A MAZE.

What A MAZE. does

A MAZE. is a Berlin-based international arthouse games label and cultural platform founded in 2008 by Thorsten S. Wiedemann and Michael Liebe, operating as A MAZE. GmbH since 2012. The organization curates and promotes independent, experimental, and arthouse games and playful media through a multi-format ecosystem: the annual A MAZE. / Berlin International Games and Playful Media Festival (now in its 15th edition), the A MAZE. Awards (since 2012), the A MAZE. Digital PlayGround exhibition at gamescom, mobile Pop Up events, the A MAZE. / SPACE 3D multiplayer virtual platform with VR support, residency programs (The Brain, Playful Obscura), and the Arthouse Games Archive. The core proprietary technology is A MAZE. / SPACE, a 3D multiplayer culture experience accessible via Windows, Mac, Quest link, and PC VR, featuring Scene SDK and Exhibit SDK development tools for artists.

A MAZE. serves independent game developers, digital artists, VR creators, art institutions, and arthouse game enthusiasts across 15+ countries. Revenue is generated through a combination of festival ticket sales (€80–130 per ticket), paid workshops (€50 per participant), B2B Pop Up event services, and — most significantly — institutional grants and sponsorships from public cultural funders including Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, Goethe-Institut, Institut Français, Hauptstadtkulturfonds, and GamesConnect AFRICA. The organization's go-to-market is event- and community-driven, combining physical festivals with a virtual platform for global accessibility.

The organization operates with a small core team of approximately 13 employees, expanding to roughly 40 plus 150 volunteers during the Berlin festival. In 2024–2025, A MAZE. underwent significant organizational restructuring following Code of Conduct violations at A MAZE. / Sheffield, including founder Thorsten S. Wiedemann stepping back from public roles and the formation of a decentralized governance group called A MAZE. Flock.

Name

A MAZE.

Legal name

A MAZE. GmbH

Website

https://a-maze.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

A MAZE. is a Berlin-based international arthouse games label operating since 2008, running the annual Berlin festival, A MAZE. Awards, gamescom Digital PlayGround, and the A MAZE. / SPACE 3D multiplayer virtual platform, serving independent game developers, digital artists, and cultural institutions across 15+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Games Events and Festivals

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (711320), Amusement Arcades (71312)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Virtual Expo & 3D Booth Solutions (Show Floors, Digital Booths, Product Demos) (THAHAOAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Custom Booth & Stand Design (Concept, 3D, Branding) (THAHAHAA), Interactive & Experiential Tech for Stands (AR/VR, Touchscreens, Gamification) (THAHAHAJ), Virtual Event Registration, Ticketing & Access Control (Authentication, Paywalls, Badging) (THAHAOAI)

Keywords

• Arthouse games festivals
• Playful media events
• Independent games awards
• Virtual games exhibitions
• Game residencies

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Festival Tickets: A MAZE. generates revenue through ticket sales for their annual Berlin festival and other events. Early bird tickets are priced at €80, regular tickets at €100, and full festival tickets at €130.
2. Workshop Fees: Revenue from paid workshops such as the World Sculpting Workshop priced at €50 (with 50% student/discount pricing).
3. Partnerships and Sponsorships: Funded by Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg and other institutional partners for festival operations, exhibitions, and residency programs.
4. Pop Up Event Services: A MAZE. Pop Up brings arthouse games to partner events, curating exhibitions, talks, and workshops for festivals and creative industry events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

A MAZE. operates as an international arthouse label curating independent and alternative games through festivals (annual A MAZE. / Berlin), an annual award show (A MAZE. Awards), a proprietary 3D multiplayer virtual exhibition platform (A MAZE. / SPACE), pop-up exhibition events at partner festivals, residency programs (The Brain), and community programs (game jams, hackathons). The core deliverable is physical and virtual exhibition, promotion, and networking for experimental game creators and digital artists, sold via ticket sales, workshop fees, and partner/sponsor contracts.

