INDEP At the beginning of every game there is an idea and a desire to create. Infinite universes are, therefore, ubiquitous. The games featured in the exhibition are divided into three categories for clarity: The Best Known, Independent and Classic. Each of the categories includes exceptional and unmissable games from the Czech scene. The key factor is quality: they offer excellent gameplay, graphics, sound design and compelling storytelling. It is up to the player to decide which game draws them into its universe the most. Get ready for a powerful boost of creativity and fun. To infinity and beyond!
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CE BEST KN KNOWN Czech games and studios in this category have been known and popular all over the world for many years, even among those who are not usually interested in games. These games, created by experienced developers, have a solid position within the gaming industry and have consistently appealed to a wide range of players worldwide, while being accessible to newcomers and deep enough for experienced players. They offer compelling and long-lasting game content that keeps the players engaged and provides the opportunity for long-term progression.
EXHIBITED GAMES
Arma Reforger (Bohemia Interactive Studio — 2022)
Factorio (Wube Software — 2020)
Beat Saber (Beat Games — 2018)
Kingdom Come: Deliverance (Warhorse Studios — 2018)
Creaks (Amanita Design — 2020)
Mafia: Definitive Edition (Hangar 13 — 2020)
Euro Truck Simulator 2 (SCS Software — 2012)
Space Engineers (Keen Software House — 2019)
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The Best Known
BOHEMIA INTERACTIVE
A RMA The world-famous military series presents players with the freedom of an open world, cutting-edge simulation of units, weapons, vehicles and aircraft on large areas of a detailed game world. The platform is uniquely open to the creation of custom user content (modding). The most recent instalment in the series, Arma Reforger enables the players to engage in battles for domination of a beautiful island landscape in an authentic Cold War environment. Simulation
War
Army
Genre
Action
Trivia
The maps in the game often contain real-world locations (e.g., the area around the Czech town of Ústí nad Labem in the Chernarus map).
Release date of Arma Reforger
17/5/2022
The entire game world of Arma has its own fictional history, which includes flags, symbols, names of towns and villages, significant places on the map, and languages spoken by the locals.
Сhallenges
Transitioning to the new engine Enfusion.
Development of Arma Reforger (years)
4 Copies sold (entire Arma series 2023)
Tens of millions Number of developers
50-100 Languages
12 Multiplayer
YES
Awards selection Arma 3: PC Gamer: Game of The Year (UK, 2013) Arma 3: Czech Game of the Year 2013: Technical Contribution to Czech Game Design (CZ, 2014) Publisher
Bohemia Interactive
Studio
BOHEMIA INTERACTIVE (1999 / Mníšek pod Brdy, Prague, Amsterdam, Pattaya) Czechia’s largest game studio was founded by Marek and Ondřej Španěl, who are brothers, and Slavomír Pavlíček. It focuses on realistic combat simulations. The studio’s first game was the globally successful Operation Flashpoint (2001). Standing out from the usual portfolio of war games is the exploratory adventure game and platform for creating custom games, Ylands (2019). The most recent instalment in the Arma series, Arma Reforger (2022), introduced players to the new Enfusion game engine, and also serves as a platform for the development of the upcoming “fully-fledged” game Arma 4. The studio focuses on close and longterm collaboration with the gaming community and on finding innovative solutions in the development and release of new titles. Portfolio (a selection): Operation Flashpoint (2001 – 2005), Arma series (2006-2022), Take on Helicopters (2011), Carrier Command: Gaea Mission (2012), Mini DayZ (2017-2022), DayZ (2018), Ylands (2019), Vigor (2019)
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The Best Known
BEAT GAMES
BEAT SABE R Rhythmical game for virtual reality. The player uses motion detectors to control a pair of lightsabers that he or she tries to use to hit approaching cubes. Each cut is accompanied by sound and visual effects and the game uses the rhythm of well-known songs. The player should literally be made to dance while cutting the blocks and avoiding obstacles.
Rhythm
Music
VR
Genre
Arcade Release date
1/5/2018
Trivia
In 2019 Beat Saber was the most downloaded VR game on the PS Store in Europe and the USA.
