What Super Awesome does

Super Awesome Inc. is a South Korea-based mobile game development studio founded in 2014 by Cho Dong-hyun, former Head of Nexon's Mobile Business Division, along with other key Nexon developers. The company develops casual and puzzle mobile games across iOS and Android, distributing globally through Google Play and Apple App Store under a freemium model with in-app purchase monetization. Its product portfolio centers on IP-licensed puzzle and casual titles, including Hello Kitty Friends (a Sanrio IP-based puzzle game that surpassed 2 million global downloads and was named Google Play's 2017 Game of the Year), Hamster Town (a drawing puzzle game targeting female gamers and casual audiences), Nogonhagae (a 3-match puzzle game built on the Naver Webtoon IP), Ball Stop (an arcade tap-timing puzzle), and the earlier Dragon Village B (developed under an IP partnership with Hybro).

The studio's strategy relies on combining licensed third-party character IPs with accessible puzzle game mechanics to drive organic user acquisition through app store visibility and word-of-mouth. Strategic and institutional investors have provided cumulative funding of approximately 1.55 billion KRW (roughly $1.1–1.2 million) across rounds: ID Ventures (1 billion KRW, 2015), a Wadiz crowdfunding campaign (50 million KRW, 2017), a Bluehole convertible bond (500 million KRW, February 2018), and a strategic investment from Naver Webtoon (2018–2019). GTM is product-led and largely organic, with marketing primarily through app store placement, social media (Facebook, Naver Blog), and earned media from Korean gaming outlets. The company maintains active recruitment for game design, programming, and art roles, indicating ongoing product development.

Name

Super Awesome

Legal name

Super Awesome Inc.

Website

https://superawesome.co.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Super Awesome Inc. is a Seoul-based mobile game studio founded in 2014 by ex-Nexon developers, creating freemium puzzle and casual games featuring licensed IPs (Sanrio, Naver Webtoon) for global iOS and Android audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mobile Games

akta.pro primary industry

Mobile App Stores (General) (MPAFACAC)

Keywords

• Mobile game development
• Puzzle games
• Casual gaming
• IP-based games
• Freemium mobile games

Headquarters

HQ city

Yeoksamdong

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Mobile Game Revenue (Free-to-Play with In-App Purchases): Super Awesome develops and publishes mobile games using a free-to-play model with in-game purchases. Games like Hello Kitty Friends and Hamster Town are available at no upfront cost, generating revenue through microtransactions within the games. The company also received strategic investments from ID Ventures (1 billion KRW), Bluehole, and Naver Webtoon.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Super Awesome develops and publishes free-to-play mobile games for iOS and Android across hyper-casual, puzzle, and casual RPG genres, monetized via in-app purchases. Its portfolio features licensed character IP including Hello Kitty Friends (Sanrio), Nogonhagae (Naver Webtoon), and Hamster Town, distributed globally through Google Play and Apple App Store. The studio leverages strategic IP partnerships with Sanrio Digital Korea, Naver Webtoon, and Hybro to deliver casual puzzle and drawing-puzzle experiences to a global mobile gaming audience.

Product overview

Super Awesome Inc. is a mobile game development company established in 2014, specializing in puzzle and casual games. The company's portfolio includes Hello Kitty Friends (a Sanrio IP-based puzzle game with 2M+ downloads), Hamster Town (a drawing puzzle game), Nogonhagae (a Naver WebtoON IP-based 3-match puzzle game), and Ball Stop (an arcade puzzle game). The company develops games across hyper-casual, puzzle, and RPG genres for global audiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hello Kitty Friends Casual puzzle game developed under official license from Sanrio Digital Korea, featuring popular Sanrio characters including Hello Kitty, My Melody, KeroKeroKeroPi, Pompompurin, Badtz-Maru, and Tuxedo Sam. Players match and solve puzzles with the adorable characters. Designed for global mobile gamers, particularly fans of the Sanrio franchise.
• Hamster Town Drawing puzzle game where players freely draw lines to deliver sweet candy to cute hamsters, with options to decorate hamsters using various outfits and accessories. Aimed at casual mobile gamers, particularly female gamers and families seeking non-violent, cute, accessible gameplay.
• Nogonhagae 3-match puzzle game built on Naver Webtoon's 'Nogonhagae' IP, combining match-3 puzzle gameplay with the webtoon's storyline. Players help the main characters renovate and decorate a house and dress up pets with outfits that provide in-game puzzle bonuses. Targeted at fans of the Naver Webtoon IP and casual puzzle gamers.
• Ball Stop Arcade puzzle game where players tap to stop balls, featuring unique mechanics that require pattern learning and precise timing. Designed for casual mobile gamers seeking a simple yet challenging arcade experience.
• Lucky Strike New mobile game developed by Super Awesome with development funded through a Wadiz equity crowdfunding campaign that raised its target of KRW 50 million within 4 hours of launch. Targeted at the studio's global casual mobile gaming audience.
• Dragon Village B Puzzle game developed under an IP partnership with Hybro, utilizing the Dragon Village intellectual property. Targeted at fans of the Dragon Village franchise and casual mobile puzzle gamers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hello Kitty Friends achieved 2 million+ global downloads
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered major and minor.

