What Hyper Hippo Entertainment does

Hyper Hippo Entertainment is an independent Canadian video game studio founded in 2012 and headquartered in Kelowna, British Columbia, with a distributed workforce across Canada and the United States. The studio develops and self-publishes idle games — a category it helped pioneer with AdVenture Capitalist in 2015 — across mobile (iOS, Android), PC (Steam, browser), and console (PlayStation 4), with Dungeon Dwarves additionally distributed through Netflix Games. The current portfolio comprises five live titles: AdVenture Capitalist (the flagship, 40M+ players), AdVenture Communist, AdVenture Ages, Dungeon Dwarves, and Vacation Tycoon, collectively exceeding 80 million installs globally.

The studio builds on the Unity game engine, uses Microsoft Azure PlayFab for cross-network identity, AWS for hosting/content delivery, and deltaDNA and AppsFlyer for marketing attribution and user-acquisition analytics. Hyper Hippo self-publishes via Hyper Hippo Publishing Ltd. (established 2018 to retain IP and creative control) and distributes through Apple App Store, Google Play, Steam, PlayStation Store, Huawei AppGallery, and a direct-to-player AdVenture Communist Web Store powered by Xsolla (140+ regions, 181+ payment methods).

The business model is free-to-play with revenue generated through in-app purchases of virtual currency, virtual items, and subscription memberships. The target customer is the global casual mobile and cross-platform gamer seeking low-friction, progression-driven entertainment. Pricing is freemium with pay-as-you-go billing and a 7-day refund window on subscriptions; no enterprise contracts or B2B segment are present. Distribution channels (App Store, Google Play, Netflix) and the player base (B2C, millions of players) mean revenue is mass-market and fragmented across millions of individual payers.

Name

Hyper Hippo Entertainment

Legal name

Hyper Hippo Entertainment Ltd.

Website

https://hyperhippo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Hyper Hippo Entertainment is an independent Canadian game studio that develops and self-publishes idle games — including AdVenture Capitalist and AdVenture Communist — across mobile, PC, console, and Netflix Games, monetizing a global casual-gaming audience through free-to-play mechanics and in-app purchases.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mobile Casual Games

NAICS

Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries (713)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Casual/Hypercasual Game Studios (MPAFAAAG)

Keywords

• Idle games
• Mobile gaming
• Free-to-play games
• Casual games
• In-app purchases

Headquarters

HQ city

Kelowna

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. In-App Purchases: Free-to-play model with virtual currency and virtual items available for purchase within games. Players can buy upgrades, unlock content, and enhance their progress through microtransactions.
2. Virtual Items and Subscriptions: Subscription memberships and virtual items including virtual currency, tokens, points, credits, skins, emotes, free downloadable content, and unlockable content for use within games.
3. Web Store Sales: AdVenture Communist Web Store launched in partnership with Xsolla, offering value bundles to players in 140+ regions with 181+ payment methods.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Hyper Hippo Entertainment is a Canadian independent game studio that develops and publishes idle (incremental) mobile and cross-platform video games. Its portfolio is led by AdVenture Capitalist (launched 2015) and AdVenture Communist (launched 2018), with additional titles including AdVenture Ages, Dungeon Dwarves (via Netflix Games), and Vacation Tycoon. Games are free to download and monetized through in-app purchases of virtual currency, virtual items, and optional subscription memberships.

Product overview

Hyper Hippo Entertainment is a trailblazer in the idle game genre, operating a portfolio of self-published mobile and cross-platform games. The core portfolio includes AdVenture Capitalist (the genre-defining flagship), AdVenture Communist (thematically focused idle game with a companion web store), AdVenture Ages (time-travel themed idle game), Dungeon Dwarves (idle dungeon crawler in partnership with Netflix Games), and Vacation Tycoon (vacation-themed idle game). The company established its own publishing entity to maintain creative control and expanded its reach internationally, with titles achieving over 80 million installs globally. The AdCom Web Store (partnered with Xsolla) represents an additional commerce layer for AdVenture Communist.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AdVenture Capitalist: Idle game launched in 2015, the company's breakthrough title and pioneer of the idle gaming genre. Players build businesses from lemonade stands to multinational conglomerates.
• AdVenture Communist
• AdVenture Ages
• Dungeon Dwarves
• Vacation Tycoon

Products and services

• AdVenture Capitalist
• AdVenture Communist
• AdVenture Ages
• Dungeon Dwarves
• Vacation Tycoon

