Poet Software
Poet Software ANS is a bootstrapped Norwegian game studio founded by Paal Olstad that develops and publishes original casual and action-adventure games for Windows PC and Android, distributing paid titles via Microsoft Store and direct downloads to individual consumers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersOslo, Norway
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Poet Software does
Poet Software ANS is a Norwegian private game development partnership founded and operated by Paal Olstad from Oslo. The company develops and publishes original casual and action-adventure games for Windows PC, Android mobile phones, and Android tablets, with no licensed third-party IP in its commercial portfolio. Its core catalog consists of four paid Windows 10/11 applications distributed via Microsoft Store — Chinese Checkers Multiplayer (an online game with a proprietary anti-blocking/anti-spoiling ruleset), Chinese Checkers Singleplayer (with an AI opponent), Poet Poker Patience (a unique Poker Solitaire requiring all eight poker hand combinations), and Genius Only (a 3x3 color-code-breaking game) — alongside A Doll's House, a flagship 18-episode action-adventure series released for both Windows PC (direct download installer) and Android (APK sideload). The studio's technical work spans custom action-adventure engine design with original animations and puzzle systems, real-time multiplayer server architecture, and unique rule-mechanic design for classic board and puzzle genres.
The commercial model is paid Microsoft Store downloads for the four Windows titles, supplemented by direct website distribution of A Doll's House PC and Android builds and free shareware/browser games functioning as discovery funnels. Discovery relies on Microsoft Store listings, the PaalOlstad YouTube channel, a Facebook page, and organic third-party YouTube creator playthroughs — no paid advertising channels are evident. The firm is bootstrapped with no external funding, no institutional investors, and no disclosed revenue. Beyond the commercial product set, Paal Olstad also produces a catalog of custom mods and add-ons for classic DOS-era games (Descent II, Wolfenstein 3-D, Cosmo's Cosmic Adventure, Quake) and maintains a Norwegian-language fan site for the Morgan Kane literary series by Kjell Hallbing — activities that build community presence and SEO traffic but do not appear to be monetized. The business is effectively a solo/founder-led creative studio with 1–10 employees including brother Tommy Olstad as programmer on selected titles.
Poet Software firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Poet Software
- Legal name
- Poet Software ANS
- Website
- https://poetsoftware.no
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Poet Software ANS is a bootstrapped Norwegian game studio founded by Paal Olstad that develops and publishes original casual and action-adventure games for Windows PC and Android, distributing paid titles via Microsoft Store and direct downloads to individual consumers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Poet Software industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Casual Game Software
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Strategy/4X/Management Game Studios (MPAFAAAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Full-Service Game Publishers (1st/2nd/3rd-Party Publishing) (MPAFABAA)
Keywords
Where Poet Software is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oslo
- HQ country
- Norway
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
Poet Software business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Poet Software product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Poet Software develops and publishes original casual games for Windows PC and Android mobile devices. The portfolio centers on four Microsoft Store applications (Chinese Checkers Multiplayer, Chinese Checkers Singleplayer, Poet Poker Patience, and Genius Only) plus the flagship A Doll's House, a long-form action-adventure series spanning 18 complete episodes. All graphics, design, and code are produced in-house, with distribution handled via Microsoft Store and direct website downloads.
Product overview
Poet Software is a Norwegian game development company offering a portfolio of games for Windows PC and Android mobile platforms, distributed through Microsoft Store. The core product lineup includes four Windows applications: Chinese Checkers (available in both Multiplayer and Singleplayer versions), Poet Poker Patience, and Genius Only. The flagship product is A Doll's House, an action-adventure puzzle game spanning 18 complete episodes available on both Windows PC and Android. Additional offerings include Java applet-based card solitaires (Diplomaten, Stjernen, Spider, Nitten studenter), Flash/web games (Space Tivoli, Galaxe), and extensive mods/add-ons for classic games including Descent II, Cosmo's Cosmic Adventure, Digging Jim, Happyland Adventures, Monster Bash, Wolfenstein 3-D, and a Quake Total Conversion (Uhyrenes Dal). The company also maintains a companion site about the Morgan Kane literary series.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Chinese Checkers Multiplayer An online multiplayer Chinese Checkers game for Windows 10/11 where players challenge friends anywhere in the world or play anonymously without registration. Includes a proprietary anti-blocking/anti-spoiling rule variant. Distributed via Microsoft Store.
