What Gentle Troll Entertainment does

Gentle Troll Entertainment GmbH is a game development studio headquartered in Würzburg, Germany, founded approximately 2008–2010. The studio specializes in the design and creation of "serious games" — interactive digital experiences intended to educate, train, or raise awareness rather than purely entertain. Its client base spans schools, corporate training departments, museums, government agencies, foundations, and publishers across Germany, Switzerland, and selectively beyond, supported by a catalog of more than 25 titles covering topics including climate change, programming, economics, cybersecurity, language learning, inclusion, and disability awareness. The studio augments a small core team with freelance capacity for larger projects and maintains research collaborations with the University of Ulm (Serious Games junior professorship), University of Würzburg, HTW Berlin, and Fraunhofer IAIS.

The studio builds primarily on the Unity game engine and HTML5 Canvas, enabling cross-platform deployment across web browsers, iOS, Android, and PC (Steam). Notable technical implementations include the NEPO block-based programming language integration co-developed with Fraunhofer IAIS for the NEPO Mission Mars rover game, cause-and-effect climate simulation systems in Klim:S21, and narrative-driven empathy mechanics in The Unstoppables. Since 2020 the studio has expanded into consumer entertainment titles, beginning with Underdown and continuing with Tavern Talk (a cozy fantasy visual novel) and the Dragon's Roarmance prototype, alongside its continued B2B serious games output.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: (1) commissioned custom serious game development for institutional clients on a project-and-quote basis, typically structured as multi-year contracts; (2) consumer sales of entertainment titles via Steam and the mobile app stores; and (3) non-dilutive grant funding from German federal and Bavarian state programs (FFF Bayern, German Games Fund) that supports R&D and game production costs. Most serious games are distributed free-of-charge to end users, with monetization captured upstream through commissioning relationships, while entertainment titles are positioned as paid consumer products with dedicated Steam and app store presence.

Name

Gentle Troll Entertainment

Legal name

Gentle Troll Entertainment GmbH

Website

https://gentletroll.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gentle Troll Entertainment is a Würzburg-based game studio that designs and develops serious games for web, PC, and mobile, serving schools, corporations, museums, foundations, and government clients with educational and training titles, with growing entertainment offerings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Serious Games / Educational Game Development

NAICS

Software Publishers (513210)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Indie Game Studios (MPAFAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Mobile & F2P Game Studios (MPAFAAAB)

Keywords

• Serious games development
• Educational game design
• Custom game development
• Game-based learning
• Mobile game studio

Headquarters

HQ city

Würzburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom serious game development (B2B contract work): Organizations commission Gentle Troll to design and develop serious games tailored to specific learning outcomes. Revenue is project-based and negotiated per contract. Clients include educational institutions, foundations, museums, publishers, and government agencies.
2. Entertainment game sales (digital distribution): The company is expanding into entertainment titles (Underdown, Tavern Talk, Grimms Curse) distributed via Steam and app stores, generating sales revenue from consumers.
3. Government and foundation grants/funding: Gentle Troll receives prototype and production funding from FFF Bayern, German Games Fund, and other public funding programs. This supports R&D and game production costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Gentle Troll Entertainment is an independent game studio that designs and develops serious games, educational apps, and entertainment games for web, PC, iOS, and Android. The studio's core activity is the design, development, and custom commissioning of games that teach complex topics (climate, programming, economics, cybersecurity, disabilities, language learning) through play. It also self-publishes entertainment titles such as Tavern Talk and Underdown to consumers.