Awards selection Czech Game of the Year 2018: Czech Game of the Year (CZ, 2019) D.I.C.E.: Immersive Reality Game of the Year 2018 (USA, 2019) Steam: VR Game of the Year (international, 2019)
Development time (years)
2
Publisher
Beat Games
Studio
BEAT GAMES
Copies sold (2023)
M illions
(2018 / Prague) Number of developers
3 Languages
7 Multiplayer
YES
The studio was founded by a pair of programmers from Slovakia, Ján Illavský and Vladimír Hrinčár, and Jaroslav Beck, a Czech composer. The first rhythm VR game Beat Saber (2018) became a hit and made the studio internationally famous. In 2019, Beat Games was bought by Facebook’s Oculus Studios division. In 2021, the studio made CZK 2.3 billion. The studio keeps releasing current game expansions (DLC Music Packs) with music from world-famous musicians (Linkin Park, The Weeknd, Billie Eilish, Imagine Dragons, etc.). Portfolio: Beat Saber (2018), Beat Saber DLC Music Packs (2019 - 2023)
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The Best Known
AMANITA DESIGN
C RE AK S The game is an exploration of imagination. Featuring hand-painted artwork, precise animation, eerie sounds, and an original score, the game takes players into a mysterious world full of logic puzzles and strange phenomena. The player ventures into unexplored corners of a mysterious mansion inhabited by peculiar creatures and furniture monsters. He or she solves puzzles, searches for hidden paintings, and uncovers a great mystery. Atmosphere Genre
Adventure
Trivia
Hand drawing
The game was inspired by the pareidolia phenomenon, i.e. the tendency to recognize objects in abstract or random shapes, such as seeing animals in clouds or monsters in dark shadows. The concept was created by the artist Radim Jurda as his diploma. The main character was inspired by Amanita design producer Lukáš Kunce.
Release date
22/7/2020
Logic
Сhallenges
Rather than big problems, there were tiny issues, mostly technical, that we did not see coming. Resolving them took a long time.
Development time (years)
8
Awards selection CEEGA: Visual Art (Poland, 2020) Czech Game of the Year 2020: Czech Game of the Year and Audiovisual Execution (CZ, 2021) Anifilm: Best Visual Art (CZ, 2021)
Copies sold (2023)
Hundreds of thousands Number of developers
8 Languages
15 Multiplayer
NO
Publisher
Amanita Design
Studio
AMANITA DESIGN (2003 / Brno, Prague) The independent development studio was founded by the designer, artist and animator Jakub Dvorský. Amanita Design are known for an emphasis on surreal worlds, subtle humour, handcrafted graphics and audiovisual experience. Their portfolio includes the world-famous Machinarium (2009), the Samorost Series (2003-2016), the comedy game CHUCHEL (2018) and the horror game Happy Game (2021). They are currently working in several small teams on the development of a number of new games for different platforms. Also in development is their dystopian game Phonopolis, which is created from handcrafted cardboard models and its animation is based on a classic hand puppets. Portfolio (selection): Samorost 1-3 (2003, 2005, 2016), Machinarium (2009), Botanicula (2012), Chuchel (2018), Pilgrims (2019), Creaks (2020), Happy Game (2021), Phonopolis (currently in development)
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SCS SOFTWARE
EU R O T RUC K SIM U L ATO R 2 Players become real truck drivers in the game. The game features licensed trucks with countless customization options and advanced driving physics. It is one of the most popular and realistic truck driving simulators on the market. The game includes landmarks and faithfully rendered territories that enable a vivid gaming experience. In addition to driving, players can also develop their own trucking companies to their liking. Truck
Driver
Europe
Trivia
The game world is based on real world references but built on a smaller scale. That is why the players can actually travel around Europe and explore the places they may have been to or long to visit.
Genre
Simulator
Automobile manufacturers sometimes globally introduce new models of real trucks through the game.
Release date
19/10/2012
Сhallenges
Development time (years)
4
It is difficult to decide which cities, villages, highways, and other objects from the real region will be included in the new map expansion of the game (DLC), and which ones must be excluded for optimization reasons.
