Trinket Studios
Trinket Studios is a Chicago-based indie game studio founded in 2012 that develops character-driven video games — including Battle Chef Brigade and Battle Suit Aces — across mobile, PC, and console platforms for individual gaming consumers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Trinket Studios does
Trinket Studios is a privately-held, Chicago-based independent game development studio founded in 2012 by three team members (Tom, Eric, and Ben). The studio builds small, character-driven video games across mobile, PC, and console platforms, operating with a team of fewer than ten people and a community-led go-to-market motion.
The studio's catalog spans four titles released over roughly a decade: the 2013 mobile games Color Sheep and Orion's Forge, the 2017 multi-platform release Battle Chef Brigade (and its Deluxe edition), and the 2024 release Battle Suit Aces. Its games rely on hand-drawn art, character-first storytelling, and genre-fusion mechanics — for example, combining combo-based hunting with puzzle-based cooking, or deckbuilding with sci-fi RPG narratives. Notable technical components include cross-platform support (iOS, Android, Steam, Nintendo Switch, PS4/PS5), custom combat systems such as a 5v5 card battle engine and a pilot-placement mechanic, and proprietary touch-driven gameplay loops such as RGB color mixing. Battle Suit Aces was published through Outersloth, the studio associated with Innersloth (creators of Among Us), extending Trinket's reach across console storefronts.
Commercially, Trinket monetizes through one-time purchases on digital storefronts rather than subscriptions or in-app purchases. Battle Suit Aces retails at $24.99 on Steam, Switch, and PS5; older mobile titles were priced around $1. The studio sells directly to consumers through platform marketplaces and reaches players via community channels — Discord, a mailing list, Twitter/X, Facebook, and Blue Sky — rather than through a traditional sales force. There is no indication of institutional investment, venture funding, or external ownership; the studio remains founder-controlled.
Trinket Studios firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Trinket Studios
- Legal name
- Trinket Studios
- Website
- https://trinketstudios.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Trinket Studios is a Chicago-based indie game studio founded in 2012 that develops character-driven video games — including Battle Chef Brigade and Battle Suit Aces — across mobile, PC, and console platforms for individual gaming consumers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Trinket Studios industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Indie Video Games
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Narrative/Adventure & RPG Game Studios (MPAFAAAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Co-Development, Porting & Remaster Studios (MPAFAAAM)
Keywords
Where Trinket Studios is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Trinket 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 revenue from selling games on digital storefronts (Steam, Switch, PS5, iOS, Android). Price points vary by game.
- Publisher Partnership (Outersloth): Outersloth publishes Battle Suit Aces, handling distribution and potentially revenue share arrangements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Battle Suit Aces standard edition |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Color Sheep mobile game |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
Trinket Studios product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Trinket Studios is an independent game development studio that designs and publishes character-driven, story-rich video games across mobile, PC, and console platforms. Its portfolio combines deckbuilding, cooking puzzles, color-matching, and narrative mechanics within hand-drawn, genre-fusion titles such as Battle Suit Aces, Battle Chef Brigade, and Color Sheep.
Product overview
Trinket Studios is an independent game development studio that creates 'small games with big character.' The company portfolio consists of four distinct game titles: Color Sheep (2013) and Orion's Forge (2013), their first mobile arcade/puzzle titles; Battle Chef Brigade (2017) and its Deluxe version, a cooking-show-meets-fantasy-RPG hybrid combining brawler and match-3 mechanics; and Battle Suit Aces, a sci-fi deckbuilding RPG with card battle mechanics. The studio operates as a small team creating character-first, story-rich experiences with approachable mechanics and engaging design across multiple gaming platforms.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Battle Suit Aces A story-rich, character-driven sci-fi deckbuilder RPG in which players recruit ace pilots, befriend and upgrade mech/pilot cards, and pursue a galactic quest to harness ancient alien Relic Suits. Features 5v5 card battles, 50+ plot-driven missions, 50+ fully voiced characters, and 30 unique mecha Battle Suits. Published by Outersloth.
- Battle Chef Brigade A hand-drawn fantasy adventure combining combo-based monster hunting with puzzle-based cooking mechanics, in which players cook their way into the elite Brigade while subduing Victusia's destructive monsters. Available on Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Steam.
