Gentlymad Studios
Gentlymad Studios is an independent German indie game developer founded in 2014, building handcrafted PC, console, and mobile games including the Endzone colony-builder franchise, Pizza Connection 3, and In Between, distributed globally via Steam, GOG, and mobile storefronts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersWiesbaden, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Gentlymad Studios does
Gentlymad Studios UG (haftungsbeschränkt) is an independent German video game developer founded in June 2014 in Wiesbaden by four co-founders from Trier. The studio develops and self-publishes handcrafted games across PC, console, and mobile platforms, focusing on atmospheric and simulation experiences that differentiate from industrial game production norms. Its commercial product portfolio spans the Endzone post-apocalyptic colony-builder franchise (Endzone: A World Apart released 2020; Endzone 2 in Early Access on Steam and GOG in 2024), the economic simulation Pizza Connection 3 (2017), the award-winning puzzle platformer In Between (2015), and the cross-platform multiplayer brawler Furious Fightpub; it also publishes several game-jam prototypes (Scream or Die, Pavarocket, Agent Smoke) and a transmedia prototype (Decalon, currently on hold).
The studio builds on the Unity game engine and has developed proprietary tooling, including the Sheetah Adobe After Effects extension for spritesheet export and a custom real-time dynamic shattering shader. Games are monetized via one-time purchase sales distributed through Steam, GOG, Humble Store, Mac App Store, iOS App Store, Google Play, and Xbox One; the Sheetah tool is sold separately on aescripts.com under a "name your own price" model. Go-to-market is community-led, leveraging YouTube Dev Diaries, an active Discord server (#gentlymadgames), Twitter engagement, game-jam participation (Ludum Dare, Indies vs. Pewdiepie), and exhibitions at gamescom and Indievelopment, supplemented by publisher partnerships with headup games (since 2015) and Assemble Entertainment (for Pizza Connection 3).
Gentlymad operates as a privately held UG (haftungsbeschränkt) limited liability company with Stefan Marcinek as the listed representative, with no disclosed external funding, institutional investors, parent company, or subsidiaries. The company has earned a Red Dot Award Best of the Best (2014) for In Between, a German Video Games Award for best newcomer concept (2015), a German Developer Award for Best Marketing Campaign (2017), and government "Kreativpiloten" designation (2015). Headcount stands at approximately 11 employees, with growth concentrated in product portfolio expansion rather than team scaling.
Gentlymad Studios firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Gentlymad Studios
- Legal name
- Gentlymad Studios UG (haftungsbeschränkt)
- Website
- https://gentlymad.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Gentlymad Studios is an independent German indie game developer founded in 2014, building handcrafted PC, console, and mobile games including the Endzone colony-builder franchise, Pizza Connection 3, and In Between, distributed globally via Steam, GOG, and mobile storefronts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Gentlymad Studios industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Indie Video Games
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (513210)
- SIC
- Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Indie Game Studios (MPAFAAAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Mobile & F2P Game Studios (MPAFAAAB)
Keywords
Where Gentlymad Studios is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wiesbaden
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Gentlymad Studios business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Game Sales: One-time purchase model for PC, console, and mobile games sold through digital distribution platforms.
- Software Tool Sales: Sheetah After Effects extension sold through aescripts.com with 'name your own price' model (suggested $18.99).
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels7 records
Gentlymad Studios product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Gentlymad Studios is an independent German video game development studio that designs, builds, and self-publishes indie video games across PC (Steam, GOG), console (Xbox One), and mobile (iOS, Android) platforms. Its portfolio centers on handcrafted, atmospheric titles including the Endzone post-apocalyptic colony-builder series, the Pizza Connection 3 economic simulation, and the award-winning puzzle platformer In Between. The studio also sells Sheetah, a proprietary Adobe After Effects extension used by animation and game developers to export 2D animations as spritesheets.
Product overview
Gentlymad Studios is an independent German video game developer offering a portfolio of games and development tools. Their core products include Endzone 2 and Endzone: A World Apart (post-apocalyptic colony builder survival games), Pizza Connection 3 (economic simulation), In Between (award-winning puzzle platformer), and Furious Fightpub (multiplayer brawler). The portfolio also includes smaller game jam projects (Scream or Die, Pavarocket, Agent Smoke, Decalon) and a developer tool called Sheetah for Adobe After Effects animation exports.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use Gentlymad Studios
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Gentlymad Studios technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Gentlymad Studios partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- headup gamescorePublisher partnership established after winning the German Video Game Award. headup games provides publishing support including distribution, marketing, and industry connections.
