Asteroid Lab
Asteroid Lab is a 5-person independent game studio based in Bern, Switzerland, founded in 2019. It develops and maintains Terraformers, a turn-based Mars colony-building strategy game with roguelike elements, sold across PC and console storefronts via publisher Goblinz Studio.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- Headquarters—
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Asteroid Lab does
Asteroid Lab is a 5-person independent game development studio founded in 2019 and based in Bern, Switzerland. The company develops turn-based strategy games, with its sole commercial product being Terraformers — a colony-building and resource management game with roguelike elements set on Mars. The game is published by Goblinz Studio and distributed digitally across all major gaming platforms: Steam, GOG, Nintendo Switch eShop, Xbox Store, and PlayStation Store. The soundtrack was composed by Airship Studio, and the development was supported by Pro Helvetia, the Swiss arts and culture foundation.
The studio operates a one-time-purchase revenue model, with the game available for direct purchase on each platform storefront and supplemented by DLC content such as the 'New Frontiers' expansion. The underlying technology is a video game engine (specific engine not disclosed), with no publicly documented proprietary features. Marketing is conducted through community-driven channels including Discord, X/Twitter, a developer blog, and an email newsletter, supplemented by Goblinz Studio's press and streamer outreach.
Asteroid Lab targets PC and console gamers who enjoy deep strategy games with layered progression mechanics. The company operates with minimal team size, no disclosed funding, no management team data, and no publicly available revenue figures. Operating status is active, with ongoing post-launch support and content updates for Terraformers.
Asteroid Lab firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Asteroid Lab
- Legal name
- Asteroid Lab
- Website
- https://terraformers-game.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Asteroid Lab is a 5-person independent game studio based in Bern, Switzerland, founded in 2019. It develops and maintains Terraformers, a turn-based Mars colony-building strategy game with roguelike elements, sold across PC and console storefronts via publisher Goblinz Studio.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Asteroid Lab industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Video Games
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132)
- SIC
- Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Strategy/4X/Management Game Studios (MPAFAAAK)
Keywords
Asteroid Lab business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Video Game Sales: One-time purchase model through digital distribution platforms. Players buy the game directly from Steam, GOG, Nintendo eShop, Xbox Store, or PlayStation Store. The game may include DLC expansions.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels4 records
Asteroid Lab product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Asteroid Lab develops and publishes Terraformers, a turn-based colony builder and resource management video game with roguelike elements. Players explore Mars, develop cities, spread life, and transform the Red Planet into a green one. The game is sold as a one-time purchase through digital storefronts including Steam, GOG, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Store, and PlayStation Store, with Goblinz Studio acting as publisher.
Product overview
Asteroid Lab is a game development studio that created Terraformers, a turn-based colony builder and resource management game with roguelike elements. The game is available across multiple distribution platforms including Steam, GOG, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Store, and PlayStation Store.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Terraformers
Companies that use Asteroid Lab
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Asteroid Lab technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Asteroid Lab partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Goblinz StudiocoreGoblinz Studio serves as the publisher for Terraformers, handling distribution and marketing through their platform. They provide press kit materials and game keys for press and streamers, and manage the game's presence on digital storefronts.
- Airship StudiominorAirship Studio composed the original soundtrack for Terraformers. The music credits are featured on the game's official website, indicating a creative collaboration for the audio experience.
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Asteroid Lab competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Amplitude Studios: Developer of Humankind and the Endless series — turn-based and 4X strategy titles that compete directly for the Terraformers player base, though at substantially larger scale.
- Paradox Interactive: Major publisher/developer of 4X and strategy games (Stellaris, Surviving Mars, Cities: Skylines). Operates broadly across the same genre but at vastly larger scale; competes for the same core strategy audience.
- Firaxis Games: Developer of the Civilization franchise, the dominant turn-based 4X strategy series. Same genre and same turn-based strategy audience as Terraformers, though at much larger scale.
- 11 bit studios: Developer of Frostpunk, a high-profile city/settlement survival-builder. Comparable mechanics and audience overlap, though typically heavier and more narrative-driven than Terraformers.
Direct peers
- Haemimont Games: Developer of Surviving Mars, the most direct competitor to Terraformers — both studios turn-based-strategize the establishment and survival of colonies on Mars, making it the closest product analogue.
- Mohawk Games: Developer of Old World, a turn-based 4X strategy game. Comparable audience and core turn-based-strategy mechanics make it a strong direct peer for Terraformers.
- Goblinz Studio: Publisher of Terraformers and developer/publisher of comparable indie strategy and management titles. Direct overlap in product category, business model, and indie strategy audience.
- Eremite Games: Developer of Against the Storm, a roguelike city/colony-builder with the same core mechanics as Terraformers (turn-based strategy + roguelike replayability) and a comparable indie scale.
Emerging players
- Toukana Interactive: Developer of Dorfromantik, a tile-placement builder with a strategy layer. Comparable indie-builder audience and similar small-team profile to Asteroid Lab.
- Balancing Monkey Games: Developer of Before We Leave, a small-scale city/settlement-builder with relaxed mechanics. Comparable indie city-builder audience with a less strategy-heavy approach than Terraformers.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Asteroid Lab social profiles
Digital presenceAsteroid Lab financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Asteroid Lab leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Asteroid Lab funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Asteroid Lab 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 Asteroid Lab
What does Asteroid Lab do?
Asteroid Lab develops and publishes Terraformers, a turn-based colony builder and resource management video game with roguelike elements. Players explore Mars, develop cities, spread life, and transform the Red Planet into a green one. The game is sold as a one-time purchase through digital storefronts including Steam, GOG, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Store, and PlayStation Store, with Goblinz Studio acting as publisher.
When was Asteroid Lab founded?
Asteroid Lab was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
How does Asteroid Lab make money?
One revenue line is on record: video Game Sales.
Who are Asteroid Lab's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Amplitude Studios, Paradox Interactive, Firaxis Games and 11 bit studios. Direct peers are Haemimont Games, Mohawk Games, Goblinz Studio and Eremite Games. Emerging players are Toukana Interactive and Balancing Monkey Games.
Does Asteroid Lab have an API?
No public API is recorded for Asteroid Lab.
What industry is Asteroid Lab in?
Asteroid Lab's product category is Video Games. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAAAK, Strategy/4X/Management Game Studios. Its NAICS code is 5132 and its SIC code is 3944.