What Bonus Level Entertainment does

Bonus Level Entertainment is a Munich-based indie game development studio founded in 2016 by Rupert Ochsner and Holger Kuchling. The studio develops and co-develops video games for major console and PC platforms, with a portfolio spanning 16-bit-style action platformers, multiplayer party games, and action-adventure titles. Its released titles include Fox n Forests (2018), Shark! Shark! (2022, Amico), Finnigan Fox (Amico), and Saga of Sins (March 2023); a new prototype, HeartWarming, was announced in August 2023 with a publisher search underway.

Games are built on the Unity engine and feature distinctive design elements, notably a stained-glass visual style for Saga of Sins and season-switching mechanics for Fox n Forests and Finnigan Fox. The studio co-develops with specialist partners such as NeoBird (Shark! Shark!) and Independent Arts Software (Fox n Forests/Finnigan Fox). Distribution and publishing are handled through dedicated partners including Just For Games (Saga of Sins European physical retail), EuroVideo (Fox n Forests distribution), and Strictly Limited (collector's editions), with releases spanning PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam/Steam Deck, and the Amico console.

Revenue is generated from one-time-purchase digital and physical game sales, including premium-priced collector's editions with physical merchandise, supplemented by German public-sector game development grants from FFF Bayern and federal ministries (BMVI/BMDV/BMWK). The studio has raised over 100,000 EUR via Kickstarter (Fox n Forests) and approximately 500,000 EUR in cumulative government funding. The studio employs roughly 10 people and is privately held by its two co-founders, with no external institutional investors disclosed.

Name

Bonus Level Entertainment

Legal name

Bonus Level Entertainment UG (haftungsbeschränkt)

Website

https://bonuslevel.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bonus Level Entertainment is a Munich-based indie game studio founded in 2016 that develops retro-style and action-adventure video games for console and PC platforms. It distributes via publishers and digital storefronts and receives government grants, serving indie and retro gaming enthusiasts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Video Game Development

NAICS

Software Publishers (5132)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Indie Game Studios (MPAFAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Narrative/Adventure & RPG Game Studios (MPAFAAAL)

Keywords

• Indie game development
• Video game studio
• Console game development
• Multi-platform game publishing
• Action-adventure games

Headquarters

HQ city

Munich

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Game Sales: One-time purchase revenue from retail and digital game sales across multiple platforms including PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam, and Amico
2. Physical/Limited Editions: Special and limited edition releases with physical merchandise such as tarot cards, inlays, and collector's items sold at premium pricing
3. Government Funding: Various government grants from FFF Bayern, BMVI/BMDV, and BMWK for game development projects
4. Crowdfunding: Kickstarter campaigns for initial game funding, such as Fox n Forests raising over 100,000 euros

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bonus Level Entertainment develops and co-develops indie video games for console and PC platforms. The studio creates action-adventure games, 16-bit style platformers, and multiplayer party games, releasing them across PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam, Steam Deck, and the Amico console. Their portfolio includes distinctive titles such as Saga of Sins (stained glass art style action-adventure), Fox n Forests (retro 16-bit platformer with season-switching mechanics), Finnigan Fox (Amico-exclusive platformer), and Shark! Shark! (multiplayer party game).

Product overview

Bonus Level Entertainment is an indie game development studio that creates video games across multiple genres. The company operates as a single-product-focused studio, developing games in-house while partnering with publishers for distribution. Their portfolio includes action-adventure games (Saga of Sins, HeartWarming), 16-bit style platformers (Fox n Forests, Finnigan Fox), and party games (Shark! Shark!). Games are released on multiple platforms including PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam, Steam Deck, and Amico.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Saga of Sins An unholy action-adventure game where players transform into demonic creatures to fight the seven deadly sins, set in a unique stained glass art style world. Released on multiple console and PC platforms for individual gamers.
• Fox n Forests A nostalgic 16-bit style action platformer with RPG and puzzle elements featuring season-switching mechanics. Players control Rick the Fox using a magic melee crossbow to switch between seasons, revealing secrets and solving puzzles. Available on Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
• Finnigan Fox A refined version of Fox n Forests developed specifically for the Amico console. Features updated cartoony art style, multiplayer mode, orchestrated soundtrack, and gameplay improvements for an exclusive platform experience.
• Shark! Shark! A party game for up to four players inspired by the 1982 Intellivision classic. Features multiple co-op and versus modes with 12 levels full of sea animals and underwater environments, designed for families and groups.

