A MAZE. GMBH

What A MAZE. GMBH does

A MAZE. GmbH is a Berlin-based, privately held German limited company (GmbH) that operates the international A MAZE. / Berlin festival, an annual 4-day event focused on independent and arthouse games and playful media. Founded in 2008 by Thorsten S. Wiedemann and Michael Liebe, the GmbH was registered in 2012 when Wiedemann became sole owner and artistic director. The company also runs a sister festival in Johannesburg, South Africa. A MAZE. / Berlin is now in its 15th edition (May 13-16, 2026) and spans multiple venues including Silent Green, Panke Culture, HAU Hebbel am Ufer, Urban Spree/b-dome, and satellite locations across Berlin.

The core product is a multi-component festival platform: (1) the main festival with exhibitions of games and interactive installations; (2) the A MAZE. Awards competition with 8 categories including Most Amazing, Human Human Machine, Long Feature, Digital Moment, Explorer, Audience, WINGS, and XR-History Awards; (3) the A MAZE. Bazaar, a B2B matchmaking platform (7th International MeetToMatch); (4) the Amazing X-Market, a physical marketplace for indie merchandise; (5) Open Screens, a developer showcase; (6) the A MAZE. Village for community engagement; (7) Online Game Jams; and (8) the A MAZE. TRAIN STATION on VRChat. The underlying technology is not proprietary - the company relies on third-party ticketing (Weeztix, Eventix), video (YouTube, Vimeo), game distribution (Steam, itch.io), and VR platforms (VRChat, Meta Quest 3). A core team of approximately 9 people executes the festival, supplemented by over 100 volunteers during the event.

A MAZE. generates revenue through three primary streams: ticket sales (€15-75 per pass), corporate sponsorship at Gold, Bronze, and Hardware tiers from indie studios and hardware vendors, and public/cultural funding led by Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg with support from Goethe-Institut, Körber-Stiftung, and other institutional partners. The X-Market generates marketplace commission revenue. Customer segments include indie game developers, digital artists working in VR/AR/XR and interactive media, festival visitors, corporate sponsors, and press. The 2026 awards received 435 submissions from 78 countries, reflecting the festival's international reach within the arthouse games community.

Name

A MAZE. GMBH

Legal name

A MAZE. GmbH

Website

https://amaze-berlin.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

A MAZE. GmbH operates the international A MAZE. / Berlin festival, an annual 4-day event for independent and arthouse games and playful media, serving indie developers, digital artists, and festival visitors, funded by Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg with 15 editions since 2012.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Games Festival

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310), Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (7139), All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (71399)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

General Consumer Expos & Trade Shows (MPAGAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Transportation, Logistics & Mobility Shows Organizers (THAHABAL), Virtual Community Festivals & Cultural Events (Online Celebrations) (MPAGAOAK)

Keywords

• Independent games festival
• Arthouse games culture
• Playful media events
• Indie game awards
• Games industry networking

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: The festival generates revenue through sale of various ticket types including Opening Night tickets (€20-25), Day Tickets (€65-75), Exhibition and Evening tickets (€15-25), Full Festival passes, Student Group tickets, and satellite event tickets. Tickets are sold through Weeztix and Eventix platforms.
2. Sponsorship and Funding: The festival receives funding from Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg (primary funder), corporate sponsors at various levels (Gold, Bronze, Hardware), and institutional partners including Goethe-Institut, Körber-Stiftung, and various cultural institutions.
3. AMAZING X-Market Sales: The AMAZING X-Market is a marketplace at the festival where vendors sell self-produced geeky items including 3D-printed characters, plushies, experimental video games, USB sticks, self-made synths, boardgames, alternative controllers, digital toys, robots, OSTs, wearables, fanzines, illustrations, paintings, books, clothes, and merchandise.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

A MAZE. GmbH organizes the annual A MAZE. / Berlin international Games and Playful Media Festival, a 4-day physical event held in Berlin featuring exhibitions of independent and arthouse games, the A MAZE. Awards competition, live performances, music, workshops, and the AMAZING X-Market marketplace. The company also operates the sister A MAZE. / Johannesburg festival in South Africa, professional matchmaking via A MAZE. Bazaar, and curated programs showcasing innovative works in games and playful media.