- Pixel-PubminorCollaboration with game development studio Pixel-Pub from Trier for Ludum Dare game jam project 'Pavarocket'.
- Assemble EntertainmentminorPublisher for Pizza Connection 3, providing press kit and marketing support.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Gentlymad Studios competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Daedalic Entertainment: Established German game developer and publisher of indie and adventure titles. Comparable as a German-headquartered games business, but Daedalic operates at much larger scale and serves as a publisher of similar indie titles.
- Assemble Entertainment: German indie publisher that has actually published Gentlymad's Pizza Connection 3. Comparable as a German games business operating in the same indie publishing/development ecosystem.
- Headup Games: German indie game publisher that is Gentlymad's actual publishing partner. Comparable as a German games business operating in the indie publishing/development ecosystem and a known counterparty.
Direct peers
- Studio MDHR: Small independent studio behind Cuphead. Comparable as a small, craft-focused indie studio with award recognition and a distinctive visual style.
- Ysbryd Games: Independent game publisher focused on narrative and atmospheric indie experiences. Comparable as a small indie publisher working with studios producing artistic, narrative-driven games.
- Moon Studios: Independent game studio of comparable small-team size producing handcrafted, award-winning action-adventure titles (Ori series). Comparable as a similarly-sized, award-decorated indie studio focused on unique, handcrafted experiences over mass-market formulas.
- Klei Entertainment: Independent Canadian game developer with a portfolio spanning distinct genres (Don't Starve, Mark of the Ninja, Oxygen Not Included). Comparable as a small indie studio with a multi-genre catalog and survival/builder titles.
- tinyBuild Games: Independent game developer and publisher working on a diverse indie portfolio across multiple genres. Comparable as a small-to-mid studio with a multi-genre indie catalog and publisher partnerships.
- Supergiant Games: Small independent studio producing handcrafted narrative-driven games (Hades, Bastion). Highly comparable as a small indie team with strong craft ethos, multiple shipped titles, and a portfolio spanning distinct genres rather than franchise repetition.
- Amanita Design: Czech indie studio producing handcrafted, artistic adventure games (Machinarium, Samorost). Comparable as a small indie team emphasizing craft, hand-painted aesthetics, and unique experiences over commercial formulas.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Gentlymad Studios social profiles
Digital presenceGentlymad Studios financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Gentlymad Studios leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Gentlymad Studios funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Gentlymad Studios 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 Gentlymad Studios
What does Gentlymad Studios do?
Gentlymad Studios is an independent German video game development studio that designs, builds, and self-publishes indie video games across PC (Steam, GOG), console (Xbox One), and mobile (iOS, Android) platforms. Its portfolio centers on handcrafted, atmospheric titles including the Endzone post-apocalyptic colony-builder series, the Pizza Connection 3 economic simulation, and the award-winning puzzle platformer In Between. The studio also sells Sheetah, a proprietary Adobe After Effects extension used by animation and game developers to export 2D animations as spritesheets.
Is Gentlymad Studios a public or private company?
Gentlymad Studios is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Gentlymad Studios founded?
Gentlymad Studios was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Gentlymad Studios based?
Gentlymad Studios is headquartered in Wiesbaden, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Gentlymad Studios make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Game Sales are the primary driver. The others are software Tool Sales.
Who are Gentlymad Studios's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Daedalic Entertainment, Assemble Entertainment and Headup Games. Direct peers are Studio MDHR, Ysbryd Games, Moon Studios, Klei Entertainment, tinyBuild Games, Supergiant Games and Amanita Design.
Does Gentlymad Studios have an API?
No public API is recorded for Gentlymad Studios.
What industry is Gentlymad Studios in?
Gentlymad Studios's product category is Indie Video Games. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAAAC, Indie Game Studios, with a secondary code of MPAFAAAB, Mobile & F2P Game Studios. Its NAICS code is 513210 and its SIC code is 3944.