Product overview

A MAZE. is an international arthouse label in the field of games and playful media operating as a platform-plus-events organization. The core offering centers on the A MAZE. / SPACE, a 3D multiplayer virtual culture experience, combined with the annual A MAZE. / Berlin Festival. Supporting modules include the A MAZE. Awards (award show for independent games), A MAZE. Pop Up (mobile exhibition format), HyperTalks (short presentation format), The Brain Playful Media Residency (artist residency program), Game Jams and Hackathons (collaborative creation events), Arthouse Games Archive (curated game collection), A MAZE. / Magazine (publication), and Disconnected VR Performance (experimental VR experience). The portfolio also includes the A MAZE. Digital PlayGround exhibition platform and A MAZE. / Train Station virtual world. Together, these products form an ecosystem supporting arthouse games, artistic virtual reality, and playful media culture through festivals, awards, residencies, exhibitions, and virtual experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• A MAZE. Awards: Annual international award show premiering independent and arthouse games and playful media since 2012, currently with 6 categories.
• A MAZE. Digital PlayGround
• A MAZE. Pop Up
• A MAZE. / SPACE
• HyperTalks
• The Brain - Playful Media Residency
• Arthouse Games Archive
• A MAZE. Shop-Gallery

Products and services

• A MAZE. / SPACE A 3D Multiplayer Culture Experience where visitors interact with curated selections of arthouse games, digital art, and adventurous media. Supports Windows, Mac, Quest link and PC VR (Rift, HTC Vive), and features live-streamed talks, music performances, and art exhibitions in collaboration with art institutions, festivals, and curators.
• A MAZE. / Berlin Festival Annual International Games and Playful Media Festival held in Berlin at venues including Silent Green, Panke Club, and Transmediale Studio. Celebrates arthouse games, artistic virtual reality, and playful media beyond the mainstream through exhibitions, awards, talks, workshops, and performances. Drawn 7,500 visitors and 1,700 professional participants in 2026.
• A MAZE. Awards Annual international award show premiering independent and arthouse games and playful media. Categories include Most Amazing Award, Human Human Machine Award, Long Feature Award, Digital Moment Award, Explorer Award, Audience Award, and Gender Diversity Award presented by WINGS.
• A MAZE. Pop Up Mobile and flexible event format presenting arthouse videogames, alternative controller installations, playful media including VR installations, and playful art experiences at film festivals, art festivals, music festivals, and creative industry events worldwide. Creates custom-made programs with talks, workshops, and themed exhibitions.
• The Brain - Playful Media Residency Interdisciplinary artist in residency program bringing artists from different fields together to create playful works over two weeks in Berlin or online. Curated by Thorsten S. Wiedemann with partners including Institut français Deutschland, Polish Institute, and Goethe-Institut. Co-commissioner Playful Obscura residency in Africa.
• A MAZE. Digital PlayGround Exhibition platform showcasing arthouse games, alternative controller games, and experimental games from Berlin-Brandenburg at industry events such as gamescom in Cologne and Kultursommerfestival Berlin. Features digital interactive exhibits, hypertalks, music, and performances.
• World Sculpting Workshop Paid workshop at A MAZE. priced at €50 per participant, with 50% discount for students, refugees, and members of the queer community. Limited to 15 participants.
• Arthouse Games Archive Curated collection and online destination initiated by Thorsten S. Wiedemann for independent and alternative game enthusiasts and connoisseurs of experimental games, preserving the diverse avant-garde gaming landscape.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7500 visitors and 1700 professional participants at A MAZE. / Berlin 2026
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 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

