Nodding Heads Games
Nodding Heads Games is a Pune-based independent video game studio developing action-adventure titles rooted in Indian mythology, led by industry veterans and distributed globally via Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo storefronts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersPune, India
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Nodding Heads Games does
Nodding Heads Games is an independent, Pune-based video game development studio founded in 2017 by Ian Maude, Shruti Ghosh, and Avichal Singh — veterans of Rockstar, Ubisoft, The Chinese Room, EA Games India, and Zynga. The studio operates as Nodding Heads Games Private Limited under Indian jurisdiction with a headcount of 11-50 employees and focuses exclusively on action-adventure games rooted in the myths, legends, and lore of the Indian subcontinent.
The company's product portfolio centers on the Raji franchise. Its debut title, Raji: An Ancient Epic, was released in 2020 across PC (Steam, Epic Games Store), PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, and earned over 36 industry accolades. The sequel, Raji: Kaliyuga, is announced for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2 with a planned late-2026 to early-2027 release, featuring new gameplay mechanics and a shift to third-person perspective. Both titles are built on Unreal Engine 4 and distinguished by a hand-painted visual artstyle informed by Indian artistic traditions.
The business model relies primarily on one-time-purchase game sales across global digital storefronts, supplemented by a revenue-sharing arrangement with Microsoft via Xbox Game Pass day-one inclusion for Raji: Kaliyuga. Distribution is fully digital and global, with no retail channel dependency. Marketing is product-led and community-driven, leveraging Steam wishlists, Discord, social media presence (YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook), a newsletter, and earned media from gaming events such as Xbox Partner Preview. The studio has not disclosed external institutional investors or funding rounds, remaining founder-controlled.
Nodding Heads Games firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Nodding Heads Games
- Legal name
- Nodding Heads Games Private Limited
- Website
- https://noddingheadsgames.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Nodding Heads Games is a Pune-based independent video game studio developing action-adventure titles rooted in Indian mythology, led by industry veterans and distributed globally via Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo storefronts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Nodding Heads Games industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Action-Adventure Video Games
- NAICS
- Doll, Toy, and Game Manufacturing (339930)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Narrative/Adventure & RPG Game Studios (MPAFAAAL)
Keywords
Where Nodding Heads Games is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pune
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Nodding Heads 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 (Raji: An Ancient Epic): One-time purchase revenue from direct game sales across multiple digital distribution platforms including Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, and Nintendo eShop.
- Game Sales (Raji: Kaliyuga): Sequel game sales across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Switch 2 platforms. Game will be available on Xbox Game Pass from launch, indicating potential licensing or revenue sharing arrangement with Microsoft.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
Nodding Heads Games product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Nodding Heads Games develops action-adventure video games inspired by myths, legends, and tales from the Indian subcontinent. The studio produces premium, narrative-driven games built around Indian mythology, with a flagship franchise centered on the protagonist Raji. Games are built using Unreal Engine 4 and feature hand-painted art styles, distributed across PC and console digital storefronts globally.
Product overview
Nodding Heads Games is a game development studio based in Pune, India, focused on delivering quality games that reflect stories, myths, and lore from the Indian subcontinent. The company operates a single-product focused portfolio built around the Raji franchise. Their flagship title, Raji: An Ancient Epic, is an action-adventure game set in ancient India featuring mythological themes and Indian cultural elements. The sequel, Raji: Kaliyuga, continues the story and introduces new gameplay mechanics. Both products have received extensive international and national media coverage, with the original title earning over 36 accolades.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Raji: An Ancient Epic An action-adventure game set in ancient India where a young girl named Raji has been chosen by the gods to stand against demonic invasion of the human realm. Her destiny is to rescue her younger brother and face the demon lord Mahabalasura. Available on Steam, Epic Games Store, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox.
