Rose City Games

What Rose City Games does

Rose City Games was an independent video game development studio founded in 2015 in Portland, Oregon by co-founders Will Lewis and Corey Warning. The studio developed and published four original titles across multiple genres and platforms: The World Next Door (2019, real-time puzzle battles with visual novel elements), Garden Story (2022, cozy resource management), Floppy Knights (2022, deck-building tactical RPG), and LOVESICK (2025, VR puzzle adventure on Meta Quest). Technical differentiation was concentrated in proprietary game mechanics (rune-matching action combat, card-game-fused tactics, psychic-ability VR puzzles) and a 12-language localization effort executed with partner Localize Direct.

The studio's commercial model was a B2C product-led motion: one-time game sales across Steam, Nintendo Switch eShop, Xbox Game Pass, Epic Games Store, and Meta Quest Store, supplemented by free and paid DLC packs (Phoebe's Prototypes, Graveyard Shift, Slime Time), physical collectibles via Limited Run Games and Makeship crowdfunding, and charity bundle inclusion on Humble Bundle. Marketing relied on community channels (Discord, Twitter, Steam discussions), convention presence (PAX West, Portland Retro Gaming Expo), and platform-driven promotional slots such as Epic's free game of the week and Nintendo's House of Indies. The customer base was fragmented individual game consumers with no named enterprise accounts or disclosed anchor customers.

Rose City Games remained 100% founder-owned with no disclosed venture or institutional capital and no subsidiaries, patents, certifications, or external awards on record. After 10 years of operation, the studio announced its closure on April 28, 2025, citing an inability to secure funding to continue operations; published titles were to remain available on existing distribution platforms.

Name

Rose City Games

Legal name

Rose City Games

Website

https://rosecitygames.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rose City Games was a Portland-based independent video game studio (founded 2015) that developed four original multi-platform titles including Floppy Knights, Garden Story, The World Next Door, and LOVESICK, distributed via Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Game Pass, Epic, and Meta Quest before closing in April 2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Indie Video Games

NAICS

Doll, Toy, and Game Manufacturing (339930)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Strategy/4X/Management Game Studios (MPAFAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Mobile Game Publishing & App Game Stores (BPAMAKAB)

Keywords

• Indie video games
• Game development studio
• Deck-building games
• Puzzle adventure games
• VR puzzle games

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Game Sales: One-time purchase model for video games across multiple digital storefronts (Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, Epic Games Store, Meta Quest)
2. DLC/Content Expansions: Free and paid downloadable content including story expansions, new cards, and gameplay episodes for existing games
3. Physical Merchandise: Physical goods including Limited Run Games Switch cartridges, vinyl soundtracks, plushies via Makeship, and apparel
4. Bundle Sales: Inclusion in Humble Bundle promotions with 'pay what you want' pricing model
5. Game Pass Revenue: Revenue from Xbox Game Pass subscription service featuring Garden Story

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Rose City Games was an independent video game development studio based in Portland, Oregon, that designed and published original indie games across multiple genres including real-time puzzle battles (The World Next Door), deck-building tactical RPGs (Floppy Knights), cozy resource management (Garden Story), and VR puzzle adventures (LOVESICK). The studio distributed games digitally through Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Game Pass, Epic Games Store, and Meta Quest, plus physical merchandise and board game adaptations through partner channels. The studio ceased operations in April 2025 after 10 years.

Product overview

Rose City Games is an independent video game studio that developed and published a portfolio of distinct games across multiple genres and platforms. Their core titles include Floppy Knights (a deck-building tactical RPG), Garden Story (a cozy resource management game), The World Next Door (a real-time puzzle battle game with visual novel elements), and LOVESICK (a VR puzzle game). The studio released downloadable content expansions for Floppy Knights including Phoebe's Prototypes, Graveyard Shift, and Slime Time DLC packs. They also produced merchandise such as the Concord plushie and announced a physical board game adaptation called Floppy Knights: Analog Battle System. The studio closed in April 2025 after 10 years of operation, with their games remaining available on existing distribution platforms including Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox/Game Pass, Epic Games Store, and Meta Quest.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The World Next Door Real-time puzzle battle game combining lightning-fast rune-matching combat with visual novel elements. Players control Jun, a teen trapped in the parallel realm Emrys, defeating opponents with magical runes while engaging in branching dialogue and reputation systems affecting relationships. Released on Steam, Nintendo Switch, and Epic Games Store.
• Floppy Knights Deck-building tactical adventure game combining card-game mechanics with turn-based tactical combat. Players control Phoebe, a young inventor, and her robot-arm best friend Carlton, constructing customized card decks and deploying strategic units. Released across Steam, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and Epic Games Store with multiple free DLC expansions.
• Garden Story Cozy resource management game where players serve as guardian of The Grove. Players manage resources, help inhabitants, and engage in gentle exploration and combat with Concord the grape as protagonist. Released on Steam, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Game Pass, later updated to support 11+ languages.
• LOVESICK VR puzzle adventure game about a post-punk band plunged into a twisted alternate reality called 'the Feedback' after a grueling tour. Players unlock psychic abilities to navigate mindscapes and solve complex puzzles to rescue their bandmates. Released on Meta Quest Store for Quest 2/3.
• Concord Plushie Physical plush toy merchandise of Concord, the grape protagonist from Garden Story, produced and distributed through a Makeship crowdfunding campaign.
• Floppy Knights: Analog Battle System Physical board game adaptation of Floppy Knights, translating the digital deck-building tactical combat experience into an analog tabletop format. Launched on Kickstarter via partner PUG Worldwide with exclusive offers and early sneak peeks.

