Big Viking Games
Big Viking Games is a privately held Canadian free-to-play mobile and social game studio operating FishWorld and YoWorld across iOS, Android, Facebook, and mobile web, pioneering HTML5 cross-platform delivery for millions of players globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersLondon, Canada
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Big Viking Games does
Big Viking Games is a privately held Canadian free-to-play mobile and social game studio founded in 2011, operating across two studios in Toronto (headquarters) and London, Ontario. The company describes itself as the largest independent mobile and social game studio in Canada, with a team of more than 80 employees. Its portfolio centers on two core titles: FishWorld, an aquarium simulation in which players raise, feed, and breed virtual fish, and YoWorld, a virtual world game with avatar and home customization. YoWorld was originally created by the company's founders, sold to Zynga as YoVille in 2008, and reacquired by Big Viking Games in 2014.
Technically, Big Viking Games is a pioneer in mobile HTML5 game technologies, enabling its titles to run across iOS, Android, Facebook, and the mobile web without requiring native app installations. This cross-platform HTML5 architecture is the company's principal technical differentiator and supports a live-operations model with regular content updates, in-game events, and active community moderation via forums and social media.
The business model is freemium: players can earn virtual currency through gameplay or purchase virtual currency and items with real money. Revenue is recognized through direct in-game purchases and through third-party platform fees (Facebook Credits, Apple iOS in-app purchases). Distribution is wholly indirect, relying on the iOS App Store, Google Play, Facebook Gaming, and the mobile web; marketing is conducted through platform presence, press coverage, and player communities rather than outbound sales. The company is profitable since founding and has not disclosed outside institutional ownership beyond the 2016 round led by RBC Capital with BDC Venture Capital.
Big Viking Games firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Big Viking Games
- Legal name
- Big Viking Games Inc.
- Website
- https://bigvikinggames.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Big Viking Games is a privately held Canadian free-to-play mobile and social game studio operating FishWorld and YoWorld across iOS, Android, Facebook, and mobile web, pioneering HTML5 cross-platform delivery for millions of players globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Big Viking Games industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mobile and Social Games
- NAICS
- Doll, Toy, and Game Manufacturing (33993)
- SIC
- Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mobile & F2P Game Studios (MPAFAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Social/UGC & Sandbox Game Studios (Roblox-like) (MPAFAAAF)
Keywords
Where Big Viking Games is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Big Viking Games business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- In-Game Virtual Currency and Items: Free-to-play model where players can purchase virtual currency and virtual items directly from BVG. Players earn virtual currency through quests, achievements and gameplay, and can purchase additional currency or items for real money.
- Third-Party Platform Purchases: Revenue from purchases processed through third-party platforms such as Facebook Credits and Apple iOS purchases.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Big Viking Games product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Big Viking Games develops and operates free-to-play mobile and social games, primarily FishWorld (an aquarium simulation game on Facebook) and YoWorld (a virtual world avatar customization game originally sold to Zynga as YoVille and reacquired by the company in 2014). The studio pioneered mobile HTML5 technologies that allow its titles to run across iOS, Android, Facebook, and the mobile web without native app installations, monetizing through in-game virtual currency and item purchases.
Product overview
Big Viking Games is a mobile and social game studio that operates a portfolio of two primary games. FishWorld is an aquarium simulation game on Facebook where players raise and breed virtual fish, while YoWorld is a virtual world/avatar customization game on Facebook. Both games are available on iOS, Android, Facebook, and the mobile web, and are played by millions of users. The company pioneered mobile HTML5 games and is known for live operations of these social gaming experiences.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- FishWorld Aquarium simulation game playable on Facebook in which players raise, feed, and breed virtual fish to fill their aquariums, earn virtual currency through quests and achievements, decorate tanks, and watch fish grow and school together. Targets casual social gamers.
- YoWorld Virtual world game on Facebook where players create personalized characters and homes in a virtual community, decorating homes, characters, and worlds with thousands of customization items. Originally created by the founders, sold to Zynga as YoVille in 2008, and reacquired by Big Viking Games in 2014. Targets social gamers seeking persistent virtual world experiences.
