Subset Games
Subset Games is a Seattle-based independent game studio founded in 2012 that develops and self-publishes the critically acclaimed strategy titles FTL: Faster Than Light and Into the Breach, distributing them digitally across PC, console, mobile, and Netflix Games to a global consumer audience.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersSeattle, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Subset Games does
Subset Games is a privately held independent video game developer founded in 2012 and based in Seattle, USA. The studio is led by founders Matthew Davis and Justin Ma and focuses on a narrow product line of critically acclaimed strategy titles, led by FTL: Faster Than Light (a roguelike spaceship command simulation) and Into the Breach (a turn-based mech strategy game featuring time travel mechanics), with a third title Fulcrum Defender available on the Play.date handheld platform. The technical basis is conventional game-engine logic emphasizing procedural generation of encounters and high-replayability design rather than AI/ML systems.
The company monetizes primarily through one-time purchases of its PC games distributed via Steam, GOG, and Humble Bundle, with console distribution via Nintendo eShop, iOS distribution via the iTunes App Store, and mobile distribution via an exclusive 2022 Netflix Games partnership that surfaces Into the Breach to subscribers free of charge. Physical merchandise and a physical Switch edition are handled through a Fangamer partnership. Pricing is standard retail one-time licensing, with pricing not publicly disclosed by the studio. Localization extends to 17 languages, and customer reach spans North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
The go-to-market motion relies on digital marketplace visibility and word-of-mouth driven by critical press and awards (GDCA, Game Awards, DICE, BAFTA), supplemented by an active 44,000+ member community forum and supporting modding tools (Slipstream, Hyperspace API). The studio is founder-owned with no disclosed external institutional funding or M&A activity, and is not actively hiring at scale per the available data.
Subset Games firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Subset Games
- Legal name
- Subset Games
- Website
- https://subsetgames.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Subset Games is a Seattle-based independent game studio founded in 2012 that develops and self-publishes the critically acclaimed strategy titles FTL: Faster Than Light and Into the Breach, distributing them digitally across PC, console, mobile, and Netflix Games to a global consumer audience.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Subset Games is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seattle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Subset Games business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Game Sales: One-time purchase model for PC and mobile games sold through digital distribution platforms (Steam, GOG, Humble Bundle, iTunes, Nintendo eShop). Games offered include FTL: Advanced Edition and Into the Breach with its Advanced Edition update.
- Netflix Mobile Partnership: Into the Breach mobile version distributed free to Netflix subscribers through Netflix partnership. Mobile version contains identical content including Advanced Edition.
- Physical Merchandise: Physical merchandise including Into the Breach physical Switch release sold through Fangamer partnership.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Standard digital game purchase |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels4 records
Subset Games product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Subset Games is an independent video game developer that designs, develops, and sells strategy and roguelike video games for PC, console, and mobile platforms. Its primary products are FTL: Advanced Edition, a roguelike spaceship command simulation with procedurally generated galaxy exploration, and Into the Breach, a turn-based tactical strategy game featuring mech combat and time travel mechanics. Games are sold as one-time purchases through major digital storefronts (Steam, GOG, Humble Bundle), console stores (Nintendo eShop), and select mobile platforms.
Product overview
Subset Games is an independent video game developer offering two primary strategic titles: FTL: Advanced Edition (a roguelike spaceship command simulation) and Into the Breach (a turn-based tactical strategy game). Into the Breach received a major free expansion called Advanced Edition and has been ported to mobile via Netflix. Both games feature modding communities and are distributed across major PC gaming platforms including Steam, GOG, and Humble, as well as console platforms like Nintendo Switch.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- FTL: Faster Than Light: A roguelike spaceship simulation game where players command a spacecraft on a mission to save the galaxy.
- Into the Breach
- Fulcrum Defender
Products and services
- FTL: Advanced Edition A roguelike spaceship command simulation where players manage a crew and ship through a randomly generated galaxy filled with danger and encounters, featuring strategic resource management, combat, and permadeath mechanics. Sold to individual players on PC, iPad, and other platforms.
- Into the Breach A turn-based strategy game in which players control mechs to defend cities from alien monsters beneath the Earth. Features time travel mechanics that allow players to return to past timelines upon failure. Targeted at individual strategy game enthusiasts.
- Into the Breach Advanced Edition A free major expansion to Into the Breach adding new mech squads, weapons, pilots with tripled skill capacity, additional enemies, bosses, and mission objectives for existing owners.
