Ice-Pick Lodge
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersMoscow, Russia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Ice-Pick Lodge does
Ice-Pick Lodge is an independent video game development studio founded in 2002 and headquartered in Moscow, Russia, with a headcount of 11-50 employees. The studio specializes in narrative-driven, atmospheric games, with a portfolio historically anchored by the cult-classic Pathologic franchise and the survival horror title Darkwood. Its current product pipeline includes two core releases: Darkwood 2, a survival horror sequel set in 1990s Russia and produced in collaboration with Acid Wizard Studio as consultant, and Pathologic 3, a remake of its plague-town cult classic positioned for release in 2026.
The studio's business model follows the standard independent game developer pattern: one-time-purchase game sales with potential additional downloadable content, distributed through mainstream digital storefronts. There is no publicly disclosed pricing, and revenue figures are not available. Capital structure is unusual for an indie studio of its size: rather than taking traditional publisher advances or equity investment, Ice-Pick Lodge has accessed project-based financing through Griffin Gaming Partners' Special Opportunities Fund, which provides capital in exchange for a revenue share on individual titles rather than equity stakes. This structure preserves independent ownership while funding multi-year development.
The company's strategic posture is that of a niche auteur studio. Its brand emphasizes hand-crafted, human-authored content, explicitly framed against industry trends toward AI-generated game assets. End customers are individual consumers purchasing through digital platforms; no enterprise customers, channel partners, or B2B revenue lines are disclosed. Operating status is active based on 2025-2026 product announcements, though the studio maintains a deliberately small footprint consistent with its indie positioning.
Ice-Pick Lodge firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ice-Pick Lodge
- Website
- https://ice-pick.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ice-Pick Lodge industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Indie Video Game Development
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132)
- akta.pro primary industry
- UGC Game Creation Platforms (Roblox-like, Fortnite Creative, Core) (MPAFAIAA)
Keywords
Where Ice-Pick Lodge is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Moscow
- HQ country
- Russia
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
Ice-Pick Lodge business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Ice-Pick Lodge product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ice-Pick Lodge is an independent video game development studio that designs, develops, and publishes narrative-driven video games for PC. Its core products are full-priced game titles such as Pathologic 3 (a remake of the cult classic Pathologic set in a plague-stricken town) and Darkwood 2 (a survival horror sequel set in the 1990s), each sold as standalone products to consumers via digital distribution channels.
Product overview
Ice-Pick Lodge is an independent video game development studio. The company develops narrative-driven games with complex gameplay mechanics and artistic design. Their portfolio includes Pathologic 3, a remake of the cult classic plague-stricken town game, and Darkwood 2, a sequel to their survival horror title Darkwood.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Pathologic 3 A remake of the cult classic narrative-driven video game Pathologic, set in a plague-stricken town. It is designed for individual PC gamers who enjoy complex narrative, gameplay mechanics, and artistic design as a survival experience.
- Darkwood 2 A sequel to the survival horror video game Darkwood, narratively separate from the original and set in the 1990s amidst a mysterious spreading corruption. Developed for individual PC survival-horror game players, with Acid Wizard Studio consulting.
Companies that use Ice-Pick Lodge
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles1 record
Ice-Pick Lodge technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Ice-Pick Lodge partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Ice-Pick Lodge competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- 4A Games: Ukrainian studio behind the Metro series, a relevant regional peer given the shared post-Soviet indie heritage and similar narrative-driven single-player focus.
Direct peers
- Mundfish: Moscow-based indie studio behind Atomic Heart, offering a useful comparison point for Russian-headquartered independent developers operating at larger scale.
- Bloober Team: Polish studio behind The Medium and the Silent Hill 2 remake, sharing Ice-Pick Lodge's narrative psychological horror focus and Eastern European indie heritage.
- Red Barrels: Montreal-based indie studio behind the Outlast series, operating at a comparable small-team scale in the survival horror genre with narrative-driven design.
- Acid Wizard Studio: Polish indie studio behind the original Darkwood and consulting on Darkwood 2. Most direct peer given the active collaboration on Ice-Pick Lodge's flagship sequel and shared survival horror genre focus.
- Supergiant Games: California-based indie studio known for Hades and Bastion, sharing Ice-Pick Lodge's commitment to handcrafted narrative-driven experiences and small-team ethos.
- Frictional Games: Swedish indie studio known for Amnesia and SOMA, narrative-driven survival horror titles with similar atmosphere and pacing to Ice-Pick Lodge's catalog.
- ZA/UM: Studio behind Disco Elysium, a narrative-heavy cult title. Comparable as a small narrative-driven studio whose work achieved cult status and artistic recognition.
Broad incumbents
- Annapurna Interactive: Publisher focused on narrative-driven indie titles, comparable as an ecosystem player that supports the kind of artistic narrative games Ice-Pick Lodge develops.
- Devolver Digital: Indie publisher of numerous narrative and horror titles including Inscryption and Cult of the Lamb, relevant as a potential publishing partner or comparable operating model.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Ice-Pick Lodge social profiles
Digital presenceIce-Pick Lodge financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ice-Pick Lodge leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Ice-Pick Lodge funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ice-Pick Lodge M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ice-Pick Lodge
What does Ice-Pick Lodge do?
Ice-Pick Lodge is an independent video game development studio that designs, develops, and publishes narrative-driven video games for PC. Its core products are full-priced game titles such as Pathologic 3 (a remake of the cult classic Pathologic set in a plague-stricken town) and Darkwood 2 (a survival horror sequel set in the 1990s), each sold as standalone products to consumers via digital distribution channels.
Is Ice-Pick Lodge a public or private company?
Ice-Pick Lodge is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Ice-Pick Lodge founded?
Ice-Pick Lodge was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Ice-Pick Lodge based?
Ice-Pick Lodge is headquartered in Moscow, Russia, in the Europe region.
Who are Ice-Pick Lodge's main competitors?
4A Games is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Mundfish, Bloober Team, Red Barrels, Acid Wizard Studio, Supergiant Games, Frictional Games and ZA/UM. Broad incumbents are Annapurna Interactive and Devolver Digital.
Does Ice-Pick Lodge have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ice-Pick Lodge.
What industry is Ice-Pick Lodge in?
Ice-Pick Lodge's product category is Indie Video Game Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAIAA, UGC Game Creation Platforms (Roblox-like, Fortnite Creative, Core). Its NAICS code is 5132.