Quantifiable outcome

• Perfect 5/5 review score from Steam Deck Headquarter for Saga of Sins, described as 'a unique and awesome 2D action-adventure game' that 'runs so wonderfully on the Steam Deck'

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• NeoBirdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 March 2022Co-development partner for Shark! Shark!, a reinvention of the 1982 Intellivision classic. The game features multiplayer party modes and is one of six pre-installed titles for the Amico console. Financially supported by FFF Bayern.
• rexAdviseminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 15 March 2022Website design and development partner responsible for Bonus Level Entertainment's professional website, managed by Arben Rexhbogaj.
• Strictly LimitedminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 28 November 2017Limited edition publisher for Fox n Forests, producing Limited Standard and Limited Collector's Editions for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4.
• EuroVideo/EuroVideoGamesmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 28 October 2017Distribution partner for Fox n Forests physical releases. Signed after successful Kickstarter campaign that raised over 100,000 EUR.
• Independent Arts SoftwarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-development partner for Finnigan Fox (Amico version of Fox n Forests) and original Fox n Forests. Company with over 30 years of experience in multi-platform game development, led by CEO Holger Kuchling who co-founded Bonus Level Entertainment.
• Just For GamescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPublisher for Saga of Sins, handling physical retail distribution across Europe including Special Edition with tarot cards and reversible inlay. Digital launch March 30, 2023, physical release May 26, 2023.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Drinkbox Studios: Toronto-based independent developer of Guacamelee and Nobody Saves the World. Comparable as a small-to-mid indie studio shipping stylized action games across consoles and PC.
• Thunder Lotus Games: Independent studio behind Spiritfarer and Jotun. Comparable as a multi-platform indie developer with action-adventure/IP-driven titles and publisher partnerships for distribution.
• Moon Studios: Independent developer of Ori and the Blind Forest / Ori and the Will of the Wisps. Comparable as a similarly-sized indie studio producing critically acclaimed action-platformers across consoles and PC with publisher support (Xbox/Private Division).
• Team Cherry: Small indie team behind Hollow Knight. Comparable as a small independent studio shipping critically acclaimed action-adventure titles across PC and consoles with limited headcount.
• WayForward: Long-running multi-platform indie/AA developer behind Shantae and other action-platformers. Comparable in multi-platform release strategy, retro/2D action-adventure focus, and publisher relationships.
• Yacht Club Games: Small independent studio behind Shovel Knight, working with Unity/own engines and multi-platform publishing deals. Closely comparable in team size, genre focus (retro platformers/action), and use of limited-edition physical SKUs and publisher partnerships.
• Image & Form Games: Swedish indie studio behind the SteamWorld franchise (now part of Thunderful). Comparable as a small indie studio producing multi-platform action/adventure-IP titles with strong art-style differentiation.

Broad incumbents

• Koch Media / Deep Silver: Major European publisher/distributor (parent of Deep Silver) and existing partner of Bonus Level Entertainment. Comparable as a broad incumbent in physical and digital game distribution that small indie studios depend on for European retail reach.
• Devolver Digital: Major indie-focused publisher of titles like Hotline Miami, Cult of the Lamb, and Inscryption. Comparable as a publishing/operating counterpart that helps small studios reach multi-platform audiences with limited marketing budgets.

Emerging players

• Raw Fury: Indie games publisher working with small studios on titles such as Dandara and Kingdom Two Crowns. Comparable as a publisher partner model that small independent studios like Bonus Level rely on for distribution and marketing reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/BonusLevelEnter
• Facebookfacebook.com/BonusLevelEntertainment
• Instagraminstagram.com/bonus_level_entertainment
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bonus-level-entertainment

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Bonus Level Entertainment