What Night Garden Studio does

Night Garden Studio is a Vancouver-based, fully remote mobile game development studio founded in 2018 by a team of veterans from AAA console development. The studio develops and publishes free-to-play mobile games on iOS and Android, with a portfolio that includes the officially licensed RuPaul's Drag Race Superstar (a fashion dress-up and runway competition game), Dragon Up (an idle dragon-collection adventure distributed through Netflix Games), and Crazy 8s: Hatter's Hand (a Wonderland-themed card game launched in 2024). The studio has achieved top-10 app store rankings in more than 80 countries and serves millions of players worldwide.

The company's core technology is built on two proprietary platforms: Night Garden Core, a foundational development framework enabling rapid iteration and multi-platform deployment, and Nucleo, a backend server system that integrates live operations (event/season scheduling, gacha mechanics, segmented leaderboards), monetization infrastructure (1st-party IAP, subscriptions, battle pass), and BI/analytics via Firebase and Kochava integrations. This technology stack is positioned as a reusable platform for accelerating future title development.

Night Garden Studio monetizes through a diversified free-to-play model combining in-app purchases, randomized gacha systems, recurring subscriptions, and battle passes. Distribution is primarily through the Apple App Store and Google Play, supplemented by a Netflix Games partnership for select titles. The studio also pursues B2B revenue via co-development and IP licensing relationships with publishers and IP holders including World of Wonder, Eastside Games, Netflix Games, and Kabam. Leadership is held by an experienced operating team: CEO Landon Nguyen, CTO Fraser Lott, CFO Andy Hoang, and COO Joanne Lott. The company is privately held with no disclosed funding rounds or institutional investors.

Name

Night Garden Studio

Legal name

Night Garden Studio

Website

https://nightgardenstudio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Night Garden Studio is a Vancouver-based mobile game studio founded in 2018 that develops and publishes free-to-play games on iOS and Android, serving global consumer audiences with licensed IP titles and original IP, monetized through in-app purchases, subscriptions, and battle passes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

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, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. In-App Purchases (1st Party IAP): Virtual currency and items purchased within games, including gold, card styles, themed decks, and joker cards. Purchases are non-refundable and users receive limited license to use digital items within the game.
2. Gacha Systems: Randomized digital item prizes that players can acquire, creating excitement and variety while maximizing monetization opportunities.
3. Subscription Model: Recurring subscription revenue model enhancing player retention and satisfaction.
4. Battle Pass: Premium pass offering compelling value propositions and enhanced gameplay experiences, driving player engagement and recurring revenue.
5. Promotional IAP: Promotional in-app purchase setups integrated into the monetization strategy.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Night Garden Studio is a mobile game development studio that designs, develops, and publishes free-to-play 2D mobile games for iOS and Android, using its proprietary Night Garden Core and Nucleo backend technology stack. Its published titles include the licensed RuPaul's Drag Race Superstar, the Netflix-distributed Dragon Up, and the original card game Crazy 8s: Hatter's Hand, monetized through in-app purchases, gacha systems, subscriptions, and battle passes.

Product overview

Night Garden Studio is an award-winning mobile game development studio founded in 2018 with roots in AAA console gaming. The company operates a portfolio of successful mobile games built on two proprietary technology pillars: Night Garden Core (foundational development platform) and Nucleo (backend server technology for live operations, analytics, and monetization). Their game lineup includes RuPaul's Drag Race Superstar (official licensed fashion runway game), Dragon Up (Netflix idle dragon collection adventure), and Crazy 8s: Hatter's Hand (card game with Wonderland theme). The Nucleo platform enables live event scheduling, integrated Gacha and IAP monetization, subscription and Battle Pass models, and advanced analytics through Firebase and Kochava integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RuPaul's Drag Race Superstar The official mobile game inspired by the Emmy award-winning reality TV series RuPaul's Drag Race. Features thousands of fashion pieces for runway competition against millions of players, with guest stars from the show. Ranked in the top 10 across more than 80 countries on iOS and Google Play.
• Dragon Up Netflix mobile idle adventure game featuring animated dragon hatching, collection, and kingdom expansion. Players collect unique dragons (such as the Pug Dragon, Queen Dragon, and Robo Dragon), upgrade habitats, feed pet dragon Billy, and participate in time-limited events. Available on iOS and Android through the Netflix Games platform.
• Crazy 8s: Hatter's Hand Mobile card game combining classic Crazy 8s gameplay with joker cards that change rules, collectible themed decks inspired by Wonderland, quests, and regular competitive events. Players earn gold, unlock jokers and card effects, and complete quests in a no-head-to-head-stress format. Available on iOS and Android.

Quantifiable outcome

• Top 10 ranking in more than 80 countries on iOS and Google Play
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• World of WondercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction company behind RuPaul's Drag Race franchise. World of Wonder licenses the Drag Race IP to Night Garden Studio for development of the official RuPaul's Drag Race Superstar mobile game.
• Eastside GamescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPublisher partner that worked with Night Garden on RuPaul's Drag Race Superstar game, published on iOS and Android platforms.
• Netflix GamescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetflix gaming platform that published Dragon Up mobile game as part of Netflix's mobile gaming initiative, available to Netflix subscribers.
• KabamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMobile game developer and publisher shown as partner logo on company website.
• LeafminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner company shown as logo on company website, nature of partnership not detailed.
• SessionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner company shown as logo on company website, nature of partnership not detailed.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Scopely: Mobile game studio known for IP-driven F2P hits (Monopoly Go!, Stumble Guys, Star Trek). Comparable in leveraging licensed entertainment IP for casual mobile with sophisticated live ops and gacha monetization.
• Jam City: Mobile game studio (Cookie Jam, Disney Frozen Adventures) specializing in IP-licensed casual mobile titles. Directly comparable in business model, IP-licensing approach, and target demographics.
• Kabam: Mobile game developer/publisher (Marvel Contest of Champions, Disney Mirrorverse) with deep IP licensing expertise and F2P live ops at scale. Listed as a Night Garden partner and a direct comparable for IP-driven mobile games.
• Outfit7: Mobile game studio behind the Talking Tom franchise. Comparable in lifestyle/casual mobile IP ownership, global app store featuring, and F2P monetization at scale.
• Ludia: Montreal-based mobile game studio (Jurassic World Alive, DC Legends) with similar IP-licensing strategy and casual-mid core mobile focus. Geographic and structural peer to Night Garden within the Canadian mobile gaming ecosystem.
• Playdemic: UK-based mobile game studio behind Golf Clash, exemplifying single-hit casual mobile success with strong live ops. Comparable in F2P casual mobile mechanics and post-launch content cadence.
• Storm8: Mobile game studio focused on casual simulation and lifestyle games (Restaurant City, Fashion Story). Comparable in F2P casual mobile specialization and IAP/gacha monetization patterns.
• Eastside Games: Publisher of RuPaul's Drag Race Superstar and a Vancouver-based casual mobile games studio. Closest direct peer: similar size, same F2P model, same genre (fashion/lifestyle), and active commercial partner of Night Garden.

Broad incumbents

• Zynga: Largest US-listed mobile casual gaming company (Words With Friends, Zynga Poker). Broad incumbent in F2P casual mobile — overlap on business model and target demographic but vastly larger scale and broader portfolio.
• King: Activision Blizzard subsidiary behind Candy Crush — dominant casual mobile F2P incumbent. Comparable in live ops sophistication and gacha/boost mechanics but operates at vastly greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nightgardeninc?lang=en
• Facebookfacebook.com/NightGardenStudio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/18970266/admin/dashboard
• Instagraminstagram.com/nightgardeninc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Night Garden Studio