Awards selection PC Gamer: Sim of the Year (UK, 2012) Czech Game of the Year 2021: Best community support (CZ, 2022)
Copies sold (2023)
Tens of millions
Publisher
SCS Software
Number of developers
Studio
SCS SOFTWARE
50-330 Languages
25 Multiplayer
YES
(1997/ Prague) SCS Software is one of the largest and oldest Czech game studios. It was founded by Pavel and Petr Šebor, two brothers, and Martin Český. The studio develops simulators and gained recognition for its 18 Wheels of Steel series (since 2002). SCS Software are proud of being independent, using their own engine and releasing their games without a publisher. The studio takes pride in its realistic rendering, their approach to details and its community of fans. Currently, the studio is developing virtual reality for its existing games and support for Euro Truck Simulator 2 (2012) and American Truck Simulator (2016). Portfolio (a selection): The Hunting Unlimited series (2001-2010), 18 Wheels of Steel (2002-2011), The Euro Truck Simulator series (2008-2012), World of Trucks (2013), American Truck Simulator (2016), SCS Blender Tools (2016)
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WUBE SOFTWARE
FACT OR IO The game laid the foundation for the currently popular genre of building strategies in an industrialised environment. The player moves in an infinite 2D world on an alien planet, where he or she must engage his or her imagination and a sense of logistics. The automation of all processes involved plays a key role in the successful completion of the game. But beware – the player is not alone on the planet! Automatization
Space
Building
Genre
Strategy
Trivia
The players have spent over 40 000 years in the game. After its release on Steam, the game reached 99% of positive reviews very quickly, which made it one of the best user-rated game.
Release date (version 1.0)
14/8/2020
A new species of scorpion was named after this game: Neobuthus factorio. Its discoverer is František Kovařík, the father of one of the game developers.
Development time (years)
8 Copies sold (2023)
Millions Number of developers
12 Languages
30 Multiplayer
YES
Сhallenges
Raising funds for development at the start.
Awards selection Czech Game of the Year 2015: Technological Contribution and Conceptional Contribution in Czech Game Development (CZ, 2016)
Publisher
Wube Software
Studio
WUBE SOFTWARE (2012 / Prague) The studio was founded by programmers Michal Kovařík and Tomáš Kozelek, and Albert Bertolín Soler, a graphic designer. What used to be a business that started in a garage with some intriguing ideas grew to a larger team of in-house professionals and associates from around the world. The company raised part of their finances using the crowdfunding platform Indiegogo. The studio’s first strategy game Factorio (2015) became a worldwide phenomenon due to its unique system of construction and automated factories. The game garnered a large community of fans. The studio is currently working on expanding the base game — Factorio Space Age. Portfolio: Factorio – early access (2015), Factorio – version 1.0 2020), Factorio Space Age (currently in development)
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WARHORSE STUDIOS
KIN G D OM COME: DELIVERANCE In the game, Henry, a humble blacksmith, witnesses the invasion and destruction of his home. Seeking vengeance, he embarks on a perilous journey through medieval Bohemia. The narrative unfolds in a realistic, non-linear fashion, shaped by the player's choices. Along the way, Henry faces political intrigue, battles, and moral dilemmas, ultimately influencing the fate of the kingdom. The game is lauded for its historical accuracy, immersive world, and intricate storytelling, providing players with a challenging and authentic medieval experience. Middle Ages
Realism
Revenge
Genre
RPG
Trivia
Release date
The game locations are based on real-life historical sites in the Central Bohemian region. Rataje and Talmberk Castles, and the Sázava Monastery are popular tourist destinations among international fans of the game. The official soundtrack was recorded by a symphonic orchestra at the Rudolfinum in Prague.
13/2/2018
Kingdom Come: Deliverance is a Kickstarter Success Story. The church frescoes featured in the game were painted with the portraits of several generous donors who contributed to the crowdfunding campaign.
Development time (years)
4
Awards selection Gamescom: Best PC Game (Germany, 2017) Czech Game of the Year 2020: Czech Game of the Decade 2010-2020 (CZ, 2021)
Copies sold (2023)
M illions Publisher
PLAION
Studio
WARHORSE STUDIOS
Number of developers (2023)
240
(2011, Prague) Languages
15 Multiplayer
NO
Warhorse Studios is one of the largest Czech studios, founded by experienced game developers Dan Vávra (the creator of the games Mafia and Mafia II) and Martin Klíma (Dračí doupě, UFO). A year after the release of their debut game Kingdom Come: Deliverance (2018), the studio was bought by Koch Media (now PLAION). The developers at Warhorse Studios are currently working on a new, undisclosed game. Portfolio: Kingdom Come: Deliverance (2018), DLC: From the Ashes (2018), The Amorous Adventures of Bold Sir Hans Capon (2018), Band of Bastards (2019), A Woman's Lot (2019)
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HANGAR 13
MAFIA: DEFIN ITI VE ED ITIO N The action-adventure game set among gangsters is a remake of the original Mafia (2002), and represents a thoroughly revised first part of arguably the most legendary Czech game series. The player finds himself or herself in the Prohibition era in the USA and is tasked with reaching the highest levels of the mafia and organised crime. In this role, the player encounters a dangerous underworld full of action and tempting, hard to resist offers. Mafia
Power
Respect
Trivia
In the game, car radios mimic the emerging technology of the 1930s. Once the radio warms up, the player can listen to a wide range of popular songs from the era.
