What Incube8 Games does

Incube8 Games is a Montréal-based video game publisher founded in 2021 that specializes in producing new physical and digital games for legacy Nintendo handheld platforms — Game Boy, Game Boy Color (GBC), and Game Boy Advance (GBA). The company develops and publishes its catalog using established retro development toolchains including GB Studio, GBDK/GBDK2020, and the Butano engine. Its flagship title, Infinity (GBC), is a tactical RPG originally developed by Affinix Software from 1999–2001 and cancelled in 2002; Incube8 acquired the rights and revived it via a 2021 Kickstarter campaign that raised CA$370,823 from 3,458 backers. The company has also secured the first-ever Stoker family-authorized Dracula video game license (Dracula: Dark Reign, GBC) and works with independent developers including Spacebot Interactive, Ben Jelter, Tardigrade, Providential Innovations, and Greenboy Cartridge Games to publish third-party titles.

The company operates a direct-to-consumer e-commerce model via a Shopify-powered storefront at incube8games.com, offering worldwide shipping and Sezzle buy-now-pay-later financing. Products are sold in three formats — premium boxed Standard Editions ($39.99–$59.99), premium Collector's Editions ($89.99) with enamel pins, collector cards, art prints, and soundtrack CDs, and lower-priced Digital Editions ($4.99–$25.99). Ancillary revenue comes from standalone merchandise (apparel, sticker sheets, collector card packs). Pre-order campaigns and free game demos serve as the primary conversion mechanisms, supported by a product-led community growth motion across email newsletters and organic social channels (Facebook, X, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube).

Incube8 Games is a bootstrapped, privately held company with 1–10 employees, no institutional investors disclosed, and no public revenue figures. Its revenue model is one-time perpetual license sales of physical hardware (cartridges, collectibles, merchandise) and digital game downloads. The primary customer base consists of individual retro gaming collectors and enthusiasts globally who own compatible legacy hardware and value physical editions, nostalgia-driven experiences, and premium collector packaging.

Name

Incube8 Games

Legal name

Incube8 Games

Website

https://incube8games.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Incube8 Games is a Montréal-based retro gaming publisher producing new physical and digital games for Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance. Founded in 2021, it sells directly to collectors globally via Shopify with premium boxed editions and licensed IPs like the official Dracula game.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retro Video Game Publishing

NAICS

Software Publishers (513210), Doll, Toy, and Game Manufacturing (339930)

akta.pro primary industry

Physical Game Distribution & Retail (Boxed Games, Wholesale, Merchandising) (MPAFABAC)

Keywords

• Retro game cartridges
• Game boy publishing
• Physical game releases
• Indie retro gaming
• Limited edition games

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Physical game cartridge sales: Incube8 Games sells new physical game cartridges for Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance platforms. Products are sold in Standard Edition and Collector's Edition formats at different price points, with Collector's Editions commanding a premium through extra collectibles.
2. Digital game editions: The company sells digital game editions at lower price points than physical editions. Digital products include game ROMs, PDF instruction booklets, and digital download codes for soundtracks.
3. Collectibles and merchandise: Incube8 Games sells ancillary products including enamel pins, collector card packs, sticker sheets, original cover art prints, concept art prints, apparel (T-shirts), and arranged soundtrack CDs (e.g., Infinity Arranged Soundtrack CD at $19.99).
4. Buy Now, Pay Later (Sezzle): Incube8 Games offers Sezzle installment payment options allowing customers to pay in 4 installments, enabling higher-priced physical editions ($49.99-$89.99) to be more accessible to consumers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Incube8 Games publishes new physical and digital video games for classic Nintendo handheld platforms (Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance). The company partners with independent developers to revive cancelled projects, secure licensed IPs, and produce limited-edition physical cartridge releases, along with digital editions and collector merchandise.

