What Futureplay Games does

Futureplay Games is a Helsinki-based mobile game developer founded in 2015 by five Finnish gaming industry veterans (Jami Laes, Kai Auvinen, Mika Rahko, Tuomas Huhtanen, Arttu Mäki). The studio develops and publishes casual mobile games for iOS and Android, with a portfolio spanning match-3 merge, idle, battle royale, and crafting genres. Its flagship title, Merge Gardens, was launched in Fall 2020 and features an 8-episode narrative arc with fan-driven content extensions including an in-universe band (Dancegarden), a Spotify-released song, and physical merchandise. The studio has released six games reaching over 120 million players cumulatively.

Futureplay monetizes exclusively through a freemium mobile gaming model, distributing games free-to-play on the iOS App Store and Google Play Store with revenue generated via in-app purchases and in-game advertising. The company operates a product-led growth motion, using episodic content, in-game events, YouTube trailers, and app store listings to drive engagement and installs. Following a 2021 decline in Merge Gardens engagement, Futureplay executed a comprehensive rebranding that the company reports doubled revenue and increased installs tenfold.

Futureplay was acquired by MTG (Modern Times Group), a Swedish gaming conglomerate, and operates as part of MTG's international network while maintaining its Helsinki studio headquarters. The company is structured around a flat organizational model with emphasis on transparency, creative autonomy, and global remote hiring. Total disclosed venture funding prior to MTG acquisition was approximately $2.93 million (Creandum, DN Capital, Heartcore Capital, LVP). No AI/ML capabilities, patents, or regulatory actions are disclosed.

Name

Futureplay Games

Legal name

Futureplay Game Oy

Website

https://futureplaygames.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Futureplay Games is a Helsinki-based mobile game studio developing freemium casual games including flagship Merge Gardens, a match-3 and merge title with episodic narrative content, serving over 120 million players globally and operating within the MTG network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mobile casual games

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Mobile & F2P Game Studios (MPAFAAAB)

Keywords

• Mobile game development
• Casual mobile games
• Freemium game publishing
• Match-3 puzzle games
• Idle games

Headquarters

HQ city

Helsinki

HQ country

Finland

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. Freemium Mobile Gaming with In-App Purchases: Futureplay's primary revenue comes from free-to-play mobile games (Merge Gardens, Battlelands Royale, Idle Farming Empire) that monetize through in-app purchases. The company also generates revenue through advertising within games and merchandise sales tied to game content (such as the Dancegarden song released on Spotify and physical merch).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Futureplay Games develops and publishes free-to-play mobile games for iOS and Android, led by match-3/merge title Merge Gardens and supported by battle royale Battlelands Royale and a portfolio of idle games (Idle Farming Empire, Idle City Empire, Idle Crafting Empire, Idle Tuber Empire). Games monetize through in-app purchases and in-game advertising, with Merge Gardens differentiated by an eight-episode narrative arc and fan-driven content such as music and merchandise.

Product overview

Futureplay Games is a mobile game developer and publisher offering a portfolio of casual gaming titles. The company operates as a multi-product studio with several idle and merge game franchises including Merge Gardens (flagship match-3 merge game), Battlelands Royale (battle royale), and multiple idle game titles (Idle Farming Empire, Idle City Empire, Idle Crafting Empire, Idle Tuber Empire). The company also produced Craft Away and City titles. All games are available as mobile applications, with Merge Gardens featuring episodic narrative content as a key differentiator.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Merge Gardens Match-3 and merge mobile game and the company's flagship title, featuring episodic narrative content with story-driven gameplay and character arcs (Daisy, Elwood) released across eight episodes.
• Battlelands Royale

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Future Friends GamesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Future Friends Games published 'On-Together,' a lightweight social platform developed by Gigapuff, launched on Steam in January 2026. This is a separate publishing arrangement from Futureplay's core mobile gaming business.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/futureplay-games
• Xx.com/futureplaygames
• Facebookfacebook.com/futureplaygames

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors5 records

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

M&A

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about Futureplay Games