Line Games
Line Games is a South Korean multi-platform game publisher and developer publishing UNDECEMBER, Uncharted Waters Origin, and a growing PC indie portfolio across mobile, PC, and console for global gaming consumers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersSeocho, South Korea
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Line Games does
Line Games is a South Korean game publisher and developer operating a multi-platform portfolio across mobile (iOS/Android), PC (Steam, proprietary launcher), and console (Nintendo Switch, PlayStation). Headquartered in Seoul's Gangnam district, the company was founded in 2017 and operates with 101–250 employees. Core products include UNDECEMBER, a hack-and-slash action RPG with seasonal content cycles; Uncharted Waters Origin, a historical maritime MMORPG developed in partnership with KOEI TECMO; Genesis War, a Korean-market MMORPG; and Buried Stars, a survival adventure title. The company also publishes third-party indie PC games, exemplified by its April 2026 publishing deal with Cresent for the co-op sci-fi horror title CODE EXIT.
The company's platform backbone is the proprietary LINE Games Launcher, a desktop client that consolidates installation, updates, cross-platform account synchronization between PC and mobile, two-factor authentication, and event notifications. Revenue is generated primarily through a freemium model: games are free to download, with monetization via in-game purchases including season passes (zodiac passes), support boxes, cosmetics, and gameplay enhancements. End customers are individual gamers in Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and global markets. Distribution leverages Steam, Google Play, Apple App Store, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation Store, with brand association to the LINE messaging ecosystem and operational ties to Kakao Games via shared leadership.
Line Games is privately held, with no disclosed institutional investors beyond historical 2018 funding from Anchor Equity Partners and Capstone Partners. Its strategic posture reflects a shift from mobile RPG/MMORPG publishing toward PC indie publishing and cross-platform live-service operations, supported by an expanding content pipeline that includes QUIET, Ember and Blade, and Come to my party! alongside ongoing seasonal updates to flagship titles.
Line Games firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Line Games
- Legal name
- LINE Games Corporation
- Website
- https://line.games
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Line Games is a South Korean multi-platform game publisher and developer publishing UNDECEMBER, Uncharted Waters Origin, and a growing PC indie portfolio across mobile, PC, and console for global gaming consumers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Line Games industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mobile Gaming
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mobile Game Publishing & App Game Stores (BPAMAKAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Full-Service Game Publishers (1st/2nd/3rd-Party Publishing) (MPAFABAA), PC Digital Game Stores & Launchers (MPAFACAA), Console Platform Publishing & Licensing (First-Party Platform Holder Programs) (MPAFABAD)
Keywords
Where Line Games is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seocho
- HQ country
- South Korea
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Line Games business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- Game Sales and Virtual Goods: Line Games generates revenue through direct game sales (mobile apps, PC clients, console titles) and in-game purchases of virtual goods, season passes, cosmetics, and gameplay enhancements. Games like UNDECEMBER offer zodiac passes, season support boxes, and in-game currency (diamonds) for purchase.
- In-Game Purchases and Microtransactions: UNDECEMBER and similar games monetize through item sales, battle passes (zodiac passes), and cosmetic purchases available through the in-game shop. Products are offered for sale on a regular schedule with new items introduced through updates.
- Publishing Fees: Line Games signs publishing agreements with indie developers like Cresent to publish their games (e.g., CODE EXIT on Steam), generating revenue through publishing operations and game distribution.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free-to-play games with in-game purchases |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Line Games product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Line Games is a South Korean game publisher and developer that operates a multi-platform portfolio of video games across mobile (iOS/Android), PC (Steam and its proprietary LINE Games Launcher), and console (Nintendo Switch, PlayStation). The company publishes its own titles such as UNDECEMBER, Genesis War, Buried Stars, and Uncharted Waters Origin, and also signs publishing agreements with indie developers to release titles such as CODE EXIT on Steam.
Product overview
LINE Games is a South Korean game publisher and developer operating a multi-platform portfolio of games across mobile, PC (Steam), and console. The core products include UNDECEMBER (a hack-and-slash action RPG), Genesis War (MMORPG), Uncharted Waters Origin (a KOEI TECMO-partnered historical maritime MMORPG), and Buried Stars (a survival adventure game). LINE Games also publishes third-party indie titles including CODE EXIT (co-op sci-fi horror). The company distributes its mobile titles through Google Play and the App Store, PC titles through Steam and its proprietary LINE Games Launcher (which enables cross-platform play and account synchronization between PC and mobile), and console titles through Nintendo Switch and PlayStation storefronts. The portfolio spans diverse genres including MMORPG, action RPG, idle games, puzzle, roguelite, horror, and visual novels.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- UNDECEMBER A hack-and-slash action RPG with seasonal content updates, in-game events, and cross-platform play between mobile (Android/iOS) and PC (Steam) through the LINE Games Launcher.
- Uncharted Waters Origin A historical maritime exploration MMORPG developed in partnership with KOEI TECMO, based on the classic Uncharted Waters series, available on mobile (Android/iOS) and PC (Steam) with investment seasons, naval combat, trade, and adventure content.
- Genesis War An MMORPG title featured on the LINE Games homepage with active collaborations and events, serving Korean-market players.
- Buried Stars A survival adventure game where players survive a sudden building collapse during a survival audition program; available on PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Steam, and mobile platforms.