- Fulcrum Defender A game developed by Subset Games for the Play.date handheld gaming platform.
Quantifiable outcome
- IGN rated FTL: Advanced Edition 9.6/10, PC Gamer 89/100, Polygon 9/10
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Subset Games
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Subset Games technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Subset Games partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- NetflixcoreNetflix partnership to distribute Into the Breach mobile version (Android and iOS) free to Netflix subscribers. Mobile version is unaltered in content and includes Advanced Edition. Touch interface redesigned for excellent phone experience.
- FangamerminorFangamer handles physical merchandise sales including Into the Breach physical Switch release. Pre-orders and merchandise available through Fangamer storefront.
- SteamcorePrimary digital distribution platform for FTL and Into the Breach on PC. Platform provides storefront, payments, and player community features.
- GOGcoreDRM-free digital distribution platform for FTL and Into the Breach on PC.
- Humble BundlecoreDigital distribution platform for FTL and Into the Breach with optional bundling and Humble Store discounts.
- Play.dateminorPlay.date platform distribution for Fulcrum Defender game.
- Ben PruntyminorComposer of FTL soundtrack available on Bandcamp. Music licensing for game soundtrack.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Subset Games competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Nolla Games: Small Finnish indie team behind Noita — a roguelike with procedurally generated physics-based environments, sharing Subset's commitment to deep, mechanically novel roguelike design.
- Supergiant Games: Independent game studio behind Hades, Bastion, Transistor, and Pyre — closely comparable to Subset Games as a small, critically acclaimed indie developer focused on deep, strategy-rich single-player experiences distributed across PC and consoles.
- Klei Entertainment: Indie studio behind Don't Starve, Invisible Inc., and Oxygen Not Included — directly comparable as a strategy/survival-focused indie developer with deep, replayable systems and multi-platform PC/console distribution.
- Motion Twin: French indie cooperative behind Dead Cells — a roguelike action game with procedurally generated content and deep replayability, sharing Subset's roguelike DNA and indie/DIY publishing model.
- ConcernedApe: Solo developer Eric Barone behind Stardew Valley — comparable as a founder-led indie creator of a single, decade-defining title with multi-platform (PC, console, mobile) reach and lasting sales.
- Re-Logic: Indie studio behind Terraria — directly comparable as a small studio with a single, long-selling, deeply moddable PC/console title that has sustained revenue for over a decade.
- The Behemoth: Independent studio behind Castle Crashers, BattleBlock Theater, and Pit People — a comparable small, multi-platform indie developer with a track record of stylized strategy/action titles.
- Mossmouth: Derek Yu's indie studio behind Spelunky — a foundational indie roguelike franchise, sharing Subset's small-team, high-design-bar, PC-first indie ethos with strong community modding.
Broad incumbents
- Devolver Digital: Major indie publisher behind Hotline Miami, Fall Guys, and many other indie hits — a broader incumbent in the indie strategy/roguelike publishing space that competes for the same indie player attention and press cycles.
Emerging players
- Local Thunk: Solo developer behind Balatro — a breakout indie roguelike hit with similar mechanics-rich, single-player focus, representing a newer wave of indie strategy/roguelike creators competing in Subset's genre.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Subset Games social profiles
Digital presenceSubset Games financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Subset Games leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Subset Games funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Subset 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 Subset Games
What does Subset Games do?
Subset Games is an independent video game developer that designs, develops, and sells strategy and roguelike video games for PC, console, and mobile platforms. Its primary products are FTL: Advanced Edition, a roguelike spaceship command simulation with procedurally generated galaxy exploration, and Into the Breach, a turn-based tactical strategy game featuring mech combat and time travel mechanics. Games are sold as one-time purchases through major digital storefronts (Steam, GOG, Humble Bundle), console stores (Nintendo eShop), and select mobile platforms.
Is Subset Games a public or private company?
Subset Games is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Subset Games founded?
Subset Games was founded in 2012.
Where is Subset Games based?
Subset Games is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.
How does Subset Games make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Game Sales are the primary driver. The others are netflix Mobile Partnership and physical Merchandise.
Who are Subset Games's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Nolla Games, Supergiant Games, Klei Entertainment, Motion Twin, ConcernedApe, Re-Logic, The Behemoth and Mossmouth. Devolver Digital is listed as a broad incumbent. Local Thunk is listed as an emerging player.
Does Subset Games have an API?
No public API is recorded for Subset Games.