- Raji: Kaliyuga The titular sequel to Raji: An Ancient Epic, set six years after the original. Raji once again faces Mahabalasura's wrath as he tears open heaven's gates, unleashing Kaliyuga—an age where every choice can unmake the universe. This time she is joined by her young brother Darsh (Golu). Features new gameplay mechanics and a shift to third-person perspective, rooted in Indian mythology.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 36 accolades received for Raji: An Ancient Epic
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Nodding Heads Games
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Nodding Heads Games technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature3 records
Nodding Heads Games partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Microsoft XboxcoreRaji: Kaliyuga will be available on Xbox Game Pass from launch, providing significant visibility and access to Xbox's subscriber base. The game was showcased during the Xbox Partner Preview event.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Nodding Heads Games competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SuperGaming: Pune-based Indian game studio developing multiplayer and action titles with culturally rooted themes. Directly comparable as a fellow Indian indie developer building globally distributed games from the same regional talent pool.
- nCore Games: Indian game studio behind FAU-G, a culturally-themed action title. Comparable as an India-based developer pursuing mainstream global distribution with culturally-specific IP.
- Thunder Lotus Games: Indie studio behind mythology-inspired action-adventure titles (Jotun, Spiritfarer). Comparable as a similarly-sized studio combining cultural/mythological themes with hand-crafted artistic styles.
- Supergiant Games: Independent developer of narrative-driven action-adventure titles (Hades, Bastion, Pyre). Comparable for combining strong narrative IP, mythology-inspired worldbuilding, and multi-platform indie distribution.
- Moon Studios: Independent developer of the Ori action-adventure platformer franchise. Comparable as an indie studio with a strong narrative IP franchise targeting multi-platform console and PC releases.
- Outerloop Games: Indie developer of narrative action-adventure titles (The Outer Worlds co-development, Falcon Age). Comparable for cultural-themed narrative gameplay targeting multi-platform distribution.
Regional players
- Dhruva Interactive: India-based game art and co-development studio serving global publishers. Comparable as a regional Indian games-industry peer with similar talent-base advantages, though focused on services rather than owned IP.
- Xigma Games: Indian mobile and PC game developer. Comparable as a fellow India-based studio operating in the game development space, though primarily focused on mobile titles.
Broad incumbents
- Klei Entertainment: Established indie developer of distinctive action and survival titles (Don't Starve, Mark of the Ninja). Comparable for sustained indie success with hand-crafted art direction and multi-platform distribution.
- Devolver Digital: Indie game publisher backing distinctive, narrative-driven action titles. Comparable as a publishing/distribution partner archetype for studios with culturally unique action-adventure IP at Nodding Heads' scale.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Nodding Heads Games social profiles
Digital presenceNodding Heads Games financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Nodding Heads Games leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Nodding Heads Games funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Nodding Heads 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 Nodding Heads Games
What does Nodding Heads Games do?
Nodding Heads Games develops action-adventure video games inspired by myths, legends, and tales from the Indian subcontinent. The studio produces premium, narrative-driven games built around Indian mythology, with a flagship franchise centered on the protagonist Raji. Games are built using Unreal Engine 4 and feature hand-painted art styles, distributed across PC and console digital storefronts globally.
Is Nodding Heads Games a public or private company?
Nodding Heads Games is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Nodding Heads Games founded?
Nodding Heads Games was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Nodding Heads Games based?
Nodding Heads Games is headquartered in Pune, India, in the Asia region.
How does Nodding Heads Games make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Game Sales (Raji: An Ancient Epic) is the primary driver. The others are game Sales (Raji: Kaliyuga).
Who are Nodding Heads Games's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SuperGaming, nCore Games, Thunder Lotus Games, Supergiant Games, Moon Studios and Outerloop Games. Regional players are Dhruva Interactive and Xigma Games. Broad incumbents are Klei Entertainment and Devolver Digital.
Does Nodding Heads Games have an API?
No public API is recorded for Nodding Heads Games.
What industry is Nodding Heads Games in?
Nodding Heads Games's product category is Action-Adventure Video Games. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAAAL, Narrative/Adventure & RPG Game Studios. Its NAICS code is 339930.