- CODE EXIT A four-player cooperative sci-fi horror game published by LINE Games for PC (Steam), featuring adaptive enemy AI that learns player patterns to heighten psychological horror, set in a city overrun by rogue AI; available in Early Access.
- QUIET A co-op comedy-horror game for PC (Steam) published by LINE Games, currently listed as COMING SOON.
- Hello Kitty Friends Match A mobile Match3 puzzle game featuring Sanrio's Hello Kitty character brand, available on the LINE Games mobile platform.
- FairyTale Quest A mobile roguelite pixel adventure game available on the LINE Games mobile platform.
- Hamster Talk An idle social game released on Steam, published by LINE Games for the PC platform.
- Animal Busters A mobile idle RPG released on the LINE Games mobile platform.
- Ember and Blade A survivor-like action game for PC with a playable demo on Steam, published by LINE Games.
- Come to my party! A visual novel game for PC with a demo available on Steam, published by LINE Games.
- LINE Games Launcher A downloadable PC client that provides unified game management for installing and updating LINE Games titles, cross-platform account synchronization with mobile, two-factor authentication for account security, and customized news notifications for events and announcements.
Companies that use Line Games
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Line Games technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration10 records
AI capability2 records
Feature2 records
Line Games partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- CresentcoreLine Games signed a publishing agreement with domestic indie developer Cresent for the new PC horror game 'CODE EXIT.' The four-player cooperative sci-fi horror game set in a city overrun by rogue AI features adaptive enemy systems that learn player patterns. Line Games plans to release a demo and launch the title in Early Access on Steam in Q1 of next year as part of its strategy to diversify genres and expand its PC title portfolio.
- KOEI TECMOcoreKOEI TECMO is the IP holder and co-developer of Uncharted Waters Origin, a nautical adventure MMORPG. The game features motifs from KOEI TECMO and celebrates the UWO 35th anniversary of the Uncharted Waters franchise.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Line Games competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Com2uS: Korean mobile and PC game publisher with MMORPG and casual titles globally. Comparable free-to-play model and Asian-to-global publishing pipeline.
- Wemade: Korean MMORPG publisher (Legend of Mir) operating across PC and mobile globally. Comparable live-ops MMORPG strategy and cross-platform launcher-driven distribution.
- NCSoft: Korean MMORPG and action RPG publisher with strong PC and mobile cross-platform operations. Comparable live-ops, seasonal content cadence, and Korean/Japanese/SEA distribution.
- Pearl Abyss: Korean developer/publisher of high-fidelity MMORPGs (Black Desert) across PC, mobile, and console. Comparable cross-platform MMORPG strategy and Korean HQ + global publishing footprint.
- Kakao Games: Korean multi-platform game publisher with overlapping PC and mobile titles, MMORPG portfolio, and direct distribution in Korean/Japanese markets. Closest comparable to LINE Games given Line Yahoo's investment in Kakao Games and shared cross-promotion opportunities.
- Netmarble: Korean mobile-first publisher with global PC/mobile reach and a mix of self-developed and licensed titles. Comparable genre breadth (MMORPG, action RPG) and similar Asian market distribution footprint.
- Nexon: Korean-headquartered publisher operating MMORPGs, action games, and casual titles across PC and mobile globally. Comparable free-to-play, seasonal-content, and cross-platform live-ops model.
Broad incumbents
- Smilegate: Korean developer/publisher (CrossFire, Lost Ark) with cross-platform action and MMORPG titles. Comparable PC-to-mobile publishing model and Korean HQ distribution advantages.
- Krafton: Korean publisher/developer with a portfolio spanning mobile and PC titles. Larger, publicly listed incumbent operating in overlapping action and casual genres with stronger global publishing.
- Valve Corporation: Owner of Steam, the dominant PC game distribution platform where most LINE Games PC titles are published. Indirect comparable as the underlying storefront and platform competitor/partner for LINE Games' launcher strategy.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Line Games social profiles
Digital presenceLine Games financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Line Games leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Line Games funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Line Games M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments4 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Line Games
What does Line Games do?
Line Games is a South Korean game publisher and developer that operates a multi-platform portfolio of video games across mobile (iOS/Android), PC (Steam and its proprietary LINE Games Launcher), and console (Nintendo Switch, PlayStation). The company publishes its own titles such as UNDECEMBER, Genesis War, Buried Stars, and Uncharted Waters Origin, and also signs publishing agreements with indie developers to release titles such as CODE EXIT on Steam.
Is Line Games a public or private company?
Line Games is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Line Games founded?
Line Games was founded in 2017. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Line Games based?
Line Games is headquartered in Seocho, South Korea, in the Asia region.
How does Line Games make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Game Sales and Virtual Goods are the primary driver. The others are in-Game Purchases and Microtransactions and publishing Fees.
Who are Line Games's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Com2uS, Wemade, NCSoft, Pearl Abyss, Kakao Games, Netmarble and Nexon. Broad incumbents are Smilegate, Krafton and Valve Corporation.
Does Line Games have an API?
No public API is recorded for Line Games.
What industry is Line Games in?
Line Games's product category is Mobile Gaming. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMAKAB, Mobile Game Publishing & App Game Stores, with a secondary code of MPAFABAA, Full-Service Game Publishers (1st/2nd/3rd-Party Publishing).