Frozenbyte
Frozenbyte is an employee-owned Finnish game developer (founded 2001, ~80 employees) best known for the Trine co-op puzzle-platformer franchise, which has sold over 8 million copies across nine platforms, plus the Starbase MMO space-simulation game in Steam Early Access.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersHelsinki, Finland
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Frozenbyte does
Frozenbyte Oy is an independent, employee-owned Finnish game developer founded in 2001 and headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, with approximately 80 employees. The studio is best known for the Trine franchise, a co-op puzzle platformer series that has sold over 8 million copies across nine platforms (PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and mobile) since the original 2009 release. Core technology centers on a proprietary game engine featuring physics-based puzzle mechanics, co-op-first design supporting 1-4 players locally and online, and cross-platform multiplayer infrastructure. Trine 6: Together in Time, the next major release, expands the playable roster to five heroes and launches across six platforms including Nintendo Switch 2 in September 2026. Beyond Trine, Frozenbyte developed the Shadowgrounds sci-fi action series and Starbase, a sandbox MMO space-simulation game built on a hybrid voxel/vertex destructible environment engine currently in Steam Early Access since July 2021. The studio has also shipped secondary titles including Nine Parchments, Has-Been Heroes, Boreal Blade, and Shadwen.
The company's business model is pure B2C one-time-purchase game sales through global digital storefronts (Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, Humble Store, Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store) and mobile app stores, with no subscription, microtransaction, or live-service component. Pricing ranges from approximately $6.99 (Shadowgrounds) to $19.99 (Trine 2 Director's Cut) to $34.99 (Starbase Early Access), with Trine series titles typically priced in the $15-20 range. Frozenbyte is self-funded and primarily employee-owned with no venture capital or private equity backing, and no external publisher historically — although the Trine 6 release in 2026 is being published through Cooldown Games, a shift from the studio's traditional self-publishing model. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. Customer segments are horizontal: casual to mid-core gamers for Trine and a secondary space/building simulation enthusiast segment for Starbase.
Frozenbyte firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Frozenbyte
- Legal name
- Frozenbyte Oy
- Website
- https://frozenbyte.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Frozenbyte is an employee-owned Finnish game developer (founded 2001, ~80 employees) best known for the Trine co-op puzzle-platformer franchise, which has sold over 8 million copies across nine platforms, plus the Starbase MMO space-simulation game in Steam Early Access.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Frozenbyte is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Helsinki
- HQ country
- Finland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Frozenbyte business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Game Sales (One-time Purchase): Frozenbyte sells games as one-time purchases through digital storefronts and console platforms. No subscription or microtransaction model. Games available on Steam, GOG, Humble Store, Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store, and Xbox Store. Trine Ultimate Collection offers all Trine games in one package.
- Starbase Early Access: Starbase released on Steam Early Access in July 2021 as a paid early access title, generating revenue from early adopters before full release.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Trine 2: Complete Story - standard digital edition |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Trine 2: Director's Cut (Wii U exclusive) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Starbase Early Access |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Shadowgrounds |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels9 records
Marketing channels9 records
Frozenbyte product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Frozenbyte is an independent Finnish game developer that creates and self-publishes original-IP video games, most notably the Trine co-op puzzle platformer franchise (over 8 million copies sold across 9 platforms). Its portfolio also includes the sci-fi Shadowgrounds series, the sandbox MMO Starbase, and additional titles such as Has-Been Heroes, Nine Parchments, and Shadwen. Games are sold as one-time purchases through digital storefronts and console platforms, with no subscription or microtransaction model.
Product overview
Frozenbyte is an independent Finnish game developer (founded 2001, ~80 employees) with a portfolio of original IP games. The core product line centers on the Trine series, a fantasy action puzzle platformer franchise with over 8 million copies sold across 9+ platforms. Trine games support 1-4 player local and online co-op with physics-based puzzles. The series includes Trine (original), Trine Enchanted Edition, Trine 2: Complete Story, Trine 2: Director's Cut (Wii U exclusive), Trine 2: Goblin Menace (expansion), Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power, Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince, Trine 4: Melody of Mystery (DLC), Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy, and the upcoming Trine 6: Together in Time. Beyond Trine, Frozenbyte developed the sci-fi action series Shadowgrounds and Shadowgrounds Survivor, and Starbase, a sandbox MMO space game in Early Access. Other titles include Has-Been Heroes, Boreal Blade, Nine Parchments, Shadwen, Splot, and Jack Claw. The company self-funds all development and does not use subcontractors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Trine 6: Together in Time Co-op-first puzzle platformer for 1-4 players featuring five playable characters (three returning and two new — Moira and Adrius), puzzles designed for teamwork, dynamic combat with boss encounters, and crossplay support. Targeted at co-op and puzzle-platformer fans on PC and consoles.
- Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy Action puzzle platformer with adaptive puzzle difficulty based on player count, a skill quest system, and tactical multi-phase boss fights; supports crossplay between PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. For fans of co-op puzzle platformers.
- Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince Puzzle platformer featuring the classic three Trine heroes. Available as standalone and bundled in Trine: Ultimate Collection.
- Trine 4: Melody of Mystery
- Trine 2: Complete Story Sidescrolling action puzzle platformer combining Trine 2 with the Goblin Menace expansion; features physics-based puzzles with fire, water, gravity and magic; supports up to 3 players online and local co-op.
- Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power 3D puzzle platformer featuring the Trine heroes with expanded platforming and puzzle mechanics.
- Trine Enchanted Edition
- Trine (Original) Original Trine game establishing the fantasy action puzzle platformer series.
- Trine: Ultimate Collection
- Starbase Massively multiplayer online sandbox game with focus on building and designing spaceships and stations, exploration, resource gathering, crafting, trading, and combat; features fully destructible voxel environments and hybrid voxel/vertex-based mechanics.
- Shadowgrounds Sci-fi action game from a top-down perspective featuring alien combat, weapon upgrades, and cooperative gameplay.
- Shadowgrounds Survivor
- Has-Been Heroes
- Boreal Blade
- Nine Parchments
- Shadwen
- Splot
- Jack Claw
- Trine 2: Goblin Menace
- Trine 2: Director's Cut Exclusive Wii U version featuring the Goblin Menace campaign and Dwarven Caverns bonus level with GamePad touch controls.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 8 million Trine series copies sold
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Frozenbyte
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Frozenbyte technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature4 records
Frozenbyte partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Cooldown GamescoreCooldown Games is the publisher for Trine 6: Together in Time, handling distribution and publishing duties for this title across all platforms including Steam, Epic Games Store, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Frozenbyte competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Housemarque: Helsinki-based game developer (now owned by Sony) behind Returnal, Resogun, and Nex Machina. Comparable as a Finnish independent-turned-incumbent studio of similar heritage and team size, focused on premium action titles across PC and console.
- Remedy Entertainment: Finnish publicly listed developer behind Control, Alan Wake, and Max Payne. Comparable as a Finland-headquartered premium game developer with a multi-decade track record across PC and console, though materially larger in scale and scope than Frozenbyte.
Direct peers
- Studio MDHR: Independent studio behind Cuphead and the Cuphead Show. Directly comparable in operating model — small team, self-published premium title, strong critical acclaim driving multi-platform unit sales.
- Moon Studios: Independent action-platformer developer behind Ori and the Blind Forest, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, and No Rest for the Wicked. Closely comparable to Frozenbyte in studio size, self-publishing approach, and multi-platform premium release model.
- Team Cherry: Small Australian independent studio behind Hollow Knight and Silksong. Comparable to Frozenbyte in small-team, hit-driven, premium-priced indie model with multi-platform releases.
- Playdead: Danish independent studio behind Limbo and Inside. Closely comparable in studio scale, premium self-published model, and focus on polished single/limited-multiplayer indie titles distributed across consoles and PC.
- The Behemoth: Independent studio behind Castle Crashers and BattleBlock Theater. Directly comparable in co-op-first design philosophy, premium self-published indie model, and multi-platform release strategy.
- Yacht Club Games: Independent studio behind Shovel Knight. Comparable in team size, premium indie model, focus on co-op-capable action-platformers, and multi-platform self-published distribution.
- Supergiant Games: Small, hit-driven independent studio behind Bastion, Transistor, Pyre, Hades, and Hades II. Comparable to Frozenbyte in team size, premium pricing model, and reliance on a series of critically acclaimed original-IP titles.
- Klei Entertainment: Independent studio behind Don't Starve (including its co-op multiplayer spin-off), Mark of the Ninja, and Oxygen Not Included. Comparable in co-op-focused premium indie development and multi-platform self-publishing, though now owned by Tencent.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Frozenbyte social profiles
Digital presenceFrozenbyte financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Frozenbyte leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Frozenbyte funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frozenbyte 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 Frozenbyte
What does Frozenbyte do?
Frozenbyte is an independent Finnish game developer that creates and self-publishes original-IP video games, most notably the Trine co-op puzzle platformer franchise (over 8 million copies sold across 9 platforms). Its portfolio also includes the sci-fi Shadowgrounds series, the sandbox MMO Starbase, and additional titles such as Has-Been Heroes, Nine Parchments, and Shadwen. Games are sold as one-time purchases through digital storefronts and console platforms, with no subscription or microtransaction model.
Is Frozenbyte a public or private company?
Frozenbyte is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Frozenbyte founded?
Frozenbyte was founded in 2001. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Frozenbyte based?
Frozenbyte is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, in the Europe region.
How does Frozenbyte make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Game Sales (One-time Purchase) is the primary driver. The others are starbase Early Access.
Who are Frozenbyte's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Housemarque and Remedy Entertainment. Direct peers are Studio MDHR, Moon Studios, Team Cherry, Playdead, The Behemoth, Yacht Club Games, Supergiant Games and Klei Entertainment.
Does Frozenbyte have an API?
No public API is recorded for Frozenbyte.