Playables
Playables is a Zurich-based independent production studio founded by Mario von Rickenbach and Michael Frei that creates experimental interactive games and web experiences. Products are distributed globally via Steam, iOS, Google Play, itch.io, and browser play, serving consumers and cultural institutions seeking unconventional interactive media.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersZürich, Switzerland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Playables does
Playables is a Zurich-based independent production company for interactive and audiovisual media, founded by game designer Mario von Rickenbach and animation artist Michael Frei. The studio creates experimental interactive games and web-based experiences — including physics-driven toys (Finger Simulator), puzzle games (Keys, Out of Order, Rakete), branded web experiments (Pocket Boss, Time Flies, KIDS, CARS), and utility-style interactives (Review Reader, Pointer, Coin, Beifall). Products are built on web technologies (notably p5.js for select projects) with physics simulation as a recurring technical motif, and are distributed globally through Steam, the iOS App Store, Google Play, itch.io, and direct browser play.
The business operates with a small core team of the two founders plus project-based collaborators. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time game sales on third-party storefronts, supplemented by commissioned work such as the 2014 Fantoche Animation Festival interactive trailer. The go-to-market model is product-led: the studio relies on organic social channels (Bluesky, Mastodon, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube), an email newsletter, and a structured game-key program for reviewers and streamers, with no evidence of paid marketing or enterprise sales motion. Customers are predominantly general consumers seeking unconventional interactive entertainment, with occasional institutional clients (cultural festivals) purchasing bespoke interactive promotional content.
Playables firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Playables
- Legal name
- Playables GmbH
- Website
- https://playables.net
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Playables is a Zurich-based independent production studio founded by Mario von Rickenbach and Michael Frei that creates experimental interactive games and web experiences. Products are distributed globally via Steam, iOS, Google Play, itch.io, and browser play, serving consumers and cultural institutions seeking unconventional interactive media.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Playables industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Game Development
- NAICS
- Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries (713)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Casual/Hypercasual Game Studios (MPAFAAAG)
Keywords
Where Playables is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Zürich
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Playables business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations
Revenue model
- Game Sales: Revenue from selling games through digital distribution platforms including Steam, iOS App Store, and Google Play
- Custom Project Work: Commissioned work such as the Fantoche Animation Festival interactive trailer
- Free-to-play with optional engagement: Some games offered free (e.g., Finger Simulator) with potential monetization through visibility and festival presence
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Playables product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Playables is a Zurich-based production company that creates and publishes playful interactive projects, including games and web-based interactive experiences. Its portfolio spans mobile and desktop games (Pocket Boss, Time Flies, Rakete, KIDS, My Exercise, TET, CARS, Il Filo Conduttore, OKO) and browser-based interactive works (Finger Simulator, Coin, Keys, Beifall, Review Reader, Pointer, More, Out of Order). Products are distributed globally through itch.io, Steam, Google Play, and the iOS App Store, and the studio also takes on commissioned interactive media work for cultural events such as animation festivals.
Product overview
Playables is a Zurich-based production company founded by Mario von Rickenbach and Michael Frei that creates strange, playful interactive experiences. The portfolio consists of games (including Pocket Boss, Time Flies, Rakete, KIDS, My Exercise, TET, CARS, Il Filo Conduttore, and OKO) and web-based interactive projects (such as Finger Simulator, Coin, Keys, Beifall, Review Reader, Pointer, More, and Out of Order). The company publishes and distributes through itch.io, Steam, Google Play, and the iOS App Store.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Finger Simulator An interactive finger simulator featuring lifelike physics, relaxing sounds, support for more than 10 fingers, and web browser optimization. Originally commissioned as the Fantoche Animation Festival 2014 interactive trailer.
- Review Reader A web-based tool that lets users enter an app name or URL to read reviews from the iOS App Store and Steam platforms.
- Pointer An interactive web experience where moving the cursor makes pointers follow and point at it. Created using p5.js.
- Coin An interactive web experience featuring the message 'Insert coin, please. Thank you.'
- Keys A puzzle game with the tagline 'Help me.' featuring sounds from Free Sound Effects.