Genre
Action, RPG
Part of the original soundtrack was recorded in Prague (string parts) and the rest in Nashville (USA). The original main theme was recorded by the Brno Philharmonic.
Release date
25/9/2020 Development time (years)
Сhallenges
Create a remake based on the 20-year-old first episode, make it entertaining and playable in this era.
Awards
Czech Game of the Year 2020: Technological Solution (CZ, 2021)
Publisher
2K
Studio
HANGAR 13
3 Copies sold Mafia: DE (2023)
M illions Number of developers
150 Languages
14 Multiplayer
NO
(2014 / Brno, Prague, Novato, Brighton) Hangar 13 is part of the 2K Games family of development studios and consists of teams based in four locations. The majority of the developers are based in Brno and Prague (CZ), as well as Brighton (UK) and Novato (USA). Some of the team members worked on the development of the first two instalments of the Mafia series, Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven (2002) and Mafia II (2010). The studio debuted with the Mafia III (2016) sequel. Having returned to their roots, they later released a successful remake of the first instalment of the series, Mafia: Definitive Edition (2020). Portfolio: Mafia III (2016), Mafia: Definitive Edition (2020)
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KEEN SOFTWARE HOUSE
SPA CE EN G INEE R S A game about engineering, construction, exploration and survival in space and on planets. Players build space ships, wheeled vehicles, space stations, planetary outposts of various sizes and uses (civil and military), pilot ships and travel through space to explore planets and gather resources to survive. Featuring both creative and survival modes, there is no limit to what can be built, utilized and explored. Space
Creativity
Physics
Trivia
Space Engineers is one of the largest communities on mod.io and the Space Engineers Steam Workshop includes more than 500 thousand items, mods, ships, stations, worlds, and more.
Genre
Strategy
VRAGE2 game engine is designed to support extremely large and fully dynamic destructible environments, including planets measuring up to 120 km in diameter and 45,238 km² large, huge spaceships and other player-built elements.
Release date
28/2/2019 Development time (years)
10
Сhallenges
Creating the planets – the VRAGE2 engine has undergone a major upgrade to support large volumetric entities.
Awards selection Perpetuum MOB: The Most Unusual Online Game (EU, 2013) Best Indie Game: Indie of the year (international, 2015)
Copies sold (2023)
M illions
Publisher
Keen Software House
Studio
KEEN SOFTWARE HOUSE
Number of developers
T ens Languages
16 Multiplayer
YES
(2010 / Prague) Founded by the Slovak programmer, developer and entrepreneur Marek Rosa, the studio specialises in computer games that combine science and creativity. The studio's first game was Miner Wars Arena (2012). Keen Software House gained worldwide recognition with Space Engineers (2019). All concepts and technologies included in their science fiction games can be explained using modern knowledge with minimal need for extrapolation. In Medieval Engineers (2020), they stick to historical accuracy. They strive to revive interest in space exploration, physics, history and the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). Portfolio: Miner Wars Arena (2012), Miner Wars 2081 (2012), Space Engineers (2019), Medieval Engineers (2020)
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INDEPEN ENDEN TC Independent games (indie games) are created outside the traditional structures of the gaming industry. Their creators have the freedom to experiment with the game mechanics, storytelling and visual style, which results in unique and bold concepts that stand out from mainstream titles. Some of the games featured here offer educational content, address social issues or focus on accessibility.
EXHIBITED GAMES
Afterglitch (Hangonit — 2022)
Phonopolis (Amanita Design — in development)
Evidence 111 (Play By Ears — 2020, audio game)
Someday You’ll Return (CBE Software — 2020)
Hobo: Tough Life (Perun Creative — 2021)
Svoboda 1945: Liberation (Charles Games — 2021)
Mashinky (Jan Zelený — 2017)
To the Dragon Cave (KIKIRIKI GAMES — 2022, audio game)
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HANGONIT
Indie
AFTERGLITCH An experimental third-person sci-fi game. The player is an astronaut whose multidimensional quest to find an extraterrestrial civilisation is more important than the ultimate destination. They embark on a journey outside of the space-time where they explore the fragments of parallel worlds that have no physical boundaries and limits.
