Origames
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersIvry-sur-seine, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Origames does
Origames is a French board game publisher and tabletop gaming content creator operating as a cooperative (SCOP à responsabilité limitée) headquartered in Ivry-sur-Seine. Founded in 2010, the company has built a catalog of approximately 70 games spanning party games, deduction, cooperative play, investigation, solo, and role-playing categories, distributed under multiple sub-brands including Renegade France (localized Renegade Game Studios titles), Shaan Renaissance (proprietary Oniric Fantasy universe), and Scène de crime (investigation series). Its core technology footprint is light — primarily an e-commerce storefront (origames.fr), a YouTube content series ('Les P'tits Pitchs'), and selective integration of partner-built technology such as IDventure's real-time mission (MTR) system in Opération Éclipse via Telegram and WhatsApp. Origames has no proprietary AI, app, or SaaS platform; its technology stack is centered on the WordPress-based storefront, social media presence (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Discord), and a customer downloads portal.
The company operates a primarily B2C go-to-market with two distribution channels: direct-to-consumer e-commerce limited to Metropolitan France, Belgium, and Luxembourg (with free shipping above €65 and an Origamer loyalty program offering 10% catalog discount plus exclusive pre-order access), and a network of independent game stores and ludothèques supported through a pro/partner section of the website. Pricing on physical games ranges from approximately €10 to €120 (mid-range €22–€50), with seasonal sales offering 17%–80% reductions on selected titles and pre-order/crowdfunding campaigns (e.g., via gameontabletop.com) used to finance production. Origames actively participates in major gaming conventions (FIJ Cannes, Festival des Jeux de Vichy, Octogônes, Alchimie du Jeu Toulouse) for direct sales and community engagement. Key partnerships include the exclusive Renegade Game Studios French localization deal (core, 2021), distribution agreements with Osprey Games and Looping Games, a technology partnership with IDventure, and co-publishing with Spacecow. Customer segments span general consumers and families (primary), physical retail partners, and board game press/media. The cooperative ownership structure, €37,000 share capital, and 11–50 employee headcount indicate a small, organically-financed publisher with no external venture or private equity backing.
Origames firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Origames
- Legal name
- ORIGAMES, SCOP à responsabilité limitée
- Website
- https://origames.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Origames industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Board Games
- NAICS
- Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (45912)
- SIC
- Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Strategy/Euro Board Games Retail (CRALALAC)
Keywords
Where Origames is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ivry-sur-seine
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Origames business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Board Game Product Sales: Origames generates revenue primarily through direct sales of physical board games via its own e-commerce storefront (www.origames.fr). Games are sold at retail list prices with periodic seasonal sales and promotions. The company also distributes via physical game stores (boutiques, ludothèques) in France, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Additional revenue comes from Renegade France branded games (localized versions of Renegade Game Studios hits) and co-published titles.
- Pre-order / Crowdfunding Campaigns: Origames runs pre-order and crowdfunding campaigns (e.g., Shaan Chrysalis via gameontabletop.com) where customers reserve games ahead of release, often with pledge manager systems for delivery or boutique pickup. This generates upfront cash flow ahead of production completion and delivery.
- Renegade France Brand Distribution: Origames acts as the exclusive French publisher for Renegade Game Studios titles under the 'Renegade France' brand, distributing games such as Clank! Legacy, My Father's Work, and others in the francophone market. Revenue is generated through the same sales channels as its own catalog.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Standard retail pricing across 70+ game catalog |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Origamer loyalty program discount |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Seasonal sale pricing |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free shipping threshold |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels10 records
Origames product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Origames is a French board game publisher that develops, publishes, and distributes physical tabletop games and related gaming content. The company operates a catalog of approximately 70 games across multiple genres (party, family, deduction, cooperative, investigation, RPG) and runs a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront at origames.fr. It also acts as the exclusive French publisher for Renegade Game Studios titles under the 'Renegade France' sub-brand and distributes through physical game stores and ludothèques in France, Belgium, and Luxembourg.
Product overview
Origames is a French board game publisher (SCOP) based in Ivry-sur-Seine with a catalog of approximately 70 games. The company publishes both its own original titles and the Renegade France line (French editions of Renegade Game Studios hits). Product portfolio spans multiple sub-brands including: Clank! Legacy 2 (legacy deck-building), the Shaan Renaissance universe (Oniric Fantasy RPGs), the Scène de crime investigation series (En Eaux Troubles, Meurtre de Sang Froid, Mortum, Opération Éclipse), Planet Unknown (resource allocation), Kronologic (modern Cluedo deduction games), and various family and party games (Mission Super Pas Possible, Post Office, Yubibo). Games target different player segments from family to experts, with 1 to 6+ players. The company also operates an e-commerce platform at origames.fr for direct sales.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Renegade France: A selection of Renegade Game Studios hits for French-speaking players, developed by Origames.
- Les P'tits Pitchs
Products and services
- Clank! Legacy 2: La Magie des ténèbres Legacy deck-building board game and sequel to Clank! Legacy: Acquisitions Incorporated, continuing the adventure with the 'La Magie des ténèbres' theme. Targeted at hobbyists and legacy game enthusiasts.
- Shaan Chrysalis Oniric Fantasy role-playing game book playable with or without a game master, including solo mode. Set on planet Héos within the Shaan Renaissance universe.
- Planet Unknown Strategic resource allocation board game where players compete to populate planets. Available in standard and Deluxe editions.
- Planet Unknown Édition Deluxe Deluxe edition of the Planet Unknown strategic resource allocation board game, launched via Kickstarter pre-order with enhanced components.
- En Eaux Troubles Investigation board game and third episode in the Scène de crime series in which players analyze realistic evidence to solve the murder of a football prospect.