Product overview

A MAZE. GMBH operates primarily as a festival and arthouse games label rather than a software product company. The core offering is the annual A MAZE. / Berlin international Games and Playful Media Festival (15th edition in 2026), which serves as an umbrella platform bringing together multiple interconnected products: the main festival exhibition featuring games and installations; the A MAZE. Awards competition with 8 categories; the A MAZE. Bazaar matchmaking platform for professional networking; the Amazing X-Market marketplace for indie merchandise; Open Screens for developer showcases; and A MAZE. / TRAIN STATION as a virtual VRChat venue. A parallel festival runs in Johannesburg, South Africa. The company also organizes online game jams. No SaaS product, API, or AI-powered features are offered—the company functions as a cultural event organizer and platform for the independent games community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• A MAZE. / Berlin Festival The flagship annual international festival for independent and arthouse games, held in Berlin featuring exhibitions, the A MAZE. Awards ceremony, live performances, music events, workshops, the A MAZE. Bazaar matchmaking platform, and the Amazing X-Market marketplace. Funded by Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg.
• A MAZE. Awards Annual awards competition with 8 categories (Most Amazing Award, Human Human Machine Award, Long Feature Award, Digital Moment Award, Explorer Award, Audience Award, WINGS Award, and XR-History Award) recognizing innovative works in games and playful media. 2026 edition received 435 submissions from 78 countries.
• Amazing X-Market A physical marketplace section within the festival where attendees can purchase self-produced items including 3D-printed characters, plushies, experimental video games, USB sticks, self-made synths, board games, alternative controllers, digital toys, robots, OSTs, wearables, fanzines, illustrations, paintings, books, clothes, and merchandise from independent creators.
• A MAZE. / Johannesburg Festival Sister festival to A MAZE. / Berlin held in Johannesburg, South Africa since 2012, part of the international A MAZE. arthouse games label network.
• A MAZE. / TRAIN STATION Virtual reality meetup space hosted on VRChat, created in collaboration with Metaverse Crew South Africa. Provides an alternative digital venue for community engagement and connection within the A MAZE. ecosystem.
• A MAZE. Bazaar A professional matchmaking platform within the festival (7th International MeetToMatch for Arthouse Games and Playful Media), enabling developers to pitch projects and find partners. Runs during festival days with a virtual platform accessible to registered participants from April.