Product overview

Gentle Troll Entertainment is a game development studio specializing in Serious Games for Web, PC and mobile devices. Their portfolio includes educational games for school teaching (Klim:S 21, NEPO Missions, MeisterPOWER, Space Transporters), employee training (Spaceburgers, Sensigame), customer engagement apps (Conni Englisch, The Wunderglasses), and entertainment titles (Tavern Talk, Underdown, Grimms Curse, Fairweather Getaways). They also develop museum installations and marketing games. The company creates games that explain complex concepts through play, covering topics like climate change, programming, cybersecurity, economics, career guidance, and inclusion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Klim:S21 Free-to-play educational web game showing climate change consequences and protective measures through decision-based cause-and-effect gameplay, designed for school lessons.
• NEPO Mission Free iOS and Android learning app that teaches graphical block-based programming language NEPO by simulating a Mars rover mission based on ESA's Rosalind Franklin rover.
• Tavern Talk Cozy talking-simulator visual novel set in a fantasy tavern with DnD humor and RPG hints, sold on Steam.
• The Unstoppables Award-winning mobile puzzle-adventure game that lets players experience daily challenges faced by people with disabilities, promoting inclusion via narrative gameplay.
• Grimms Curse Brothers Grimm–themed roguelite entertainment game where players control a captive princess fighting fairytale creatures.
• Spaceburgers - Journey to Green Haven Free cybersecurity training game played in a galactic office setting, developed for Zentrum Digitalisierung.Bayern to train employees on cyber threats.
• Space Transporters - The Secret Supercell Mission Escape game that teaches basic economic assumptions and resource management to students, commissioned by Joachim Herz Stiftung for teachers' portal use.
• August Macke Kidditorial Jump'n'run museum app teaching children about Expressionism art and the inspirations of painter August Macke, developed for LWL-Museum für Kunst und Kultur.
• Basketball-Training-Manager Sports simulation raising awareness of injury risks through simulated basketball training and competitions, aimed at preventing sports injuries.
• Fairweather Getaways Entertainment management game where players help magical animals escape oppression through a travel agency.
• Light on Earth Puzzle-adventure mobile game exploring themes of self-esteem, mindfulness, and friendship.
• Zug in Sicht Parkour-style game allowing players to experience the daily challenges faced by people with visual impairments such as glaucoma or cataracts, developed for Woche des Sehens.
• Underdown Turn-based tactical mystery-thriller entertainment game with emotional narrative about friendship, sacrifice, and growth.
• MeisterPOWER Craftsmanship simulation teaching German school pupils skills aligned with the state economy curriculum, with scientifically validated learning outcomes.
• Simulation Games for Students Two simulation games for MTO Psychologische Forschung und Beratung training students in social skills and problem-solving competence.
• Locus Ludi Modern browser versions of classical antiquity board games, co-developed with Causa Creations, the University of Fribourg, and the University of Applied Arts Vienna.
• How to Feed a Dragon Browser marketing game showcasing Brand HandyStep Touch pipette functionality through dragon-breeding mechanics, developed for Brand laboratory equipment.
• like2be Simulation game helping young people break gender stereotypes in career guidance through immersive gameplay.
• Interactive Museum Installations Four interactive museum installations simulating life in the Stone, Bronze, and Middle Ages for Archeology Museum Bad Königshofen.
• Conni Englisch English-learning mobile app introducing about 60 English words through three mini-games for German-speaking children aged 6-8.
• The Wunderglasses (Die Brille) Interactive children's book app featuring hand-painted illustrations where readers explore a fantastical world through magical glasses.
• MoneyFit 2 Browser game teaching sustainable resource management including money and personal energy, developed for PostFinance Switzerland.
• Sensigame Cross-platform bus simulation game that raises awareness of considerate behavior on public transport for Swiss PostBus Ltd passengers.
• Power Planner Browser game teaching players about delivering renewable energy supply for fluctuating consumer demand curves, developed for ABB Switzerland.
• System Blue Multilingual browser game that sensitizes players to the problems of distributing scarce water resources in developing countries, developed for SDC.
• ElefantenApp Free mobile app for three- to six-year-olds featuring movies, stories, songs, and games centered on WDR's blue elephant character, managed for WDR.
• Dragon's Roarmance Dating simulation set in the Tavern Talk fantasy universe, in prototype development with FFF Bayern funding.
• Custom Serious Game Development Service B2B commissioned game design and development service for learning applications, customer engagement, employee education, training, museum installations, and scientific-context games.