- Mission Super Pas Possible Cooperative communication game in which players must defuse bombs within 10 minutes by matching colored dice to bomb card patterns.
- Opération Éclipse Real-time heist board game using Telegram or WhatsApp integration, in which players recruit and pilot AI agents in real time through a messaging app to execute bank heists.
- Meurtre de Sang Froid Second investigation game in the Scène de crime series, set at Polar Station Aquilo, where players solve a murder through deduction using realistic evidence.
- La Mort aux Trousses Solo car combat board game with a Mad Max aesthetic. Players customize vehicles, survive 3 rounds, and defeat the end-level boss across 7 campaign chapters.
Quantifiable outcome
- Catalog of 70+ published games across diverse genres and player counts
Companies that use Origames
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Origames technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature4 records
Origames partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Renegade Game StudioscoreOrigames serves as the exclusive French publisher for Renegade Game Studios titles under the 'Renegade France' brand. This includes popular titles such as Clank! Legacy, Clank! Legacy 2, My Father's Work (Le Secret de mon Père), La Mort aux Trousses, Le Défi de la Reine, and Lanterns Dice. Origames handles French localization, production, and distribution of these titles in the francophone market.
- Osprey GamesminorOrigames distributes Brian Boru (by Peer Sylvester) under a partnership with Osprey Games. Osprey Games is the original publisher and Origames handles French localization and distribution.
- Looping GamesminorOrigames distributes 1911 Amundsen vs Scott, a game originally published by Looping Games, in the French market.
- SpacecowminorOrigames co-published 'Et Puis Voilà à Vichy' with Spacecow, marking Origames' first co-publishing venture and first children's game. The game was designed by Elodie Clement, Théo Rivière, and Maxime Rambourg, illustrated by Jules Dubost, and released in November 2024.
- AccessiJeuxminorOrigames partnered with AccessiJeux, an association that adapts board games for visually impaired and blind players. Origames visited the association to learn about accessibility adaptations and committed to creating more inclusive games.
- Gameontabletop.comminorOrigames runs crowdfunding/pre-order campaigns for certain titles (e.g., Shaan Chrysalis) via the gameontabletop.com platform, which handles pledge management and community engagement for tabletop game campaigns.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Origames competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bombyx: French publisher of family and party games (Roma, Okiya). Comparable to Origames for its French heritage, family/party game emphasis, and presence at the same conventions (FIJ Cannes, etc.).
- Iello: French board game publisher specializing in family, strategy, and party games with a catalog of internationally licensed and original titles (King of Tokyo, The Crew, Welcome To...). Directly comparable to Origames as a France-based publisher targeting the same consumer segments across the same distribution channels.
- Matagot: French publisher of strategy and family games (Tapestry, Empire of the Stars). Comparable to Origames as a France-based publisher with similar catalog mix of complex strategy titles and family games sold through French retail and direct channels.
- La Boîte de Jeu: French publisher of accessible strategy and family games (Little Town, That's Pretty Clever). Comparable to Origames in catalog scope, French-language market focus, and distribution through independent game stores.
- Ankama: French publisher of board games (Krosmaster, Sword & Fairy), RPGs, and digital entertainment. Comparable to Origames for its combination of tabletop RPG lines (like Origames' Shaan Renaissance) and broader tabletop publishing rooted in the French market.
- Repos Production: Belgian board game publisher known for 7 Wonders, Concept, and Time Stories. Closely comparable to Origames in scope (mid-sized European tabletop publisher), target market (French-speaking hobby gamers), and product category (strategy/family games).
- Ludonaute: French cooperative (SCOP) board game publisher (Colt Express, Shelter). Highly comparable to Origames given identical SCOP legal structure, French footprint, similar catalog scale, and parallel use of crowdfunding and convention pre-sales.
- Space Cowboys: French publisher of strategy and family games (Splendor, Akropolis, Seasons). Direct peer to Origames in product category, target customer (French-speaking hobbyists), and distribution through French game stores and conventions.
Broad incumbents
- Asmodee: Global leader in board game publishing and distribution (Catan, Ticket to Ride, Star Wars games). Comparable to Origames as a French-headquartered tabletop publisher but with vastly broader portfolio, global distribution, and B2B distributor arm that supplies the very game stores where Origames competes for shelf space.
- Renegade Game Studios: US-based tabletop publisher whose French-language catalog is exclusively licensed to Origames under the 'Renegade France' brand. Highly relevant as Origames' principal upstream content partner and because the partner's portfolio directly drives Origames' revenue mix.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Origames social profiles
Digital presenceOrigames financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Origames leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Origames funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Origames 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 Origames
What does Origames do?
Origames is a French board game publisher that develops, publishes, and distributes physical tabletop games and related gaming content. The company operates a catalog of approximately 70 games across multiple genres (party, family, deduction, cooperative, investigation, RPG) and runs a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront at origames.fr. It also acts as the exclusive French publisher for Renegade Game Studios titles under the 'Renegade France' sub-brand and distributes through physical game stores and ludothèques in France, Belgium, and Luxembourg.
Is Origames a public or private company?
Origames is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Origames founded?
Origames was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Origames based?
Origames is headquartered in Ivry-sur-seine, France, in the Europe region.
How does Origames make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Board Game Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are pre-order / Crowdfunding Campaigns and renegade France Brand Distribution.
Who are Origames's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bombyx, Iello, Matagot, La Boîte de Jeu, Ankama, Repos Production, Ludonaute and Space Cowboys. Broad incumbents are Asmodee and Renegade Game Studios.
Does Origames have an API?
No public API is recorded for Origames.
What industry is Origames in?
Origames's product category is Board Games. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRALALAC, Strategy/Euro Board Games Retail. Its NAICS code is 45912 and its SIC code is 5945.