Ustwo Games

What Ustwo Games does

Ustwo Games is a London-based independent game studio and the world's first B-Corp certified games company, operating as a standalone entity since August 2022 after demerging from its parent design studio ustwo. The studio specializes in premium, values-driven puzzle and narrative games, with its flagship Monument Valley franchise — built around impossible geometric architecture and optical illusion puzzles — spanning three titles across mobile, PC, and console since 2014. Its portfolio also includes Alba: A Wildlife Adventure (an environmental conservation game tied to real-world tree-planting initiatives), Desta: The Memories Between (a tactical roguelike), Assemble With Care (a meditative restoration game), and Land's End (a VR experience).

Technically, the studio builds on the Unity game engine with proprietary tooling including simplex-noise-based vertex displacement shaders for painterly aesthetics, a procedural terrain editor with biome asset generation systems, and automated playthrough test runners that verify level completion at accelerated speeds. Games are distributed across a broad platform footprint — Apple App Store, Google Play, Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Apple Arcade, Netflix Games, and physical releases via iam8bit — supporting a hybrid revenue model of premium one-time purchases ($4.99–$5.99 mobile tier), platform subscription revenue sharing (notably through Netflix Games and Apple Arcade), and physical merchandise.

The studio serves end consumers directly through app stores and storefronts, while maintaining distribution partnerships with Netflix Games and Apple Arcade as key channel partners. Its commercial model is anchored by the Monument Valley franchise, which generated substantial brand equity over a decade, complemented by mission-aligned titles that integrate social impact (1 million+ trees planted through Alba, 3% of Desta profits donated to UK Youth, 3% of Monument Valley 3 profits committed to IFRC flood relief). The company employs 11–50 staff in Oval, South London, with active hiring through internship programmes and a partnership with talent recruiter Studiotypes.

Name

Ustwo Games

Legal name

ustwo games

Website

https://ustwogames.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ustwo Games is a London-based independent game studio and the world's first B-Corp certified games company, creating premium puzzle and narrative titles including the Monument Valley franchise for mobile, PC, console, and subscription platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

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. Premium Game Sales: One-time purchase model for mobile and PC/console games including Monument Valley series, Alba, Desta, and Assemble With Care. Games priced at premium tier ($4.99-$5.99 mobile, higher for PC/console)
2. Platform Partnerships: Distribution through Netflix Games (Monument Valley 3, Desta), Apple Arcade (Alba, Assemble With Care), requiring platform subscriptions or revenue sharing arrangements
3. Physical Merchandise: Physical game collections through partnerships with iam8bit for PS5 and Switch physical releases

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels10 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Ustwo Games is an independent game studio that develops and sells premium puzzle and adventure video games across mobile, PC, and console platforms. The studio's portfolio centers on the Monument Valley series (Monument Valley, Monument Valley II, Monument Valley 3) featuring impossible geometry puzzles, complemented by original titles including Assemble With Care, Alba: A Wildlife Adventure, Desta: The Memories Between, and Land's End. Games are distributed as one-time premium purchases or via subscription platforms such as Netflix Games and Apple Arcade.

Product overview

Ustwo Games is the world's first B-Corp certified game studio, creating award-winning, original art and storytelling in the form of mobile, PC, and console games. The studio's portfolio centers on the critically acclaimed Monument Valley series (Monument Valley, Monument Valley II, and Monument Valley 3), featuring impossible geometry and optical illusion puzzles. Complementing this flagship series are original titles including Assemble With Care (a meditative tactile restoration game), Alba: A Wildlife Adventure (a nature exploration game with environmental impact), Desta: The Memories Between (a tactical dodgeball adventure), and Land's End (a VR exploration experience). All games are values-driven, designed to inspire positive change and social impact.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Monument Valley: Award-winning puzzle game series featuring impossible geometry and optical illusions
• Monument Valley 2
• Monument Valley 3
• Alba: A Wildlife Adventure
• Assemble With Care
• Desta: The Memories Between