- Battle Chef Brigade Deluxe Deluxe version of Battle Chef Brigade featuring the same cooking-show-meets-fantasy-RPG genre fusion with added content and platform availability.
- Color Sheep A fast-paced mobile arcade game in which players change the color of Sir Woolson's fleece by mixing red, green, and blue light to match oncoming wolves. Features swipe-based touch controls, combos, laser blasts, magical items, Game Center leaderboards, and achievements.
- Orion's Forge A brain-teasing puzzle narrative in which players help the celestial smith Orion create new stars. Originally released on Android and iOS but now unavailable on those platforms.
Companies that use Trinket Studios
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Trinket Studios technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Trinket Studios partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- OuterslothcoreOutersloth serves as the publisher for Battle Suit Aces, handling distribution across Steam, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 5 platforms. Outersloth is associated with Innersloth (creators of Among Us).
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Trinket Studios competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- WayForward: Long-running indie studio behind the Shantae series and many hand-drawn character-driven titles across consoles — comparable in art direction and cross-platform indie publishing.
- Motion Twin: Worker-owned indie studio behind Dead Cells, a roguelike with genre-fusion mechanics and a hand-drawn style — comparable in team ethos, aesthetic, and genre-mixing design philosophy.
- Yacht Club Games: Small indie studio behind Shovel Knight, known for hand-drawn pixel art and cross-platform releases on Switch, PS4, and Steam — mirroring Trinket's multi-platform indie approach.
- Subset Games: Indie developer of FTL and co-creator of the Slay the Spire deckbuilder franchise. Directly comparable on deckbuilder/card-battle mechanics — the same core gameplay loop Battle Suit Aces targets.
- Thunder Lotus Games: Indie developer of hand-drawn narrative titles like Spiritfarer and Jotun. Similar in size, scope, and commitment to character-driven hand-drawn adventure experiences.
- Capybara Games: Small independent studio known for Below and Super Time Force — comparable in indie scale, hand-drawn aesthetic, and cross-platform release strategy.
- Supergiant Games: Small independent studio behind narrative-driven hits like Hades, Bastion, and Pyre. Closely comparable to Trinket in team size, hand-drawn aesthetic, and character-first storytelling focus.
Others
- Innersloth: Creator of Among Us and parent/affiliate of Trinket's publisher Outersloth. Relevant as the publishing counterpart rather than as a competing developer.
- Devolver Digital: Indie publisher financing and distributing many narrative/art-driven indie games. Relevant as a comparable go-to-market channel alternative to Outersloth for indies of Trinket's profile.
Broad incumbents
- Klei Entertainment: Established indie studio behind Don't Starve and Hollow Knight with a strong hand-drawn visual identity. Larger and more diversified than Trinket but operates in the same hand-drawn indie category.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Trinket Studios social profiles
Digital presenceTrinket Studios financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Trinket Studios leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Trinket Studios funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Trinket 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 Trinket Studios
What does Trinket Studios do?
Trinket Studios is an independent game development studio that designs and publishes character-driven, story-rich video games across mobile, PC, and console platforms. Its portfolio combines deckbuilding, cooking puzzles, color-matching, and narrative mechanics within hand-drawn, genre-fusion titles such as Battle Suit Aces, Battle Chef Brigade, and Color Sheep.
Is Trinket Studios a public or private company?
Trinket Studios is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Trinket Studios founded?
Trinket Studios was founded in 2012. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Trinket Studios based?
Trinket Studios is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Trinket Studios make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Game Sales are the primary driver. The others are publisher Partnership (Outersloth).
Who are Trinket Studios's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are WayForward, Motion Twin, Yacht Club Games, Subset Games, Thunder Lotus Games, Capybara Games and Supergiant Games. Others are Innersloth and Devolver Digital. Klei Entertainment is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Trinket Studios have an API?
No public API is recorded for Trinket Studios.
What industry is Trinket Studios in?
Trinket Studios's product category is Indie Video Games. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAAAL, Narrative/Adventure & RPG Game Studios, with a secondary code of MPAFAAAM, Co-Development, Porting & Remaster Studios. Its NAICS code is 5132.