Rockhead Games
Rockhead Games is a Brazilian indie game studio that designs mobile, PC, and console games and builds custom branded games and event gamification solutions for corporate clients. It was founded by Ubisoft veterans and is based in Porto Alegre.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersPorto Alegre, Brazil
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Rockhead Games does
Rockhead Games (legal name ROCKHEAD ESTÚDIOS S/A) is a Brazilian game development studio headquartered in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul. Founded by CEO Christian Lykawka and COO Fernando D'Andrea — both veterans of Southlogic Studios, which was acquired by Ubisoft in 2009 — the studio designs and develops games for mobile devices, tablets, PC, consoles, and next-generation handheld devices. The company serves two distinct customer bases: (1) consumer gamers reached through the iOS App Store, Google Play, Windows Phone Store, and Amazon Appstore, and (2) corporate clients commissioning branded games (advergames) and event gamification solutions across industries including entertainment (Cinemark), sports (Ronaldinho Gaúcho), pharmaceuticals (Boehringer Ingelheim), advertising (Sapient Nitro), and education/non-profit (Sinplast-RS).
Rockhead Games firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rockhead Games
- Legal name
- ROCKHEAD ESTÚDIOS S/A
- Website
- https://rockheadgames.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Rockhead Games is a Brazilian indie game studio that designs mobile, PC, and console games and builds custom branded games and event gamification solutions for corporate clients. It was founded by Ubisoft veterans and is based in Porto Alegre.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rockhead Games industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mobile and PC Game Development
- NAICS
- Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (45912), Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (459120)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mobile & F2P Game Studios (MPAFAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Indie Game Studios (MPAFAAAC)
Keywords
Where Rockhead Games is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Porto Alegre
- HQ country
- Brazil
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Rockhead Games business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Consumer Game Sales: Distribution of games through app stores (iOS App Store, Google Play, Windows Phone Store, Amazon Appstore) generating revenue from game downloads and in-app purchases/virtual items.
- In-Game Virtual Items: Virtual Items and Virtual Currency sold within games, licensed to players for non-commercial use.
- Branded/Custom Game Development: Development of custom branded games for corporate clients (advergames) and event gamification solutions.
- Investment Funding: Received R$ 1 million investment from Google through its Indie Games Fund for Latin America to support development of new and existing games.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels4 records
Rockhead Games product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rockhead Games is a Brazilian independent game development studio that designs and publishes games and applications for mobile devices, tablets, PC, consoles, and next-generation handheld devices. The studio produces original consumer titles (e.g., Starlit Adventures, Master of Words, Pixel Shaper) distributed through global app stores, and also builds custom branded games (advergames) and event-gamification solutions for corporate clients such as Ronaldinho Gaúcho, Boehringer Ingelheim, Sapient Nitro, and Sinplast-RS.
Product overview
Rockhead Games is a Brazilian game development studio focused on creating games and applications for mobile devices, tablets, PC, and consoles. Their portfolio includes original adventure games like Starlit Adventures, word games like Master of Words, action puzzle games like Pixel Shaper, branded titles like Ronaldinho Super Dash, and custom advergames for corporate clients. The company develops games using modular technology that adapts to platform strengths and game features.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Starlit Adventures Original adventure game for all ages featuring touch-screen controls, a fantasy universe with living characters, beautiful visuals, and console-quality gameplay on mobile devices. Available on iOS and Android for individual consumers.
- Master of Words Word-construction game distributed on iOS, Android, Windows 8, and Kindle Fire, targeted at individual consumers.
- Pixel Shaper Action puzzle game testing accuracy and strategic skills, featuring dozens of levels, achievements, collectibles, and social sharing to Facebook and Twitter. Available on Windows Phone and Windows 8.
- Ronaldinho Super Dash Branded action game featuring soccer player Ronaldinho Gaúcho, available on iOS and Android. Licensed branded game developed for the Ronaldinho Gaúcho brand.
- Item Quest Real-time competition game where participants collect virtual items to win real prizes, customizable for corporate events and conferences.
- Cozinhaterapia Cooking app with voice recognition for hands-free use in kitchen environments, developed for Sapient Nitro.
- Recycle Game Educational game for children developed for Sinplast-RS to teach correct plastic waste disposal practices.
- Deu Nó Advergame developed for Boehringer Ingelheim, available on iOS and Android for marketing and patient engagement.
- Cinemark App Windows Phone app developed for Cinemark (entertainment), providing cinema-related functionality and ranking as top app in Brazil for Windows Phone.
- Big Bosses From Outer Space Game project for PC and consoles listed in Rockhead Games' portfolio.