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Goethe-InstitutcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026International cultural partner for residency programs and international expansion. Co-commissioner of Playful Obscura Arthouse Games Residency in Africa. Supports international pop-up events and cultural exchange programs.
• Institut Français / French InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partner for The Brain Playful Media Residency program. Supports interdisciplinary artist residencies bringing together artists from France, Germany and international locations.
• GamesConnect AFRICAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership for Playful Obscura Arthouse Games Residency, a two-week artist residency in Ghana supporting experimental game creators from sub-Saharan Africa.
• Node Eight FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partner in Playful Obscura residency program jury, working with A MAZE. and Goethe-Institut to select artists for the Ghana-based arthouse games residency.
• Tulpar NotebooksminorOthers · 1 January 2025Hardware partner for gamescom Digital PlayGround events, providing gaming laptops for exhibition and demonstrations.
• KölnmesseminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Cooperation partner for gamescom Digital PlayGround, providing venue and logistics support at gamescom in Cologne.
• HAU Hebbel am UferminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024Co-production partnership for Fantasia Malware performance 'Fever Loop Fountain #1' at HAU2. Project funded by Hauptstadtkulturfonds.
• Sonar +DminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024A MAZE. showcased 3 A MAZE. Awards 2024 winning works at Sonar +D in Barcelona, a platform for innovation in creative industries.
• Independent Game Developers Guild (IGAGF)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2023Partnership for first IGAGF Festival in Seoul, South Korea. A MAZE. served as partner focusing on auteurship in indie games. Award show and talks streamed into A MAZE. / SPACE.
• Kulturprojekte BerlinminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partner for Digital PlayGround at Kultursommerfestival Berlin 2023, cooperating on cultural programming.
• Deutsches Technikmuseum BerlinminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Location partner for Digital PlayGround event, providing venue at Technikmuseum Berlin.
• BLON Animation and Games FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership with BLON Festival in Klaipėda, Lithuania for A MAZE. Pop Up in 2022. Showcased award-winning games from A MAZE. Awards.
• Melt FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership to bring A MAZE. Pop Up content featuring arthouse games and installations to Melt Festival in Germany in 2019.
• Playtopia FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partnership with Playtopia Festival in Cape Town, South Africa in 2018 for A MAZE. Pop Up showcasing international arthouse games.
• DokuTech FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Annual partnership for A MAZE. Pop Up at DokuTech Festival in Pristina, Kosovo from 2017-2020. Showcased arthouse games and playful media at the festival.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• IndieCade: IndieCade is the leading U.S.-based international indie games festival with awards, showcases, and year-round programming. It is the closest direct peer to A MAZE. / Berlin in the arthouse/independent games festival category, sharing curation focus, award shows, and developer networking emphasis.
• Now Play This: Now Play This is an annual games festival at Somerset House in London focused on experimental and playful games. It is a direct peer to A MAZE. / Berlin in curating non-mainstream, artistic games for festival audiences and programming installations and talks.
• Ars Electronica: Ars Electronica is a long-running Linz-based festival and institute for art, technology, and society, featuring exhibitions, awards (Prix Ars Electronica), and residencies. It is comparable to A MAZE. as a high-prestige arts/tech festival with awards, residencies, and an institutional footprint.
• Different Games Conference: Different Games is an academic and community-oriented games conference exploring non-mainstream game design and culture. It is comparable to A MAZE. in its focus on critical and experimental games discourse, though it leans more academic/critical while A MAZE. leans artistic/festival.
• transmediale: transmediale is a Berlin-based annual festival for art and digital culture, held at Silent Green (one of A MAZE. / Berlin's venues). It is a strong direct peer in positioning experimental digital culture for art-world and tech audiences, and is a hosting partner of A MAZE.
• Sónar: Sónar is an international festival in Barcelona for advanced music and digital creativity, with the Sónar+D congress strand focused on creative industries. A MAZE. has exhibited at Sónar +D, indicating direct peer positioning as a festival blending art, technology, and experimental digital culture.
• Fantastic Arcade: Fantastic Arcade is the indie/arthouse games showcase embedded within Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas. It is directly comparable to A MAZE. as a curated arthouse games event co-located with a larger cultural/film festival, serving overlapping indie developer audiences.

Broad incumbents

• Gamescom: Gamescom is the world's largest gaming trade fair held annually in Cologne. A MAZE. exhibits there via the Digital PlayGround booth (100-150m²), making gamescom both a distribution channel and a broader incumbent that overshadows niche arthouse events in scale.
• PAX: PAX is a major series of gaming festivals (PAX East/West/South/Unplugged) targeting both consumers and industry. It is a broad incumbent to A MAZE. in scale and indie game inclusion, with the Indie MEGABOOTH serving a function somewhat analogous to A MAZE.'s curated showcases.
• Game Developers Conference (GDC): GDC is the largest annual professional game industry event in San Francisco, covering mainstream game development. It is a broader incumbent to A MAZE. in hosting game developer networking, talks, and exhibition, though with a far less artistic focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AMAZEFEST
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@AMAZEFEST
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/a-maze-berlin

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 A MAZE.