- Chinese Checkers Singleplayer A single-player Chinese Checkers game for Windows 10/11 with an AI opponent. Distributed via Microsoft Store.
- Poet Poker Patience A unique Poker Solitaire game for Windows 10/11 with two layouts in which players must achieve all eight poker combinations (One Pair through Straight Flush) across rows, columns, and diagonals to win. Distributed via Microsoft Store.
- Genius Only A code-breaking puzzle game for Windows 10/11 using a 3x3 grid of 12 colors with four feedback keys (black, red, yellow, white) providing positional feedback. Distributed via Microsoft Store.
- A Doll's House A long-form action-adventure puzzle game spanning 18 complete episodes, available for Windows PC and Android. Players take on the role of Bjørn Jonstad from Toten in a Western-themed adventure involving battles, puzzles, combat, and exploration across mansions, castles, dungeons, forests, and islands. Distributed via direct PC download and Android APK.
Companies that use Poet Software
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Poet Software technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Poet Software partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Poet Software competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Zachtronics: Solo- and small-team indie developer of original puzzle/strategy games distributed digitally. Comparable to Poet Software in original IP strategy, founder-driven model, and puzzle/strategy genre focus.
- Simogo: Small Swedish indie studio of comparable size producing premium narrative/puzzle mobile games for iOS and PC. Closely comparable to Poet Software in scale, originality, and craft-driven solo/small-team approach to casual gaming.
- Idea Factory: Small independent game developer and publisher producing original puzzle and strategy games for mobile and PC. Comparable to Poet Software in indie studio scale and strategy/puzzle genre focus.
- Terry Cavanagh: Solo indie game developer producing original action/puzzle games (VVVVVV, Super Hexagon, Dicey Dungeons). Comparable to Poet Software as a single-person, founder-driven indie developer of original IP across multiple small titles.
- Magmic Games: Small independent mobile game developer publishing classic-board-game and casual puzzle titles. Comparable to Poet Software in classic-game digitalization strategy and indie mobile distribution.
- PlaySimple: Mid-sized casual mobile game publisher focused on puzzle, word, and board games with original rule variants. Comparable to Poet Software in casual puzzle/board-game category overlap, though at significantly larger scale.
- Noodlecake Studios: Indie game publisher focused on curating and publishing premium small-team games across mobile and PC. Comparable to Poet Software as a small indie developer publishing through established storefronts.
- LITE Games: Small-to-mid European indie publisher specializing in digital board-game ports (chess, checkers, dominoes, etc.). Closely comparable to Poet's Chinese Checkers and Poetry Poker Patience offerings: board-game digitization at indie scale.
- Gamebrain: Small studio publishing casual puzzle and code-breaking games on mobile storefronts. Comparable to Poet Software in the code-breaking/puzzle niche and small-team indie structure.
Broad incumbents
- Microsoft Casual Games: Microsoft's in-house casual and solitaire gaming portfolio (Microsoft Solitaire, Minesweeper, etc.) distributed via Microsoft Store. Comparable to Poet Software as the dominant casual game publisher on the same Microsoft Store channel.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Poet Software social profiles
Digital presencePoet Software financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Poet Software leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Poet Software funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Poet Software 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 Poet Software
What does Poet Software do?
Poet Software develops and publishes original casual games for Windows PC and Android mobile devices. The portfolio centers on four Microsoft Store applications (Chinese Checkers Multiplayer, Chinese Checkers Singleplayer, Poet Poker Patience, and Genius Only) plus the flagship A Doll's House, a long-form action-adventure series spanning 18 complete episodes. All graphics, design, and code are produced in-house, with distribution handled via Microsoft Store and direct website downloads.
Is Poet Software a public or private company?
Poet Software is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Poet Software founded?
Poet Software was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Poet Software based?
Poet Software is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, in the Europe region.
Who are Poet Software's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Zachtronics, Simogo, Idea Factory, Terry Cavanagh, Magmic Games, PlaySimple, Noodlecake Studios, LITE Games and Gamebrain. Microsoft Casual Games is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Poet Software have an API?
No public API is recorded for Poet Software.
What industry is Poet Software in?
Poet Software's product category is Casual Game Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAAAK, Strategy/4X/Management Game Studios, with a secondary code of MPAFABAA, Full-Service Game Publishers (1st/2nd/3rd-Party Publishing). Its NAICS code is 5132 and its SIC code is 7372.