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• PUG WorldwideminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 July 2024Partnership for Floppy Knights: Analog Battle System board game adaptation. Coming to Kickstarter with exclusive offers and early sneak peeks.
• Humble BundleminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 31 May 2024The World Next Door featured in Stories of Pride Humble Bundle supporting The Trevor Project for LGBTQ+ young people.
• Humble BundleminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 April 2024Floppy Knights included in Devious Deckbuilders Humble Bundle. 'Pay what you want' model with portion supporting charity Cool Effect.
• Limited Run GamesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 29 December 2023Partnership for physical distribution of Floppy Knights on Nintendo Switch and vinyl soundtrack release. Limited run of 400 vinyl copies. Pre-orders open until January 28, 2024.
• PIGSquad (Portland Indie Game Squad)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 October 2023Portland-based nonprofit indie game organization. Shared booth at Portland Retro Gaming Expo. Rose City Games co-founder Will Lewis founded PIGSquad in 2011.
• Lost NativeminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 31 October 2023Guest developer showcasing Wild Country game at Rose City Games PRGE afterparty.
• MeisterminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 31 October 2023Local Portland developer bringing Ctrl Alt Destroy to Rose City Games PRGE afterparty.
• PanicminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 31 October 2023Developer showcasing Nour game at Rose City Games PRGE afterparty event.
• NintendocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 19 December 2022Featured in Nintendo's House of Indies Holiday event for Floppy Knights Switch launch. Part of Nintendo's indie game promotion initiative.
• MakeshipminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 22 November 2022Collaboration for Concord plushie production and distribution. Campaign required minimum funding goal to produce plushies.
• Microsoft Xbox Game PasscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 6 July 2022Garden Story released on Xbox Game Pass for console and PC, providing significant distribution exposure.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Panic Inc: Portland-based indie publisher/distributor (Firewatch, Untitled Goose Game, Playdate). Strong geographic and community overlap with Rose City Games' Portland indie ecosystem, and similar focus on curating and shipping indie titles.
• Thunder Lotus Games: Small indie studio shipping distinct titles (Jotun, Spiritfarer, Haven) across PC, console, and Switch. Comparable on portfolio diversity, cozy/narrative genre mix, and self-publishing indie economics.
• Team Cherry: Tiny three-person indie team behind Hollow Knight. Comparable as a sub-10-person indie studio shipping critically successful titles via self-publishing across major storefronts.
• Supergiant Games: Small independent studio (~20 staff) shipping critically acclaimed multi-genre titles (Bastion, Hades, Pyre) across PC and console with self-publishing. Most directly comparable small-scale, founder-led indie developer with a portfolio approach.
• Yacht Club Games: Small independent studio known for Shovel Knight and multi-platform indie publishing. Closely matches Rose City Games on team size, single-IP to multi-IP portfolio trajectory, and console/PC distribution focus.
• Sabotage Studio: Small Quebec indie studio shipping retro-styled action titles (The Messenger, Sea of Stars). Comparable small-team multi-platform self-publishing indie with similar aesthetic-driven brand.

Broad incumbents

• Devolver Digital: Established indie games publisher with a large catalog of small-studio titles (Hades, Hotline Miami, Inscryption). Comparable as the platform through which indie titles reach major storefronts, though at much larger scale.
• Finji: Indie publisher/developer (Night in the Woods, Tunic, Overland). Comparable as a small indie publisher supporting similar cozy/narrative/tactical titles on console and PC.
• Annapurna Interactive: Major indie-focused publisher shipping narrative and experimental titles (What Remains of Edith Finch, Stray). Comparable publishing counterpart for the kind of indie catalog Rose City Games produced.
• Raw Fury: Indie games publisher focused on boutique titles (Sable, Kingdom Two Crowns, Norco). Comparable publishing scale and aesthetic focus to Rose City Games' catalog.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rosecitygames
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rose-city-games

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 Rose City Games