Multidimension
Sci-Fi
Spirituality
Genre
Adventure
Trivia
Release date
Visually, the game refers to Salvador Dalí's famous work "Corpus Hypercubus" (1954) depicting Jesus Christ crucified on a net of tesseract (hypercube).
9/12/2022 Development time (years)
7
Сhallenges
Gradually moving away from the mainstream player.
Awards
IGF Awards Nominations: Excellence in Visual Art and Nuovo Award Nomination (USA, 2023)
Publisher
Hangonit
Studio
HANGONIT
Copies sold (2023)
Thousands Number of developers
1 Languages
1 Multiplayer
NO
The initial inspiration for the development of the game was Zdeněk Burian's illustration (1955) for the "Friends from Hadonoš" short story, which depicts a tiny astronaut standing in front of a mass into which another character is delving.
(2011 / Brno) The studio was founded and is independently run by the artist and computer game developer Vladimír Kudělka. His first video game about dreams and memories Rememoried (2015) was awarded the 2015 Czech Game of the Year Award in The Artistic Contribution to Czech Video Game Creation Category. Besides visual arts, Vladimír Kudělka is also interested in virtual reality and artificial intelligence. Portfolio: Rememoried (2015), Afterglitch (2022)
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PLAY BY EARS
Indie
For visually impaired players
EVI D E NC E 111 The first Czech interactive audio game based only on sound. Thanks to its simple control with finger movements on the screen of a mobile phone, it is fully accessible even to visually impaired players. The game tells the story of a policewoman who is blackmailed into stealing evidence 111 from the police archive and bringing it to a remote hotel, where no one can be trusted.
Interactive
Detective story
Sound
Genre
Audio game
Trivia
The Czech version of the game takes place in the USA, whereas the English version takes place in the UK. The main reason for this is having cast actors with British accents.
Release date
22/10/2020 Development time (years)
3
Сhallenges
The initial scepticism of people and potential investors about the concept of the game.
Awards
Prix Bohemia Radio: 3rd place in the Multimedia category (CZ, 2021) Golden Apple (AppleVis Award): Best Game (2022)
Publisher
Play By Ears
Studio
PLAY BY EARS
Copies sold (2023)
Not specified Number of developers
3 Languages
2 Multiplayer
NO
The game uses “binaural audio,” which is mainly associated with virtual reality and gives the listener the feeling of being surrounded by sound.
(2018 / Ostrava) Play By Ears was founded by Michal Zátopek, a programmer, and Tomáš Oramus, a film sound engineer. The two founders are in long-term cooperation with Vladimír Mareček, a screenwriter. Their focus on audio games combines their passion for storytelling with a desire to show that all it takes is sound and imagination. Their first-ever Czech audio game was Evidence 111 (2020). Chess Play (2022) was released in collaboration with Czech Radio. Both games are optimised for visually impaired players. Portfolio: Evidence 111 (2020), Chess Play (2022)
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PERUN CREATIVE
Indie
HOBO: TOU G H LIFE An urban survival role-playing game where the player takes on the role of a homeless person and explores the streets of the cold centralEuropean Praslav, searches for food and supplies, begs, steals and does whatever it takes to survive the upcoming winter. The player experiences dozens of stories inspired by real people and events. How far will he or she be willing to go to survive and become the king of the homeless? Homelessness
Survival
City
Genre
Adventure, RPG
Trivia
The fictional city of Praslav features real landmarks and cities from around Czechia, such as Prague Main Train Station.
Release date
13/4/2021
Сhallenges
Due to the lengthy development, it became an issue to keep up with the engine updates. At one point, the developers were essentially working on two games at once.
Awards
Czech Game of the Year 2021: Game Design (CZ, 2022)
Publisher
Perun Creative
Studio
PERUN CREATIVE
Development time (years)
6 Copies sold (2023)
Hundreds of thousands
Number of developers
8 Languages
9 Multiplayer
YES
The game is full of humorous pop culture references mainly from Czechia, such as names of celebrities.