Product overview

Incube8 Games is a retro gaming publisher specializing in new physical and digital games for classic Nintendo handhelds (Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance). Their portfolio includes original titles like Infinity (GBC), a revived tactical RPG from the 1990s revived via Kickstarter; Dracula: Dark Reign (GBC), the first officially licensed Dracula video game; Discrete Orange (GBA), an award-winning puzzle-platformer; and The Machine (GBC), an adventure with 25+ endings. They also publish third-party developer titles including Metamorphosis Collection by Ben Jelter, D*Fuzed, Zephyr's Pass by Providential Innovations, Greenboy Games collection, and re-releases like Dragon's Lair: The Legend and Kien. Products are sold as physical boxed cartridges, cartridge-only releases, and digital editions. The company also offers collectible merchandise including collector's editions, enamel pins, sticker sheets, collector cards, art prints, and soundtracks for their flagship titles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Infinity (GBC): Incube8 Games' flagship original tactical RPG game for Game Boy Color, revived via Kickstarter after being cancelled in 2002.

Products and services

• Infinity (GBC) Tactical RPG for Game Boy Color featuring 5 playable characters, tactical battle system, 30+ explorable areas, 100+ items, and 15 bosses. Originally developed 1999-2001, revived via 2021 Kickstarter. Available in Standard, Collector's, and Digital editions.
• Dracula: Dark Reign (GBC) Castlevania-style action-adventure game for Game Boy Color. First officially authorized Dracula video game under StokerVerse license. Set during the First World War era, based on Bram Stoker's novel.
• Discrete Orange (GBA) Puzzle-platformer for Game Boy Advance with unique discrete turn-based movement mechanic. Features 20 puzzle-filled levels. Ranked #2 at GBA Jam 2024. Developed by Tardigrade.
• The Machine (GBC) Adventure game for Game Boy Color with multiple storyline paths leading to over 25 possible endings. Set in a dystopian world with hierarchical society determined by aptitude tests. Developed by Ben Jelter.
• Zephyr's Pass (GBC) Narrative-driven action-adventure game for Game Boy Color. Set in a land tormented by destructive winds where heroes travel via low-flying airships. Features rich visuals and challenging puzzles. Developed by Providential Innovations.
• D*Fuzed (GBC) Turn-based logic puzzle game for Game Boy Color. Players control bomb disposal robot Deef who must rescue friends while defusing bombs and avoiding hazards. Features full voice acting for cutscenes.
• Metamorphosis Collection (GBC) Collection of three original horror games for Game Boy Color: Opossum Country, Decline, and Specimen 134. Designed by Ben Jelter.
• Dragon's Lair: The Legend (GB) Re-release of classic 1991 platformer for Game Boy. EU version with adjusted difficulty. Players collect 194 Life Stone fragments across 11 distinct regions. Originally developed by Elite Systems / MotiveTime Limited.
• Kien (GBA) Challenging action platformer with RPG elements. Set on planet Malkut where players control young apprentices fighting evil across 23 intricate levels. Originally developed in the early 2000s by AgeOfGames.
• Greenboy Games - Collection 1 Collection of 5 Game Boy titles: Micro Doctor, Lunar Journey, Where Is My Body, Leo Legend, and Submarine 9. Various genres including adventure, educational, simulation, and naval. Developed by Greenboy Cartridge Games.
• Infinity (GBC) - Arranged Soundtrack CD Physical CD containing the arranged soundtrack for the Infinity GBC game.
• Infinity Collector Cards Pack Collectible card set featuring four non-random booster pack variants: Pack A Characters (13 cards), Pack B Weapons I (14 cards), Pack C Weapons II (13 cards), Pack D Artwork (7 cards). Illustrations by Benoit Tranchet.
• Infinity (GBC) Sticker Sheet Sticker sheet featuring Infinity GBC characters (Connor, Roland, Elya, Ryan, Victor) drawn by Benoit Tranchet. Size: 10x10cm.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,458 backers pledged CA$370,823 via Kickstarter to revive Infinity (GBC)