Quantifiable outcome
- Ronaldinho Super Dash achieved 4.5/5.0 customer reviews
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Rockhead Games
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Rockhead Games technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Rockhead Games partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- TecnopucminorTechnology partnership with Tecnopuc, the technology park of PUCRS university in Porto Alegre, Brazil.
- RAIAR - PUCRSminorResearch and development partnership with RAIAR (Research Center for Animation and Digital Arts) at PUCRS university.
- FAMECOS - PUCRSminorAcademic partnership with FAMECOS (School of Communication, Arts and Design) at PUCRS university.
- FACIN - PUCRSminorAcademic partnership with FACIN (School of Computer Science) at PUCRS university.
- Especialização em Desenvolvimento de Jogos PUCRSminorPartnership with PUCRS Game Development specialization program for talent development and research.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Rockhead Games competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Thunder Lotus Games: Canadian indie studio behind Jotun and Spiritfarer, publishing original IPs across PC, console and mobile. Comparable indie size, cross-platform ambitions and premium original-IP positioning.
- Behold Studios: Brazilian indie studio developing retro-styled RPGs (Knights of Pen and Paper, Chroma Squad) for mobile, PC and consoles. Closely comparable in size, country, product category and cross-platform indie strategy.
- Long Hat House: Brazilian indie studio known for Dandara and other 2D mobile/console titles. Comparable small-team indie profile, Latin American origin and focus on touch-first platform experiences.
- JoyMasher: Brazilian indie developer of retro-style action games such as Oniken and Blazing Chrome for PC and console. Comparable size, regional footprint and indie cross-platform strategy.
- Dinosaur Polo Club: Small independent studio behind Mini Metro and Mini Motorways, focused on polished, original indie titles across mobile, PC and console. Closely comparable in team size, cross-platform distribution and original-IP strategy.
- Aquiris Game Studio: Brazilian game studio headquartered in Porto Alegre developing mobile and console titles (e.g., Horizon Chase). Same regional ecosystem and similar multi-platform indie positioning, making it the most direct geographic and product peer to Rockhead Games.
Broad incumbents
- 11 bit studios: Polish indie publisher/developer of This War of Mine and Frostpunk. Larger and publicly listed, but operates in the same indie PC/console/mobile publishing space where Rockhead aims to expand with Starlit Adventures 2.
- Hoplon: Brazilian game studio historically known for Taikodom and enterprise gamification. Larger and broader in scope than Rockhead but overlaps on Brazilian game development and enterprise game services.
- Annapurna Interactive: Publisher focused on distinctive indie cross-platform titles (e.g., Stray, Cocoon). Functions as a potential publishing/distribution partner and operates adjacent to the indie cross-platform niche Rockhead targets.
- Devolver Digital: Indie publisher backing distinctive cross-platform games. Relevant as both an aspirational peer and a likely distribution partner for an indie studio scaling an original IP franchise like Starlit Adventures.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Rockhead Games social profiles
Digital presenceRockhead Games financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rockhead Games leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Rockhead Games funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rockhead Games M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Rockhead Games
What does Rockhead Games do?
Rockhead Games is a Brazilian independent game development studio that designs and publishes games and applications for mobile devices, tablets, PC, consoles, and next-generation handheld devices. The studio produces original consumer titles (e.g., Starlit Adventures, Master of Words, Pixel Shaper) distributed through global app stores, and also builds custom branded games (advergames) and event-gamification solutions for corporate clients such as Ronaldinho Gaúcho, Boehringer Ingelheim, Sapient Nitro, and Sinplast-RS.
Is Rockhead Games a public or private company?
Rockhead Games is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Rockhead Games founded?
Rockhead Games was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Rockhead Games based?
Rockhead Games is headquartered in Porto Alegre, Brazil, in the Latin America region.
How does Rockhead Games make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Consumer Game Sales are the primary driver. The others are in-Game Virtual Items, branded/Custom Game Development and investment Funding.
Who are Rockhead Games's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Thunder Lotus Games, Behold Studios, Long Hat House, JoyMasher, Dinosaur Polo Club and Aquiris Game Studio. Broad incumbents are 11 bit studios, Hoplon, Annapurna Interactive and Devolver Digital.
Does Rockhead Games have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rockhead Games.
What industry is Rockhead Games in?
Rockhead Games's product category is Mobile and PC Game Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAAAB, Mobile & F2P Game Studios, with a secondary code of MPAFAAAC, Indie Game Studios. Its NAICS code is 45912 and its SIC code is 7900.