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Tulpar NotebookminorOthersHardware Sponsor providing equipment for the festival. Turkish gaming hardware manufacturer.
• BoneloafminorOthersGold Sponsor of A MAZE. / Berlin 2026. Independent game development studio.
• LandfallminorOthersBronze Sponsor of A MAZE. / Berlin 2026. Swedish game developer known for Katana ZERO.
• Free LivesminorOthersBronze Sponsor of A MAZE. / Berlin 2026. Independent game developer.
• InnerslothminorOthersBronze Sponsor of A MAZE. / Berlin 2026. Game developer known for Among Us.
• PolytopiaminorOthersBronze Sponsor of A MAZE. / Berlin 2026. Game developer known for Supergiant.
• Körber-StiftungcoreOthersAward Partner presenting the XR-History Award with €2,000 prize. German foundation supporting innovative projects in education, science, and culture.
• WINGScoreOthersAward Partner presenting the WINGS Award with €2,000 prize. Initiative supporting women and gender marginalized game developers.
• HAU Hebbel am UfercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvent Partner and venue for A MAZE. / Berlin 2026. HAU is a leading Berlin venue for contemporary dance, theater, and performance art, providing space for festival performances and events.
• Medianet GamesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvent Partner supporting the international games and playful media festival.
• KickstarterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvent Partner. Crowdfunding platform supporting independent game development.
• WirsindtischminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvent Partner. Berlin-based creative platform.
• Silent GreencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocation Partner and primary venue for A MAZE. / Berlin 2026. Silent Green is a cultural venue in Berlin housed in a former crematorium, hosting exhibitions, performances, and events.
• Panke CulturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocation Partner and venue for A MAZE. / Berlin 2026. Panke Culture hosts exhibitions, performances, and the opening night and games exhibition.
• TransmedialeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocation Partner. Berlin festival for art and digital culture, sharing venues with A MAZE. for exhibitions.
• Urban Spree / b-domecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocation Partner and venue for A MAZE. / Berlin 2026. Urban Spree is a creative hub in Berlin featuring the b-dome fulldome projection space.
• Goethe-InstitutcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional Partner. German cultural institution promoting German culture and language worldwide, supporting international cultural exchange at the festival.
• GameConnectAfricaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional Partner. Initiative supporting African game developers and connecting them with the international games community.
• Polish Institute BerlinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional Partner and satellite venue location for A MAZE. / Berlin 2026.
• NetherlandsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional Partner representing Dutch cultural interests at the festival.
• Institut FrançaisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional Partner. French cultural institution supporting cultural exchange at the festival.
• 80.lvminorOthersMedia Partner. Leading gaming industry news and analysis publication.
• Events for GamersminorOthersMedia Partner. Platform for gaming events and community.
• GamesgroundminorOthersMedia Partner. German gaming community and event platform.
• FUKminorOthersFestival design partner responsible for visual identity and styling.
• PlaytopiaminorOthersFriend of the festival. South African game development initiative.
• SubrotronminorOthersFriend of the festival. Vienna-based platform for electronic music and digital culture.
• Berlin Game SceneminorOthersFriend of the festival. Local Berlin gaming community network.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BitSummit: BitSummit is Japan's leading independent game festival, organized with the support of the Japanese government. It is directly comparable to A MAZE. in its mission to celebrate indie games, with similar show-floor exhibitions, awards programming, and creator community.
• IndieCade: IndieCade is a US-based festival organization dedicated to independent games, with annual events showcasing arthouse and indie titles. It is the most direct global peer to A MAZE. in the arthouse games festival category, with similar awards programming and creator community focus.
• Fantastic Arcade: Fantastic Arcade is an Austin, Texas-based indie games festival featuring experimental and arthouse titles. It is directly comparable to A MAZE. in its curatorial focus on non-mainstream games and playful media, with similar exhibition and showcase formats.
• Day of the Devs: Day of the Devs is an indie game showcase event co-organized by iam8bit and Double Fine, featuring free public exhibitions of upcoming independent titles. It is directly comparable to A MAZE.'s exhibition-driven format, with strong overlap in target audience of indie game enthusiasts.
• Now Play This: Now Play This is a London-based festival of experimental game design running at Somerset House. It shares A MAZE.'s focus on arthouse, experimental, and playful media, with overlapping audience of independent developers and digital artists exploring non-mainstream game formats.

Emerging players

• Experimental Gameplay Workshop: Experimental Gameplay Workshop is a long-running showcase of experimental game prototypes, often held alongside GDC. It is comparable to A MAZE. in its focus on experimental and unconventional game design, but operates as a smaller-format showcase rather than a multi-day festival.
• Freeplay (Melbourne): Freeplay is an independent games festival and conference based in Melbourne, Australia, focused on experimental and arthouse games. It overlaps with A MAZE.'s mission but operates in a distinct geography (Oceania) with somewhat smaller scale.

Broad incumbents

• Transmediale: Transmediale is a Berlin-based annual festival for art and digital culture. It is a partner/venue collaborator of A MAZE. / Berlin and is comparable as a broader cultural festival that intersects with playful media, though it spans a wider art-and-tech scope beyond games specifically.
• Game Developers Conference (GDC): GDC is the largest professional game industry conference globally, serving mainstream game developers with a much broader scope than A MAZE. It is comparable as a flagship games industry event but serves a much larger commercial mainstream audience, with A MAZE. occupying the arthouse counter-position.

Regional players

• Nordic Game Conference: Nordic Game Conference is a leading European games industry event held annually in Malmö, Sweden. It is comparable as a regional games festival but focuses more broadly on the Nordic game industry rather than A MAZE.'s arthouse/independent niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AMAZEFEST
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/AMazeFest
• Facebookfacebook.com/amaze.festival
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maze-boutique
• Instagraminstagram.com/a_mazefest

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 A MAZE. GMBH