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Affinix SoftwarecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Incube8 Games acquired the rights to Infinity from Affinix Software, the original developer of the game. Infinity was originally developed from 1999 to 2001 and formally canceled in 2002. Incube8 Games revived the project via a 2021 Kickstarter campaign that raised CA$370,823 from 3,458 backers, completing development of this long-abandoned tactical RPG for Game Boy Color.
• The StokerVerse (Stoker family)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIncube8 Games secured official licensing from The StokerVerse Project to develop Dracula: Dark Reign as the first-ever Stoker family-authorized Dracula video game. This is an Official StokerVerse Game developed under license.
• Spacebot InteractivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpacebot Interactive is the co-developer of Dracula: Dark Reign (GBC) alongside Incube8 Games. The game is developed using GB Studio and is the first officially authorized Dracula video game.
• Asobitech, Incube8 Games (co-development)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerD*Fuzed is a co-development between Asobitech and Incube8 Games, developed using GBDK. Asobitech contributed the game concept and development while Incube8 Games handled publishing and distribution.
• Kickstarter (platform)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKickstarter was used as the primary crowdfunding platform for the Infinity revival campaign, which raised CA$370,823 from 3,458 backers. This platform enabled the company to fund production and validate demand before manufacturing.
• Ben JelterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBen Jelter is an independent developer whose games (The Machine, Metamorphosis Collection) are published by Incube8 Games. The games are developed using GB Studio and sold through the Incube8 Games catalog.
• Providential InnovationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvidential Innovations is the developer of Zephyr's Pass (GBC), published by Incube8 Games. The game features rich visuals for the GBC platform and is distributed through the Incube8 Games storefront.
• TardigrademinorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTardigrade is the developer of Discrete Orange (GBA), a puzzle-platformer ranked #2 at GBA Jam 2024. Incube8 Games publishes the game using their storefront. Development uses the Butano game engine.
• Greenboy Cartridge GamesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreenboy Cartridge Games develops a collection of Game Boy titles (Micro Doctor, Lunar Journey, Where Is My Body, Leo Legend, Submarine 9) that are published by Incube8 Games in their catalog.
• Elite Systems LimitedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerElite Systems Limited originally released Dragon's Lair: The Legend in 1991 and partnered with Incube8 Games for a modern re-release as digital editions through the Incube8 Games catalog.
• MotiveTime LimitedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMotiveTime Limited is credited as the developer of Dragon's Lair: The Legend, originally released in 1991. Incube8 Games handles the modern publishing and re-release through their digital storefront.
• AgeOfGamesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgeOfGames (formerly PMStudios) is the developer of Kien (GBA), an unreleased action platformer from the early 2000s now available through Incube8 Games. Fabio Belsanti is credited as Lead Game Designer.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Limited Run Games: Direct peer publishing physical and digital editions of indie and retro video games across multiple platforms. Operates a similar D2C storefront model with limited collector editions, pre-orders, and soundtrack/merchandise bundles, competing for the same retro-collector buyer.
• PM Studios: Video game publisher and developer that has partnered with Incube8 (developer of Kien, formerly PMStudios). Comparable indie game publishing business with multi-platform distribution.
• Special Reserve Games: Direct peer publishing limited physical editions of indie games. Comparable D2C storefront, limited-run strategy, and collector-focused value proposition.
• Super Rare Games: Direct peer publishing limited physical editions of indie games with collectible extras. Competes for the same premium physical-edition collector segment, primarily on Switch but with adjacent retro/indie overlap.
• Strictly Limited Games: Direct peer producing limited physical collector editions of retro and indie games in small print runs. Similar D2C pre-order model, collector extras (pins, art prints, soundtracks), and price-point structure.
• iam8bit: Direct peer producing premium physical game editions, vinyl soundtrack releases, and collectible merchandise for indie and retro game IPs. Overlaps with Incube8 in collectible-format physical game publishing and soundtrack/merch monetization.

Broad incumbents

• Fangamer: Broader incumbent producing video game merchandise, apparel, and collectibles with a D2C storefront. Comparable merchandise monetization (apparel, prints, soundtracks, pins) and collector customer base, though focused more on merchandise than game publishing.
• Hyperkin: Broader incumbent in retro gaming hardware and accessories, including retro consoles and controllers. Shares the retro gaming collector customer base and supports demand for new physical retro game releases.
• Retro-Bit: Broader incumbent producing retro gaming accessories and reissued classic hardware. Sells through similar D2C and retail channels targeting the retro gaming collector segment.
• Analogue: Broader incumbent serving the retro gaming hardware segment with premium FPGA-based consoles that play original cartridges. Competes for the same retro collector wallet and stimulates demand for new retro game cartridges.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Incube8Games
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC0CHFg0yjh7uMRp0rtad24A
• Facebookfacebook.com/incube8games
• Instagraminstagram.com/incube8games
• TikToktiktok.com/@incube8games
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/incube8-games

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Incube8 Games