(2017 / Ostrava, Olomouc) Perun Creative was founded by the young developers Jan Polach, Roman Valenta and Jiří Vašica. The studio is located in the MoravianSilesian region – one of the regions with the highest unemployment in Czechia – in order to create interesting job opportunities in game development in this region. The first successful project of the studio is their Hobo: Tough Life (2021), which the three developers created during their university studies. The studio is currently working on a new game called Kromlech. Portfolio: Hobo: Tough Life (2021), Kvark (2023), Kromlech (currently in development)
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JAN ZELENÝ
Indie
M A SHI NKY A strategic building game set in the environment of railway, road, and air transport. At the beginning, the player is assigned a procedurally generated (created automatically using an algorithm) map and becomes an owner of a small transport company in the early 20th century.The goal is to build a transportation empire that spans seven historical eras from the steam era to the super-modern electromagnetically levitated trains. Transport
Trains
Board game
Genre
Strategy
Trivia
Release date
The name comes from the Czech children’s world for trains “mašinky.” Due to the English spelling of the game’s name, foreign players will be pronouncing this original Czech word.
6/10/2017 Development time (years)
Сhallenges
11 Copies sold (2023)
Tens of thousands
Languages
9 Multiplayer
YES
Maintaining motivation, even though there were complex programming errors in the programme (bugs) that caused the schedule to be extended.
Awards selection JRC Gamer Awards 2017: Best Czech and Slovak Game of the Year (CZ, 2018) Czech Game of the Year 2017: Best Game Design and Rising Star (CZ, 2018)
Publisher
Jan Zelený
Studio
JAN ZELENÝ
Number of developers
1
During gameplay, the player can switch to the unique 2D isometric building view and then switch from the construction view back to a realistically rendered 3D view, where the whole world is shown down to the smallest details, and the player can take on the role of a train driver.
(2015 / Brno) The studio was founded by Jan Zelený, an independent developer, who worked with a team of developers and creatives. Jan Zelený used to work in larger game studios (e.g., 2K Czecha, Bohemia Interactive) while creating his own games, like the adventure Game U Becherů (2003), which competed in the Becherovka Game competition in 2003. Zelený also worked on Mashinky in his spare time in the beginning, but since 2018 he has been working on the project full time and is still working on the expansion and the final version of the game. Portfolio: U Becherů (2003), Mashinky (early access, 2018)
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AMANITA DESIGN
Indie
Currently in development
PHON OP OLIS Although the story features manipulation and individualism, it retains the typical detachment and playfulness. The player takes on the role of Felix, an unassuming young man who, along with his fellow citizens, unwittingly faces a major threat. The authoritarian Leader of the city is about to sound the Absolute Tone through the ubiquitous amplifiers and take over the collective minds of all citizens for good. By a stroke of luck, Felix is the only one to realise what could happen and he tries to thwart the Leader's plan. Dystopia
Manipulation
Cardboard
Genre
Adventure
Trivia
Traditional animation at 12 frames per second reminiscent of classic animated films.
Development starts
2013
The music is composed by Tomáš Dvořák aka Floexe. He is the author of music for the studio's other games, too, including Machinarium and Samorost 3.
Expected release
The first game by Amanita Design to feature clear dialogues and a real narrator.
2025 Number of developers
10 Multiplayer
NO
The story-driven adventure game is set in the anti-utopian city of Phonopolis, for which the developers have hand-crafted a 3D world out of corrugated cardboard.
Publisher
Amanita Design
Studio
AMANITA DESIGN (2003 / Brno, Prague) The independent development studio was founded by the designer, artist and animator Jakub Dvorský. Amanita Design are known for an emphasis on surreal worlds, subtle humour, handcrafted graphics and audiovisual experience. Their portfolio includes the world-famous Machinarium (2009), the Samorost Series (2003-2016), the comedy game CHUCHEL (2018) and the horror game Happy Game (2021). They are currently working in several small teams on the development of a number of new games for different platforms. Also in development is their dystopian game Phonopolis, which is created from handcrafted cardboard models and its animation is based on a classic hand puppets. Portfolio (selection): Samorost 1-3 (2003, 2005, 2016), Machinarium (2009), Botanicula (2012), Chuchel (2018), Pilgrims (2019), Creaks (2020), Happy Game (2021), Phonopolis (currently in development)
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CBE SOFTWARE
Indie
S O MEDAY YOU 'LL RET UR N A story-driven game about the search for Stela, the lost daughter, in the surreal forests of South Moravia. The player takes on the role of Daniel, Stela's father, who must venture into the woods into which he has sworn to never return. The themes revolve around fatherhood, fear, lies and a refusal to accept one's past. The powerful story features elements of fantasy and horror. It is not always clear what is real and what is not and who the monster really is. Horror
Czech folklore
South Moravia
Trivia
The story is set in Moravia, a region in the East of Czechia. The game features real locations together with a QR code that takes the player to a map. The game uses the entire Czech tourist navigation system.