- Out of Order A puzzle game with the tagline 'Solve me.' Created by Anaïs Voirol and Mylène Dreyer.
- More An interactive web experience by Michael Frei and Mario von Rickenbach.
- Pocket Boss A game developed by Mario von Rickenbach.
- Time Flies A game developed by Michael Frei and Raphaël Munoz.
Companies that use Playables
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Playables technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Playables partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Fantoche Animation FestivalcoreFantoche commissioned Playables to develop the Festival Trailer for their 2014 Edition. Playables created Finger Simulator as an interactive promotional piece.
- Etter StudiominorEtter Studio produced and published Plug & Play, the first collaboration between founders Mario von Rickenbach and Michael Frei before they established Playables.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Playables competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Santa Ragione: Milan-based art game studio behind works like Saturnalia and Fotonica. Comparable as a European small studio producing stylistically bold, experimental interactive experiences.
- Simogo: Swedish indie studio known for artistic, stylistically distinctive mobile and PC games (Year Walk, Device 6, Sayonara Wild Hearts). Like Playables, it is a small founder-driven team focused on playful, experimental interactive experiences.
- Die Gute Fabrik: Copenhagen-based indie studio (Mutazione, Where Cards Fall) making artistically distinctive, narrative-led games. Similar small-team, art-first ethos and festival-circuit positioning.
- Amanita Design: Czech indie studio (Machinarium, Samorost, Botanicula) making quirky, artistic point-and-click games and web experiences. Highly comparable creative DNA and similar small-team, art-led operating model.
- ustwo games: London-based studio behind Monument Valley and Assemble with Care — small team making aesthetically distinctive, short-form interactive experiences. Directly comparable in artistic positioning and small-scale production philosophy.
- Mountains: Australian indie studio behind Florence, an artistically-led interactive narrative. Comparable small team producing short, emotionally distinctive interactive experiences that bridge games and art.
- KO_OP: Montreal-based independent studio known for playful, artistic games (GNOG, Goodbye Volcano High). Small creative team with a comparable focus on distinctive, art-led interactive experiences.
Broad incumbents
- thatgamecompany: Studio behind Journey, Flower, and Sky: Children of the Light. Operates in the same artistic-interactive-entertainment category as Playables but at meaningfully larger scale and broader commercial reach.
- Annapurna Interactive: Publisher specializing in artistically distinctive indie games (What Remains of Edith Finch, Stray, Cocoon). Operates in the same end of the market as Playables but as a publisher with a much broader portfolio and capital base.
Others
- The Coding Train / Daniel Shiffman (educational reference): Noted because Playables uses p5.js (the JavaScript creative coding library Shiffman champions) for projects like Pointer. They are not a peer in commercial terms but share the experimental, browser-based creative-coding community ethos.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Playables social profiles
Digital presencePlayables financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Playables leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Playables funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Playables 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 Playables
What does Playables do?
Playables is a Zurich-based production company that creates and publishes playful interactive projects, including games and web-based interactive experiences. Its portfolio spans mobile and desktop games (Pocket Boss, Time Flies, Rakete, KIDS, My Exercise, TET, CARS, Il Filo Conduttore, OKO) and browser-based interactive works (Finger Simulator, Coin, Keys, Beifall, Review Reader, Pointer, More, Out of Order). Products are distributed globally through itch.io, Steam, Google Play, and the iOS App Store, and the studio also takes on commissioned interactive media work for cultural events such as animation festivals.
Is Playables a public or private company?
Playables is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Playables founded?
Playables was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Playables based?
Playables is headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Playables make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Game Sales are the primary driver. The others are custom Project Work and free-to-play with optional engagement.
Who are Playables's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Santa Ragione, Simogo, Die Gute Fabrik, Amanita Design, ustwo games, Mountains and KO_OP. Broad incumbents are thatgamecompany and Annapurna Interactive. The Coding Train / Daniel Shiffman (educational reference) is listed as an others.
Does Playables have an API?
No public API is recorded for Playables.
What industry is Playables in?
Playables's product category is Independent Game Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAAAG, Casual/Hypercasual Game Studios. Its NAICS code is 713 and its SIC code is 7900.