Quantifiable outcome

• 50+ million combined installs across all games
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration15 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• ApplecoreTechnology or IntegrationApple App Store distribution partner for iOS games including AdVenture Capitalist, AdVenture Communist, and AdVenture Ages. Apple Game Center integration for game authentication and cross-device identity.
• GooglecoreTechnology or IntegrationGoogle Play distribution partner for Android games with Google Play Editor's Choice recognition. Uses Android Advertising ID for marketing attribution and user tracking.
• UnitycoreTechnology or IntegrationUnity game engine used as the development platform for Hyper Hippo's games, enabling cross-platform deployment to mobile, PC, and console.
• Netflix GamesstrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDungeon Dwarves distributed through Netflix Games platform as a top performing idle game on the streaming service, reaching players in Canada and UK.
• XsollastrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with Xsolla to power the AdVenture Communist Web Store, enabling direct-to-player sales in 140+ regions with 181+ payment methods.
• Microsoft Azure PlayFabcoreTechnology or IntegrationCross-network identity solution for authentication, operating in accordance with Microsoft terms and enabling game functionality across platforms.
• Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) - Kelowna BranchminorOthersMental health and wellness focus area partner in Hyper Hippo's social impact donation strategy, supporting team and community wellness initiatives.
• Take ThisminorOthersMental health nonprofit partner providing resources for game industry professionals, particularly around online harassment and community moderation.
• Women in Games International (WIGI)minorOthersDiversity, equity, and inclusion partner supporting female representation in the gaming industry and advocating for inclusion in games.
• Center for Digital MediaminorOthersSubstantial equipment donation to Vancouver institution to support next generation of tech talent, made upon closure of Gastown office.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kolibri Games: German mobile studio behind Idle Miner Tycoon, one of the genre-defining idle games. Direct peer to Hyper Hippo in the casual idle category with comparable free-to-play IAP mechanics and similar target demographic. Now part of Moon Active.
• Metacore: Finnish studio (formerly Everywear Games) behind Merge Mansion, a leading idle/merge title. Direct peer sharing the idle progression design philosophy, mobile-first distribution, and live-ops-driven monetization model that defines Hyper Hippo's AdVenture franchise.
• Moon Active: Israeli studio behind Coin Master, a top-grossing casual mobile game with idle-light mechanics. Closely comparable in target audience, monetization model, and live-ops intensity; also acquired Kolibri Games, Hyper Hippo's primary idle competitor.
• Scopely: Mobile-first game publisher behind titles like Monopoly GO and Stumble Guys. Comparable in mid-core-to-casual mobile publishing scale and cross-platform live-ops discipline, with the capital base and acquisition footprint that Hyper Hippo lacks.
• Playrix: Russia/ireland-headquartered studio behind Homescapes, Township, and Fishdom. Comparable as a top-tier casual mobile publisher with similar free-to-play IAP economics, strong cross-promotion networks, and emphasis on long-lived live-ops franchises.
• Rovio Entertainment: Finnish game company behind Angry Birds, with a portfolio spanning casual mobile puzzle, idle, and freemium titles. Comparable mid-sized mobile studio competing for similar casual audiences; recently acquired by Sega, providing an exit-path contrast to Hyper Hippo's independent posture.
• Outfit7: Slovenia-based studio behind the Talking Tom series, one of the most-downloaded mobile gaming franchises globally. Comparable as a privately-held (under Chinese owner Zhejiang Jinke Peroxide) casual mobile studio with multi-platform distribution and long-lived IP monetization.

Broad incumbents

• Zynga: One of the largest casual and social mobile game publishers (Words With Friends, Zynga Poker, CSR Racing), now part of Take-Two Interactive. Operates broadly in the same casual mobile gaming space as Hyper Hippo but at materially greater scale and portfolio breadth.
• King: Activision Blizzard subsidiary behind Candy Crush, one of the highest-grossing mobile franchises ever. Operates as a broad incumbent in casual mobile gaming with vastly larger user base, though Hyper Hippo competes for the same casual player mindshare.
• Supercell: Finnish mobile studio behind Clash of Clans, Clash Royale, and Brawl Stars. Broad incumbent in mobile gaming with comparable small-team, quality-over-quantity operating philosophy, though Supercell sits at a materially larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hyperhippoentmt
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/AdVentureCapitalist
• Facebookfacebook.com/hyperhippoentertainment
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hyper-hippo-entertainment
• Instagraminstagram.com/hyperhippogames

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about Hyper Hippo Entertainment