed-IP games including titles based on Asterix and Tintin. Closely comparable to Daedalic's adventure/storytelling vertical and its experience with premium licensed IP.
• Private Division: Take-Two's publishing label for indie and mid-market titles across narrative, strategy, and unique-creative genres. Comparable to Daedalic in developer-signing model and multi-platform indie publishing.

Broad incumbents

• Focus Entertainment: Paris-listed publisher (sister to Daedalic's parent Nacon via Bigben/unnamed overlap in the French ecosystem) with a broader AA portfolio. Comparable as a larger European multi-platform publisher operating across indie and mid-market segments.
• THQ Nordic: Vienna-based publisher with a broad PC/console catalog including strategy, adventure, and licensed IPs. Comparable to Daedalic in catalog mix and multi-platform publishing, though at a larger scale and as part of Embracer Group.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/daedalic
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/DaedalicEnt
• Facebookde-de.facebook.com/daedalic
• Instagraminstagram.com/daedalicentertainment
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/daedalic-entertainment-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Daedalic Entertainment