Dinosaur Polo Club

What Dinosaur Polo Club does

Dinosaur Polo Club is an independently-held indie game development studio founded in 2013 by brothers Robert and Peter Curry in Wellington, New Zealand. The studio builds and operates two flagship titles — Mini Metro (subway network design simulation, launched 2015) and Mini Motorways (road network traffic simulation, launched 2019) — both characterized by minimalist visual design inspired by Harry Beck's London Underground map style and a distinctive procedurally generated audio system that synthesizes sounds from in-game actions rather than playing a fixed soundtrack. The studio has grown from four founders to over thirty employees and supports both games across nine distribution platforms, including Steam, Apple Arcade, Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store, App Store, Google Play, GOG.com, Origin, Huawei AppGallery, and Humble, with cross-platform features such as Steam Cloud sync to Switch and iCloud saves on Apple devices. The studio has accumulated 12 million combined players across both titles and has received BAFTA and IGF recognition including BAFTA nomination for Best Debut (2016) and IGF Excellence in Audio (2016) for Mini Metro, plus IGF Audience Award (2022) and IndieCade Choice Award (2020) for Mini Motorways. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time game sales priced from $0.99 (Google Play) to $14.99 (Nintendo Switch), supplemented by Apple Arcade subscription distribution and limited-edition merchandise sold direct-to-consumer with proceeds donated to charity. The studio operates a live-ops content model with regular map updates (Istanbul, Cape Town, Hong Kong, Copenhagen released 2025–2026) and ongoing feature additions such as Creative Mode (August 2025), while leveraging Steam Workshop integration that supports over 150 player-created maps for Mini Metro. The studio has remained independent throughout its existence with no disclosed external equity investment, supported instead by NZ On Air's Game Development Sector Rebate.

Name

Dinosaur Polo Club

Legal name

Dinosaur Polo Club Limited

Website

https://dinopoloclub.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dinosaur Polo Club is an independently-held Wellington-based indie game studio founded in 2013 by brothers Robert and Peter Curry. It develops and operates the minimalist strategy-simulation franchises Mini Metro (2015) and Mini Motorways (2019) across nine platforms, serving 12 million combined players globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellington

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Game Sales (One-time Purchase): Mini Metro and Mini Motorways are sold as one-time purchases across multiple storefronts. Desktop/console pricing ranges from $9.99 USD for Mini Metro to $9.99-$14.99 for Mini Motorways depending on platform. Mobile pricing varies by store (App Store $3.99, Google Play $0.99).
2. Apple Arcade Subscription: Mini Metro+ and Mini Motorways are available through Apple Arcade subscription service at $4.99/month, reaching subscribers who prefer subscription-based gaming.
3. Steam Bundles: Bundles such as 'Subways and shapez' on Steam offering combined purchases of Mini Metro with partner game shapez, providing cross-promotional revenue.
4. Merchandise Sales: Limited-edition merchandise packs sold directly (e.g., Pride merch pack with Nintendo Switch skin, stickers, mouse pad, pins, postcard), with proceeds donated to charity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels11 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Dinosaur Polo Club is an indie game development studio that designs, develops, and publishes minimalist strategy-simulation video games. Its primary commercial offerings are two flagship titles — Mini Metro (a subway design simulator) and Mini Motorways (a road network and traffic management game) — sold as one-time purchases and via Apple Arcade subscription across PC, console, and mobile storefronts, supplemented by limited-edition merchandise.

Product overview

Dinosaur Polo Club is an indie game development studio based in Wellington, New Zealand, that creates minimalist strategy-simulation games. The company operates two core products: Mini Metro (subway simulator launched 2015) and Mini Motorways (traffic management game launched 2019). Both games feature procedurally generated audio and share a minimalist visual style inspired by Harry Beck's iconic London Underground map. The Mini Motorways Creative Mode feature expanded in 2025 allows player customization across maps. Both games support multiple platforms including Apple Arcade, Steam, Nintendo Switch, and mobile app stores, with cross-platform features via Steam Cloud and iCloud syncing. The games are regularly updated with new city maps and features, with Mini Metro celebrating its 10-year anniversary in 2023 with the Miniversary Update that added crossover content between both titles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mini Metro Mini Metro is a minimalist strategy-simulation game about designing a subway map for a growing city. Players draw lines between stations, start trains running, and redraw lines as new stations open, choosing how to use limited resources. Available on Steam, Apple App Store, Google Play, Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store, Humble, GOG.com, Origin, and Huawei AppGallery.
• Mini Metro+ Mini Metro+ is the Apple Arcade-branded version of Mini Metro, available exclusively through Apple's $4.99/month Apple Arcade subscription service for iOS devices. Functionally identical to the standalone Mini Metro but named differently to differentiate it on the subscription service storefront.
• Mini Motorways Mini Motorways is a city-building and traffic management game where players draw roads one at a time to drive a growing city. Players redesign their road network to keep traffic flowing, manage upgrades to meet changing demands, and progress through Classic, Endless, Expert, and Creative Mode gameplay. Available on Apple Arcade, Steam, and Nintendo Switch.

