Social gaming is one of the fastest growing industries in the online gaming space. What began back in 2009 with the collaboration of Zynga and Facebook has now evolved into a full-grown and lucrative industry that spans platforms, generations, and continents. Social games are undoubtedly transforming the gaming industry, and accounting for the largest share of online games.
Top 14 social games companies set to dominate the global gaming industry in 2018:
1) Zynga | Founded: 2007 | HQ: California, USA
Zynga made its name in 2009 by being one of the first developers to capitalize on Facebook as a gaming platform. Today, the company is hoping to do the same for messenger apps. Last year, the company launched “Words with Friends” on Facebook, one of the top titles to hit the new Messenger-based gaming platform.
2) King | Founded: 2003 | HQ: Dublin, Ireland
King, a small gaming developer which used to make high-end graphic games for Facebook is today one of the top gaming companies in the world. The company practically rules Windows, iPhone, and Android with its trendsetting game, Candy Crush Saga, that has clocked over a billion downloads already. King now invests millions into R&D, bidding to get people addicted to its brand of social games across the globe.
3) DeNA | Founded: 1999 | HQ: Tokyo, Japan
DeNA, a Japanese company which started as a pioneering online auction firm in 1999, has now evolved and expanded to include mobile ads, auctions, social games and networks. The company’s flagship business today is its mobile social games platform Mobage which offers games on multiple localized player networks worldwide.
4) GREE | Founded: 2004 | HQ: Tokyo, Japan
Gree was the first in the world to launch a mobile social game, Tsuri-Sta, in 2007 and since then the company has developed a rich portfolio of online games. Today, Gree’s two studios ‘Pokelabo’ and ‘Wright Flyer Studios’ provide games to mobile users around the world through the App Store, Google Play, and the GREE platform.
5) EA | Founded: 1982 | HQ: California, USA
Electronic Arts (EA) has historically been a world leader in retailing packaged games with popular titles including Madden NFL, The Sims, and Battlefield 3. Today, this games juggernaut is ruling social media platforms like Facebook with products like The Sims Social. EA is evolving its business to keep pace with innovations in social gaming and engage closely with its legions of loyal gamers.
6) Playtech | Founded: 1999 | HQ: Isle of Man
Since its inception in 1999, Playtech has been considered one of the top providers of online casino games. The world’s largest online gaming service supplier offers cutting-edge and value-added solutions to the online gaming industry’s leading operators of online bingo games, online poker rooms, online casinos, scratch games, online sports betting, mobile gaming, and arcade games online.
7) Social Point | Founded: 2008 | HQ: Barcelona, Spain
Social Point entered the gaming world by developing online games for Facebook users after realizing the huge potential audience that could seamlessly be reached through Facebook and mobile devices. The company is most popular for its mega-hits like Monster Legends and Dragon City that have a fan base of over 50 million players. The company was acquired by Take-Two Interactive Software in 2017.
8) Arkadium | Founded: 2001 | HQ: New York City, USA
Arkadium was founded 17 years ago as a couple-run business and has grown into one of the largest providers of social games. The company is best known for titles such as Mahjongg Dimensions Blast and Microsoft Solitaire Collection. Arkadium has a wide range of games for Microsoft Windows today, and many more scheduled. It is the only gaming company of its kind with an extensive strategic alliance with Microsoft.
9) Wooga | Founded: 2009 | HQ: Berlin, Germany
Berlin-based Wooga rose to prominence in the social games industry on the strength of games like Bubble Island and Diamond Dash. The company’s focus has always been on developing regular hits such as Pearl’s Peril and Jelly Splash, which has led to more than 50 million people playing Wooga’s games every month across various platforms.
10) Blizzard Entertainment | Founded: 1991 | HQ: California, USA
Founded in 1991 as Silicon and Synapse, Blizzard Entertainment has come a long way to become a leading video game developer and publisher. The Lost Vikings was the first truly successful game by Blizzard Entertainment. After that, Blizzard launched several games including the recently introduced Heroes of the Storm, which challenges League of Legends and Dota 2 in the MOBA category.
11) Supercell | Founded: 2010 | HQ: Helsinki, Finland
Supercell has had spectacular success in the mobile game landscape since starting the Helsinki brand in 2010. The company has developed creative games such as Clash of Clans, Hay Day, Clash Royale, Boom Beach, and Brawl Stars, the most recent collection of its stable. Clash of Clans has more than 136 million monthly users globally.
12) PopCap Studios | Founded: 2000 | HQ: Seattle, Washington, USA
PopCap is a Seattle-based casual games company behind the development of well-known puzzle game Bejeweled, which has sold over 50 million units since its launch in 2001. The company is also the creator of award-winning games such as Peggle, Zuma, and Plants vs. Zombies. Its games are available on several platforms, including PC and Mac, iPhone, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, Facebook, and more.
13) Peak Games | Founded: 2010 | HQ: Istanbul, Turkey
Peak Games is a developer of social games aiming to build a global user base for multiplayer puzzle games and card games. The company develops and publishes social games to match the interests and cultures of emerging markets of the Middle East, Turkey, and North Africa. Its portfolio also includes client-based core games and mobile applications, providing users an improved gaming experience.
14) Pretty Simple | Founded: 2010 | HQ: Ile-de-France, France
Pretty Simple is a European social gaming company that develops and publishes games on tablets and Facebook. My Shop was Pretty Simple’s first released title, which reached first million players in just 9 weeks. In 2012, the company created a super-hit social game known as Investigation Criminal Case, which is played by more than 6 million daily active users.