Products and services

• Monument Valley Award-winning puzzle game where players guide the silent princess Ida through mysterious monuments, uncovering hidden paths, unfolding optical illusions, and outwitting the enigmatic Crow People in an impossible geometric world. Available on iOS, Android, and PC platforms.
• Monument Valley II Sequel to Monument Valley presenting a new adventure where players guide a mother and her child through magical architecture, discovering illusionary pathways and delightful puzzles while learning the secrets of Sacred Geometry.
• Monument Valley 3 Latest installment in the award-winning series where apprentice Noor discovers the world's light is fading and must rise to find a new source of power before darkness overtakes everything. Features open-world sailing mechanics and mind-bending optical illusion puzzles across mobile, PC, and console platforms.
• Assemble With Care Meditative tactile game where Maria, a globe-trotting antique restorer, helps townsfolk of Bellariva save their most beloved possessions and reconnect through repairing objects with sentimental value.
• Alba: A Wildlife Adventure Sunny open-world exploration game where Alba visits her grandparents on a Mediterranean island and, with her friend Ines, forms the AIWRL (Animal Island Wildlife Rescue League) to save animals in danger and help the local community.
• Desta: The Memories Between Surreal tactical dodgeball adventure where players fall into a dreamworld with Desta, finding friends, unlocking spectacular abilities, and overcoming odds in turn-based encounters to uncover the mysteries of a broken world. Features a Nightmare Mode for hardcore roguelike challenges.
• Land's End VR adventure game where players explore a world by gliding from point to point, solving puzzles and levitating giant blocks of stone through gaze-only interactions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Planted 1 million trees through Alba: A Wildlife Adventure sales
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• iam8bitminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 30 October 2025Partnership for physical game releases. iam8bit released a physical trilogy collection for Monument Valley series on PS5 and Nintendo Switch on October 30, 2025.
• IFRC (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 January 2025Monument Valley 3 partnership for global flood relief efforts. Ustwo Games donates 3% of Monument Valley 3 profits to support IFRC's vital relief efforts worldwide.
• Into GamescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership for diversity and inclusion in the games industry. Provides Champions Training for employees (empathetic conversations, public speaking, diversity workshops, mentorship) and supports internship initiatives and Waypoints programme for South London youth.
• Women in GamescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Corporate Ambassador programme member. Committed to building a fairer, gender equal playing field for women in the industry. Participated in Women in Games Careers & Networking Expo.
• Safe In Our WorldcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Mental health awareness partnership. Purchased Sidekick video games journal for employees focused on mental health in the gaming community.
• UKIEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Raise the Game pledge partner with employees involved as board members and members of UKIE's EDI Steering Group.
• StudiotypesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2023Talent partner helping scale growing teams with diverse talent. Shares Ustwo Games' values on diversity and inclusion. Recruited 13 new hires in 2023.
• Super CriticalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Carbon accounting partner working with Ustwo Games to understand carbon footprint, including Scope 3 emissions. Responsible for verifying and retiring 116 tonnes of tree-based carbon removal and 13 tonnes of biochar-based carbon removal.
• EcologicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform partnership for tree planting initiatives. Ecologi serves as the platform through which trees are planted for Alba's Forest reforestation projects, enabling tracking of 1 million trees planted milestone.
• Eden Reforestation ProjectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit reforestation partner at Sapling Level Corporate Partner status. Manages tree planting projects in Madagascar, Mozambique, and Nicaragua for Alba's Forest initiative.
• PID GamesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPublishing partner for Alba: A Wildlife Adventure that helped fund tree planting project contributions.
• Apple ArcadecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPlatform partnership for distribution of Alba: A Wildlife Adventure and Assemble With Care through Apple Arcade subscription service.
• UK YouthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity partnership established end of 2022. Ustwo Games donates 3% of Desta: The Memories Between profits and provides in-kind support, including community fundraising for youth sector organizations.
• Netflix GamescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPlatform partnership for exclusive mobile distribution of Monument Valley 3 and Desta: The Memories Between through Netflix subscription.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• thatgamecompany: thatgamecompany creates premium, emotionally resonant games like Journey and Sky: Children of the Light with an artistic, meditative philosophy closely aligned to Ustwo's Monument Valley aesthetic; both studios focus on accessible, design-forward experiences that prioritize emotional impact over aggressive monetization.
• Simogo: Simogo is a small Swedish studio behind Year Walk, Device 6, and Sayonara Wild Hearts — premium mobile puzzle and adventure games with distinctive artistic direction; directly comparable to Ustwo as a small premium mobile-first studio focused on artistic single-player experiences.
• Mountains (studio): Mountains developed Florence and Old Man's Journey, premium narrative mobile games with strong artistic identity and emotional storytelling; closely comparable to Ustwo's Monument Valley and Assemble With Care in target audience, price point, and design philosophy.
• Playdead: Playdead created Limbo and INSIDE, critically acclaimed premium puzzle-platformers on mobile, PC, and console; comparable to Ustwo as a small, design-led studio with cross-platform premium releases and a reputation for atmospheric, artistic gameplay.
• Supergiant Games: Supergiant Games creates Bastion, Transistor, Hades, and Pyre — premium games with strong artistic identity, mythological narratives, and cross-platform releases; comparable to Ustwo as a small-to-mid studio with consistent critical acclaim and design-driven product philosophy.
• Hello Games: Hello Games is the small studio behind No Man's Sky, known for ambitious single-IP development, long development cycles, and post-launch content expansion; comparable to Ustwo in scale, single-franchise focus, and small-team approach to premium gaming.

Broad incumbents

• Annapurna Interactive: Annapurna Interactive is a publisher specializing in artistic, narrative-driven indie games including What Remains of Edith Finch and Stray; relevant as both a potential publishing/distribution partner and as a broader incumbent that has shaped the premium artistic game market alongside studios like Ustwo.
• Media Molecule: Media Molecule (a Sony studio) created LittleBigPlanet and Dreams, premium creative/UGC game platforms emphasizing artistic expression and community creation; relevant as a broader incumbent in the artistic, design-forward gaming space with cross-platform premium positioning.
• Devolver Digital: Devolver Digital publishes and distributes premium indie games including Hotline Miami, Fall Guys, and Cult of the Lamb; relevant as a publisher and broader incumbent in the premium indie game space where Ustwo also operates with cross-platform distribution.

Emerging players

• Team Cherry: Team Cherry is a small Australian studio behind Hollow Knight and its sequel Silksong, premium indie action-adventure games with strong artistic identity; comparable as a small premium indie studio with a flagship franchise and cross-platform ambitions similar to Ustwo's Monument Valley series.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ustwogames
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ustwogames
• Instagraminstagram.com/ustwogames
• TikToktiktok.com/@ustwo.games
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/19471662

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Ustwo Games