• Naver Webtoon (네이버웹툰)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Super Awesome received strategic investment from Naver Webtoon and began developing mobile games utilizing Naver Webtoon's popular webcomics. Later released 'Nogonhagae' puzzle game featuring Naver Webtoon characters.
• Hybro (하이브로)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Hybro signed IP partnership with Super Awesome to develop a puzzle game utilizing the Dragon Village IP. Super Awesome developed 'Dragon Village B' puzzle game under this partnership.
• Sanrio Digital Korea (산리오디지털코리아)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Super Awesome signed an official contract with Sanrio Digital Korea to develop puzzle games featuring Sanrio's popular characters including Hello Kitty, My Melody, KeroKeroKeroPi, Pompompurin, Badtz-Maru, and Pochacco. Released 'Hello Kitty Friends' which achieved 2 million+ global downloads.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SundayToz: Korean mobile puzzle/casual game studio best known for Anipang. Closest direct peer to Super Awesome in genre (casual puzzle), geographic origin (Korea), business model (F2P mobile with IP tie-ins), and scale.
• Devsisters: Korean mobile game developer behind the globally successful Cookie Run franchise. Direct peer in IP-driven casual mobile games with strong brand recognition, similar GTM of leveraging beloved character IPs to drive organic downloads.
• SmartStudy (Pinkfong): SmartStudy's Pinkfong (Baby Shark) franchise is a Korean IP-driven mobile games and content company with very similar operating model: license popular IPs into mobile apps/games and distribute globally via app stores. Highly comparable business mechanics to Super Awesome.
• CookApps: Korean casual/hyper-casual mobile game publisher operating many titles in global app stores. Comparable in being a Korea-based casual mobile publisher distributed primarily through Google Play and App Store, with similar portfolio scale.
• Playrix: Russian-founded global casual puzzle mobile game developer behind Homescapes and Township. Comparable as an IP-franchised casual puzzle studio with multi-million-download hits, primarily distributed through mobile app stores with F2P monetization.

Broad incumbents

• Com2uS: Major Korean mobile game publisher (Summoners War) and part of the Gamevil/Com2uS group. Operates in the same Korean mobile games industry with broader portfolio including casual titles, providing incumbent comparison.
• Kakao Games: Major Korean mobile and online game publisher, partly owned by Kakao. Operates multiple casual and mid-core mobile titles out of Korea and competes with Super Awesome for talent, IP deals, and shelf attention.
• Netmarble: One of the largest Korean mobile game developers/publishers (Lineage 2 Revolution, Marvel Future Fight, Ni no Kuni). Korean mobile gaming incumbent operating across multiple genres including casual, comparable as a strategic and operational reference point.
• Krafton (formerly Bluehole): Major Korean game publisher behind PUBG; Bluehole (Krafton's predecessor entity) is also a disclosed Super Awesome investor via a KRW 500M convertible bond. Comparable as a broad incumbent in Korean mobile/online games and a strategic capital source.
• Nexon: One of the largest Korean mobile and online game publishers globally. Founder Cho Dong-hyun was formerly head of Nexon's mobile business, making it both an industry incumbent benchmark and the alma mater of Super Awesome's leadership team.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SuperAwesomeInc
• Xx.com/superawesomeinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/super-awesome-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Super Awesome