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple award-winning games including TOMMI nominations, GIGA-Maus award, DCP nominations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LerNetz AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing strategic partnership with LerNetz AG, a Swiss company specializing in didactic conception, development, and implementation of electronic learning media. LerNetz brings project clients to Gentle Troll for game development, including MoneyFit 2 (PostFinance), SensiGame (PostAuto), like2be (IZFG), System Blue (SDC), and Power Planner (ABB). The partnership covers both product co-development and distribution through Swiss educational channels.
• Fraunhofer IAIScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-development partner for NEPO Mission, part of the Fraunhofer Roberta Initiative. Funded by Google.org Impact Challenge. Fraunhofer IAIS provides scientific expertise and the Roberta/Open Roberta platform; Gentle Troll develops the game. Also involved in Spaceburgers collaboration.
• Universität Würzburg — Chair for Human-Computer InteractionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for collaboration on Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality projects. Established in January 2018 alongside HTW Berlin and University of Ulm.
• Universität Ulm — Juniorprofessur für Serious GamesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing cooperation with University of Ulm's Junior Professorship for Serious Games. The game MeisterPOWER was scientifically measured by University of Ulm to validate learning outcomes. Collaboration ongoing since before 2018.
• HTW Berlin — Creative Media Research and Development GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership established January 2018 for research and development collaboration in creative media, with focus on VR/AR/MR projects.
• Stiftung Digitale SpielekulturminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresented Klim:S21 at the One Planet Left digital conference on gaming and climate protection. The foundation also nominated Klim:S21 for awards and facilitates connections between game developers and the broader digital culture sector.
• Causa CreationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-development partner with Gentle Troll for the Locus Ludi project, creating modern browser versions of classical antiquity board games alongside University of Fribourg and University of Applied Arts Vienna.
• TeamDiversity — Hier spielt VielfaltminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the TeamDiversity initiative promoting a gaming culture free from prejudice and discrimination. Gentle Troll is committed to respectful and appreciative treatment of all people regardless of gender, nationality, ethnicity, religion, disability, age, language, and sexual orientation.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Cornelsen Verlag: One of Germany's largest educational publishers, spanning textbooks, digital learning platforms, and educational apps. Comparable as a buyer/commissioner in the same K-12 educational market (Carlsen/Cornelsen commissioned Conni Englisch from Gentle Troll) and as an incumbent that could acquire or compete with specialist studios.

Regional players

• Spielfabrique 2000 / Hamburger Spielewerkstatt: DACH-based boutique studio and consultancy working on cooperative, social-impact and serious games for schools and non-profits. Comparable as a small specialized German serious-games developer, primarily competing in the same regional educational and non-profit bid landscape.

Direct peers

• Fiete / Ahoiii Entertainment: Hamburg-based indie studio known for award-winning Fiete children's apps and games. Comparable as a small independent German studio producing high-quality educational mobile games with the same target demographic (young children/parents) and similar distribution through app stores.
• Masomo: Swedish development studio producing serious games for health, education and corporate training, including international B2B projects. Highly comparable mission to Gentle Troll in applying games for behavioral and learning outcomes, with additional sports-game expertise.
• Tivola Games: Established German publisher of mobile, PC and console games for children and families, headquartered in Hamburg. Comparable as a DACH-based game publisher operating across multiple genres with both educational and entertainment titles, but with a much broader catalog and brand.
• Daedalic Entertainment: Hamburg-based indie publisher developing narrative-driven adventure games and educational projects, including some serious-game work. Comparable as a German indie studio pursuing both entertainment titles (Tavern Talk/Underdown) and story-driven educational content.
• Serious Games Interactive: Danish studio focused on learning games, training simulations, and digital communication for education, healthcare and corporate clients across Europe. Closely matches Gentle Troll's serious-game development focus, scientific partnerships, and B2B customization model, but with broader European reach.
• Mi'pu'm Games: Munich-based studio developing mobile and PC games with serious/scientific applications, including educational apps for foundations and museums. Closely comparable focus on purpose-driven games for institutions and B2B commissioning.
• Spielmacher GmbH: Munich-based serious game studio developing educational and corporate-training games for schools and enterprises across Germany. Closely comparable business model with Gentle Troll: custom commissioned serious games, multi-platform delivery, and similar B2B positioning.
• Causa Creations: Berlin-based studio developing digital and analogue games for cultural, scientific and educational purposes, including the Locus Ludi project with Gentle Troll. Directly comparable as a German serious-games studio collaborating with universities and foundations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GentleTroll
• Facebookfacebook.com/gentletroll.entertainment
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gentle-troll-entertainment-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/gentletroll

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Gentle Troll Entertainment