What Krillbite Studio does

Krillbite Studio AS is an independent game development studio founded in 2011 in Oslo, Norway, operating with a small team of 1-10 people. The studio creates narrative-driven, artistically distinctive indie games exploring existential, philosophical, and emotional themes, with a portfolio of five released titles: The Plan (2013, free experimental short), Among the Sleep (2014, first-person horror adventure), Mosaic (2019, surreal narrative about modern commuter life), Sunlight (2021, philosophical forest exploration), and Fruitbus (2024, cozy food-truck adventure). The studio builds on the Unity Engine and applies a distinctive expressionist-inspired visual and 3D audio design approach, led by an in-house audio director whose work has been recognized at IGF and Kavalkaden.

The studio generates revenue through one-time premium game sales across all major digital storefronts (Steam, GOG, Apple Arcade, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Nintendo eShop), plus a recurring share from Apple Arcade's subscription service. Distribution is global and multi-platform, enabled in part by a 2018 publisher partnership with Raw Fury for Mosaic and by self-publishing for Among the Sleep (initially funded via Kickstarter and the Norwegian Film Institute) and the more recent titles. Marketing relies on organic social media, press coverage, and newsletter signups rather than paid acquisition.

The studio serves indie gaming enthusiasts and narrative-game players seeking emotionally resonant, artistic experiences outside mainstream AAA titles. It is founder-controlled with no disclosed institutional investors or parent company. Its primary growth vectors are genre diversification (the 2024 pivot toward cozy gaming with Fruitbus) and continued multi-platform release of new titles, though commercial traction on the most recent release is not yet visible in available data.

Name

Krillbite Studio

Legal name

Krillbite Studio AS

Website

https://krillbite.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Krillbite Studio is an Oslo-based independent game developer creating narrative-driven, artistically distinctive indie games across PC and consoles, serving players who seek emotionally resonant, philosophically themed gaming experiences outside mainstream titles.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Indie Video Games

NAICS

Software Publishers (513210)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Indie Game Studios (MPAFAAAC)

Keywords

• Indie game development
• Narrative adventure games
• Artistic video games
• First-person exploration games
• Horror adventure games

Headquarters

HQ city

Oslo

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Game Sales: Direct sales of premium games to consumers through digital storefronts (Steam, GOG, console stores) and Apple Arcade subscription service
2. Apple Arcade: Subscription-based access through Apple's gaming service for select titles

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Krillbite Studio develops and publishes narrative-driven, artistically stylized indie video games for PC, Mac, Linux, and major console platforms. Its portfolio spans horror adventure, surreal narrative, philosophical exploration, and cozy open-world food-truck games, distributed as premium one-time purchases through Steam, GOG, Apple Arcade, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, and Nintendo eShop.

Product overview

Krillbite Studio is an independent game development studio that creates narrative-driven, artistic indie games. Their portfolio consists of five distinct titles: Among the Sleep (2014) - a first-person horror adventure where players control a two-year-old child; Mosaic (2019) - a surreal narrative game exploring modern adult life and identity; Sunlight (2021) - a philosophical first-person exploration experience set in a hand-painted forest; The Plan (2013) - a free experimental short game about existence; and Fruitbus (2024) - their most recent release, a cozy open-world food truck adventure. The studio, based in Oslo, Norway, focuses on exploring the gaming medium through unique storytelling and artistic approaches, with titles released across multiple platforms including PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and Apple Arcade.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fruitbus A cozy culinary adventure game set in an open world where players forage for fresh ingredients, customize their food truck, and travel across the Gustum archipelago visiting different destinations; available on PC and consoles.
• Among the Sleep A first-person horror adventure game in which players control a two-year-old child exploring a dark environment at night after waking up to mysterious sounds, seeking comfort. Available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.
• Mosaic A mysterious narrative-driven adventure game about the repetitive and lonely life of an average commuter, exploring surreal storytelling about losing one's sense of self and identity in modern society. Available on PC, consoles, and Apple Arcade.
• Sunlight A short, vibrant first-person exploration game set in a hand-painted forest where players are guided by harmonized whispers of trees, featuring 3D audio with choir work; approximately 30 minutes of playtime. Released on PC.
• The Plan A free experimental video game following a fly's journey ascending to the skies while pondering the pointlessness of its brief existence; approximately 3 minutes long. Available for free on PC, Mac, and Linux.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 800,000 downloads for The Plan
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Raw FurycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2018Publisher partnership for Mosaic. Raw Fury signed on as publisher in 2018 and were a great partner during the final year of development, helping with the 2019-2020 launch across Apple Arcade, Steam, GOG, and console platforms.
• Norwegian Film InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Early funding partner for Among the Sleep thesis project. The Norwegian Film Institute decided to help fund the project while Krillbite team members were still students at the college university of Hedmark.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Raw Fury: Stockholm-based indie game publisher (publisher of Krillbite's Mosaic). Comparable as an adjacent partner and a broader indie-publishing peer serving similar narrative/artistic developers on Steam and console storefronts.
• Annapurna Interactive: Major indie publisher behind narrative and artistic titles (What Remains of Edith Finch, Stray). Functions as a broader-incumbent comparison for premium narrative indie games across PC and console, and a potential channel/partner peer.

Direct peers

• Mountains: Australian studio behind Florence, a short-form narrative game with an artistic, emotionally driven approach. Comparable in short playtime, hand-crafted visual style, and mobile distribution including Apple Arcade.
• thatgamecompany: Developer of Journey and Sky: Children of the Light, focused on emotionally resonant, artistic experiences distributed across PlayStation, iOS, and Apple Arcade. Comparable in emotional/existential themes, aesthetic ambition, and Apple Arcade presence.
• Campo Santo: San Francisco studio behind Firewatch, a narrative-driven first-person exploration game with emotional themes. Highly comparable in first-person narrative exploration design and indie premium commercial model.
• Giant Sparrow: Developer of What Remains of Edith Finch, a small studio known for narrative-heavy, artistic single-player games with strong critical reception. Comparable in narrative ambition and premium indie positioning.
• KO_OP: Montreal-based indie developer of GNOG and Goodbye Volcano High, focused on distinctive art direction and narrative experimentation. Comparable in small-team craft, artistic positioning, and cross-platform indie distribution.
• Die Gute Fabrik: Copenhagen-based indie studio known for Mutazione and Saltsea Chronicle, working in narrative, experimental, and artistic games on console and PC. Closely comparable in European indie roots, narrative focus, and small-team craft ethos.
• Tequila Works: Spanish indie developer of Rime and The Sexy Brutale, focused on narrative, artistic direction, and emotional storytelling. Highly comparable in product category (art-driven narrative adventure) and indie premium pricing model.
• Playdead: Copenhagen-based indie studio behind Limbo and Inside, with a similar narrative-driven, art-focused 2D/3D aesthetic and a small Nordic team. Comparable in size, geographic origin, and emphasis on atmosphere over action, making it the closest structural peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/krillbite
• Facebookfacebook.com/Krillbite
• Instagraminstagram.com/krillbitestudio/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/krillbite-studio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Krillbite Studio