Companies that use Big Viking Games
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Big Viking Games technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature1 record
Big Viking Games partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- FacebookcoreFacebook is a primary distribution platform for Big Viking Games. YoWorld and FishWorld are playable on Facebook, with millions of users engaging through the Facebook platform. Facebook processes payments including Facebook Credits for in-game purchases.
- KongregateminorThird-party platform mentioned in privacy policy where Big Viking Games games may be made available through Kongregate.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Big Viking Games competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Playdom: Playdom was a leading Facebook social game developer (Social City, Market Street) competing in the same browser-based social simulation genre as YoWorld. Highly comparable in business model, customer base, and platform exposure.
- Jam City: Jam City is a mobile game studio with social and casual titles (Cookie Jam, Panda Pop) founded by former MySpace and Disney executives. Comparable mid-sized independent mobile social game studio with a similar live-ops driven portfolio.
- Wooga: Wooga is a European mobile and social game studio behind hits like Jelly Splash and Pearl's Peril. It is comparable to Big Viking as a mid-sized independent studio focused on casual and social mobile games with a freemium model.
- Storm8: Storm8 builds mobile social and simulation games (Restaurant City, Bakery Story) and shares the F2P social gaming model, Facebook-era origins, and live operations focus that define Big Viking's business.
- CrowdStar: CrowdStar developed social simulation games (Happy Aquarium, It Girl) on Facebook before pivoting to mobile. It shares Big Viking's Facebook-first social gaming origin, freemium model, and pivot to mobile.
- Zynga: Zynga is the most direct peer — it originally acquired Big Viking's YoWorld as YoVille in 2008, and operates the same genre of Facebook and mobile social simulation games (FarmVille, Words With Friends). Same customer base, same platform dependency, and same freemium model.
- Kabam: Kabam developed mobile social games like Kingdoms of Camelot and Marvel Contest of Champions. It shares Big Viking's heritage in Facebook-anchored social gaming and its transition to mobile F2P live-ops titles.
- ngmoco: ngmoco was a leading mobile social game studio (We Rule, Touch Pets) acquired by DeNA. It is directly comparable to Big Viking as a mid-sized mobile social game developer with Facebook-era roots and F2P monetization.
Broad incumbents
- Playtika: Playtika is a large mobile social casino and casual game publisher (Slotomania, House of Fun). While broader in scale and focused on social casino, it operates the same F2P mobile social gaming model targeting the same mid-market consumer base.
- Rovio Entertainment: Rovio is a Finnish mobile game publisher best known for Angry Birds. While larger and broader than Big Viking, it is a comparable independent mobile game studio operating F2P titles with live operations and cross-platform distribution.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Big Viking Games social profiles
Digital presenceBig Viking Games financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Big Viking Games leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Big Viking Games funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Big Viking Games M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Big Viking Games
What does Big Viking Games do?
Big Viking Games develops and operates free-to-play mobile and social games, primarily FishWorld (an aquarium simulation game on Facebook) and YoWorld (a virtual world avatar customization game originally sold to Zynga as YoVille and reacquired by the company in 2014). The studio pioneered mobile HTML5 technologies that allow its titles to run across iOS, Android, Facebook, and the mobile web without native app installations, monetizing through in-game virtual currency and item purchases.
Is Big Viking Games a public or private company?
Big Viking Games is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Big Viking Games founded?
Big Viking Games was founded in 2011. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Big Viking Games based?
Big Viking Games is headquartered in London, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Big Viking Games make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. In-Game Virtual Currency and Items are the primary driver. The others are third-Party Platform Purchases.
Who are Big Viking Games's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Playdom, Jam City, Wooga, Storm8, CrowdStar, Zynga, Kabam and ngmoco. Broad incumbents are Playtika and Rovio Entertainment.
Does Big Viking Games have an API?
No public API is recorded for Big Viking Games.
What industry is Big Viking Games in?
Big Viking Games's product category is Mobile and Social Games. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAAAB, Mobile & F2P Game Studios, with a secondary code of MPAFAAAF, Social/UGC & Sandbox Game Studios (Roblox-like). Its NAICS code is 33993 and its SIC code is 3944.