Quantifiable outcome

• 12 million combined players across both Mini Metro and Mini Motorways
• +3 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

Integration8 records

AI capability3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Hong Kong Red CrossminorOthers · 9 December 2025Hong Kong Red Cross charity receiving donation from Dinosaur Polo Club paired with the Hong Kong map update, in response to the Tai Po district high-rise fire tragedy.
• shapez (Tobias Springer)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 July 2024Cross-promotional bundle partnership on Steam. The 'Subways and shapez' bundle offers players discounts on both Mini Metro and shapez, with Dinosaur Polo Club recommending shapez as a similar minimalist strategy game.
• Rainbow YouthminorOthers · 22 June 2023New Zealand organisation providing education, information, support, and advocacy for LGBTIQ youth. Received proceeds from Dinosaur Polo Club's Pride merch pack sale in June 2023.
• Mermaids UKminorOthers · 22 June 2023UK charity supporting gender-diverse children and their families since 1995. Received proceeds from Dinosaur Polo Club's Pride merch pack sale in June 2023.
• Katarzyna Janik-JonesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 November 2020Independent developer who created the Mini Metro More mod. Dinosaur Polo Club integrated her work directly into Mini Metro as Mini Metro: Workshop, adding support for player-created maps with new features including permanent lines, fixed starting stations, and up to twenty lines.
• Apple ArcadecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 19 September 2019Apple approached Dinosaur Polo Club to include Mini Motorways in the Apple Arcade launch lineup in September 2019. This partnership enabled the studio to reach far more players than before and provided a premium mobile distribution channel. Both Mini Metro+ and Mini Motorways are available on the subscription service.
• Radial GamesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 10 September 2019Console porting partner for PlayStation 4 version of Mini Metro. Radial Games handled the tireless efforts of porting and local multiplayer support for PS4 release.
• Disasterpeace (Richard Vreeland)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 November 2015Composer who created the responsive, procedurally generated soundtrack for Mini Metro that grows with the city. Also contributed audio to Mini Motorways Miniversary Update.
• Jamie ChurchmancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 September 2013Visual designer who collaborated with Dinosaur Polo Club on Mini Metro's art direction, bringing the minimalist Harry Beck-inspired visual style to the game.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Playdead: Danish indie studio behind Limbo and Inside, known for minimalist, atmospheric games with strong art direction. Highly comparable as a small indie studio focused on minimalist, visually distinctive single-developer aesthetic that has shipped across consoles, PC, and mobile.
• ustwo games: London-based studio famous for Monument Valley and Assemble with Care, minimalist puzzle/strategy games on mobile and Apple Arcade. Comparable as a small indie studio with critically acclaimed minimalist mobile-first titles and Apple Arcade presence.
• Simogo: Swedish two-person indie studio behind Year Walk, Device 6, and Sayonara Wild Hearts. Highly comparable as a small creative indie studio producing distinctive, minimalist art-driven games across mobile and consoles.
• Supergiant Games: California-based indie studio behind Bastion, Transistor, Hades, and Pyre. Comparable as a small, critically acclaimed indie studio with multi-platform releases (PC, console, mobile) and strong community/awards recognition.
• Mountains (Florence, Flower): Australian indie studio known for Florence, Flower, and Old Man's Journey. Comparable as a small indie studio focused on short, emotionally resonant minimalist experiences on mobile and PC with strong award profiles.
• The Behemoth: San Diego indie studio behind Castle Crashers and BattleBlock Theater. Comparable as a long-running small independent studio with multi-platform releases and a strong, identifiable art-driven brand.
• Matt Makes Games: Independent developer of Celeste and TowerFall, now operating as Extremely OK Games. Comparable as a small indie studio with award-winning minimalist platformer/action titles and strong community engagement on PC and console.
• Subset Games: Indie studio behind FTL: Faster Than Light and Into the Breach. Highly comparable as a small indie studio shipping minimalist, highly strategic games across PC and Nintendo Switch with multi-year content support and a dedicated community.

Emerging players

• Noodlecake Studios: Indie game publisher/studio based in Saskatoon, distributing and developing mobile-first indie games. Comparable as a peer in the indie mobile game publishing and development ecosystem with overlap on minimalist puzzle/strategy titles.
• Finji: Michigan-based indie game developer and publisher (Tunic, Overland, Night in the Woods). Comparable as a small indie studio with strong critical reception, multi-platform distribution, and focus on distinctive single-player experiences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dinopoloclub
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC8PoS0kI5X0EReM-D0vm7ag
• Facebookfacebook.com/dinopoloclub
• Instagraminstagram.com/dinopoloclub

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

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Dinosaur Polo Club