Black Forest Games
Black Forest Games is a German video game development studio (founded 2012, Offenburg) that creates PC and console remakes of cult-classic franchises and original titles, published through its parent THQ Nordic and sold globally on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox stores.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersOffenburg, Germany
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Black Forest Games does
Black Forest Games GmbH is a privately held video game development studio founded in 2012 and headquartered in Offenburg, Germany, with a team of 51–100 employees, many of whom have 20+ years of industry experience. The studio develops PC and console games built on mainstream engine technology (Unreal Engine referenced in support documentation) and specializes in two product lines: high-fidelity remakes of cult-classic franchises and original titles spanning action-adventure, survival-RPG, and platformer genres. Its commercial catalog includes Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams (2012), Rogue Stormers (2016), Fade To Silence (2019), the Destroy All Humans! remake (2020), Destroy All Humans! 2 – Reprobed (2022), and the in-development Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin.
Since 2017, the company has operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of THQ Nordic within the Embracer Group, combining access to a major European publisher's distribution and marketing infrastructure with the creative autonomy of an independent studio. Black Forest Games generates revenue through one-time video game sales on Steam, PlayStation Store, and Xbox Store plus retail channels managed by THQ Nordic, serving PC and console gamers globally. The company is led by Managing Directors Andreas Speer and Adrian Goersch, and maintains dedicated franchise websites (e.g., destroyallhumansgame.com) and active social media channels to support direct customer engagement around its flagship IPs.
Black Forest Games firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Black Forest Games
- Legal name
- Black Forest Games GmbH
- Website
- https://black-forest-games.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Black Forest Games is a German video game development studio (founded 2012, Offenburg) that creates PC and console remakes of cult-classic franchises and original titles, published through its parent THQ Nordic and sold globally on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox stores.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Black Forest Games industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Video Game Development
- akta.pro primary industry
- Game Engines (General-Purpose & Real-Time 3D) (MPAFAFAA)
Keywords
Where Black Forest Games is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Offenburg
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Black Forest Games business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Video Game Sales: The company generates revenue through one-time video game purchases. Games are sold as complete products through digital distribution (Steam) and console platforms (PlayStation 4, Xbox One). Players buy games at retail price with no recurring subscription model.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Black Forest Games product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Black Forest Games is a video game development studio that creates PC and console games, including high-quality remakes of cult-classic franchises such as Destroy All Humans! (2020) and Destroy All Humans! 2 – Reprobed (2022), and original titles spanning action-adventure, survival-RPG, and platformer genres. The studio develops games in-house and publishes them through THQ Nordic across Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and retail channels.
Product overview
Black Forest Games is a video game development studio that creates PC and console games. Their portfolio includes Destroy All Humans! (2020) and Destroy All Humans! 2 – Reprobed (2022), open-world action-adventure remakes featuring alien invasion gameplay with weapons and psychic abilities; Fade To Silence, a survival-RPG set in a post-apocalyptic winter; Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams, a hardcore platformer with warp mechanics between contrasting worlds; and Rogue Stormers, a roguelike run 'n' gun game with co-op multiplayer. Currently developing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Destroy All Humans! 2 – Reprobed An open-world action game and remake of the 2006 classic, set in the swinging sixties where players control alien Crypto-138 to take revenge on the KGB and form alliances with humans. Available on PC and consoles.
- Destroy All Humans! Remake of the 2005 legendary alien invasion action-adventure where players terrorize 1950s Earth as alien Crypto-137, harvesting DNA and using alien weaponry and psychic abilities. Available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
- Fade To Silence Survival-RPG set in a post-apocalyptic frozen winter world where players guide Ash to gather resources, establish a refuge, recruit followers, and survive eldritch monsters.
- Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams Hardcore platformer featuring warp mechanics that let players alter between contrasting dream worlds, affecting abilities and the creatures within.
- Rogue Stormers Roguelike run 'n' gun platformer with twin-stick shooter mechanics, modern art style, and multiplayer co-op support for up to four players.
Companies that use Black Forest Games
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Black Forest Games technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Black Forest Games partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- THQ NordiccoreSince 2017, Black Forest Games has been part of the THQ Nordic group. This partnership allows the studio to combine the resources and support of one of Europe's biggest publishers with the independence and creative freedom of an independent studio. THQ Nordic publishes Black Forest Games' titles worldwide.
- nilo.healthminorBlack Forest Games partners with nilo.health to provide mental health support services to employees, offering confidential mental health resources as part of employee benefits.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Black Forest Games competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- HandyGames: German publisher/developer of PC and console titles and THQ Nordic subsidiary. Comparable regional mid-sized European developer under the same parent.
Direct peers
- WayForward: Long-running mid-sized US developer with deep experience reviving classic IP (Shantae, Contra 4, A Boy and His Blob remake). Comparable in scale, IP-revival focus, and multi-platform publishing model.
- Saber Interactive: Multi-studio developer and Embracer/THQ Nordic sister studio working on remasters and ports (e.g., Crysis Remastered, The Witcher 3 next-gen update). Highly comparable in capability and ownership context.
- Bluepoint Games: Remake/remaster specialist (Shadow of the Colossus, Demon's Souls). Highly comparable in operating model: third-party or publisher-owned studio focused on visually upgrading established IP.
- Beamdog: Developer of enhanced editions and remasters of classic RPGs (Baldur's Gate, Planescape: Torment). Comparable niche remastering focus and reliance on licensed third-party IP.
- Nightdive Studios: Specialist in remastering and remaking classic games (System Shock, Quake, Blood). Closely comparable niche, similar team size, and similar publisher-driven distribution model.
- Aspyr Media: Long-running studio known for porting and remastering major franchises (Star Wars, Civilization, BioShock). Comparable in the remasters/remakes niche and in working closely with major IP holders.
- Virtuos: Outsourced co-development, porting, and remastering studio working with major publishers. Comparable in cross-platform development capability and project-based revenue model.
- Coffee Stain Studios: Swedish Embracer/THQ Nordic-owned developer (Satisfactory, Deep Rock Galactic). Comparable as a sister studio within the same parent group with similar scale and project-based delivery.
- Piranha Bytes (now Pithead Studio): Former Embracer/THQ Nordic-owned German RPG developer (Gothic, ELEX). Comparable as a European, Embracer-affiliated mid-sized PC/console developer.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Black Forest Games social profiles
Digital presenceBlack Forest Games financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Black Forest Games leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Black Forest Games funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Black Forest 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 Black Forest Games
What does Black Forest Games do?
Black Forest Games is a video game development studio that creates PC and console games, including high-quality remakes of cult-classic franchises such as Destroy All Humans! (2020) and Destroy All Humans! 2 – Reprobed (2022), and original titles spanning action-adventure, survival-RPG, and platformer genres. The studio develops games in-house and publishes them through THQ Nordic across Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and retail channels.
Is Black Forest Games a public or private company?
Black Forest Games is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Black Forest Games founded?
Black Forest Games was founded in 2012. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Black Forest Games based?
Black Forest Games is headquartered in Offenburg, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Black Forest Games make money?
One revenue line is on record: video Game Sales.
Who are Black Forest Games's main competitors?
HandyGames is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are WayForward, Saber Interactive, Bluepoint Games, Beamdog, Nightdive Studios, Aspyr Media, Virtuos, Coffee Stain Studios and Piranha Bytes (now Pithead Studio).
Does Black Forest Games have an API?
No public API is recorded for Black Forest Games.
What industry is Black Forest Games in?
Black Forest Games's product category is Video Game Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAFAA, Game Engines (General-Purpose & Real-Time 3D).