Genre
Adventure
There are six alternative endings depending on the player's actions and choices.
Release date
5/5/2020
Сhallenge
Funding
Development time (years)
Awards
Reboot Develop: Game of the Year and Visual Excellence (Croatia, 2018)
5+2
MEGAMIGS: Best in Show, Best Narrative Direction and Best Artistic Direction (Canada, 2020)
(Director's Cut)
Czech Game of the Year 2020: Best Game Design (CZ, 2021)
Copies sold (2023)
Thousands
Number of developers
2 Languages
9 Multiplayer
NO
Publisher
Bohemia Interactive
Studio
CBE SOFTWARE (2006 / Brno) The independent studio was founded by the composer, cellist, scriptwriter and programmer Jan Kavan and designer Lukáš Medek. Initially named Cardboard Box Entertainment, the team was renamed to CBE Software in 2011. Their best-known game to date is the psychological horror Someday You'll Return (2020) set in the South Moravian woods. CBE Software strives to explore the possibilities of video games beyond the established gaming paradigms. Their motto is that "It is much better to fail at trying something new and original than to succeed by copying existing successful games." Portfolio: Ghost in the sheet (2007), J.U.L.I.A. (2012), Vampires! (2012), Boredom of Agustín Cordes (2013), J.U.L.I.A. Among the Stars (2014), Serena (2014), Someday You’ll Return (2020), Someday You'll Return: Director's Cut (2023)
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CHARLES GAMES
Indie
SVO BODA 1945: LI B ER ATIO N The player, taking on the role of a conservationist, gets immersed in the story of Svoboda, a small town in the Czech-German border region affected by violence, and uncovers hidden secrets in an attempt to find reconciliation. The game is a unique combination of historical adventure game, interactive interviews and memories of people who lived through the chaos after the Second World War and the subsequent displacement of the German population. After war
Moral dilemmas
Memories
Genre
Adventure
Trivia
Release date
3/1/2021
The game features characters from another game Attentat 1942.
Сhallenges
Development time (years)
2
Number of developers
5 Languages
3 Multiplayer
NO
How to approach history as sensitively as possible without sacrificing the gameplay and appeal to players.
Awards selection Game Development World Championship (2021) The Game Awards: Games for Impact (USA, 2022) Czech Game of the Year 2021: Czech Game of the Year (CZ, 2022)
Copies sold (2023)
Not specified
The game's perspective is partly based on personal experience of the main designer Vít Šisler, whose father was born in the CzechGerman border region a year before the outbreak of the Second World War.
Publisher
Charles Games
Studio
CHARLES GAMES (2020 / Prague) The internationally acclaimed independent game studio, a spin-off of Charles University in Prague, is famous for the historical games Attentat 1942 (2017) and Svoboda 1945: Liberation (2021). Together with the Czech NGO People in Need, they have come up with innovative ways to reflect important social issues in games, such as cyberbullying in DigiStories: Nela (2021) and climate change in Beecarbonize (2023). For Iraqi Kurdistan, the studio has created Ashti (2022), a game about water management. They are currently developing a game telling the stories of children affected by war, whether in the Balkans, Syria or Ukraine. Portfolio: Attentat 1942 (2017), Svoboda 1945: Liberation (2021), DigiStories: Nela (2021), Train to Sachsenhausen (2022), Ashti (2022), Beecarbonize (2023) , Playing KAFKA (2023), Digistories: Alex (currently in development)
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KIKIRIKI GAMES
Indie
For visually impaired players
TO THE DR AG ON CAVE The first Czech audio mobile shooter for (not only) visually impaired players. The players strive to liberate themselves from the throes of a powerful dragon, escape from a stone tower and wander and thither in the far-away land of Laudonia. Hordes of enemies lie in waiting at each step of the dangerous wanderings – bloodthirsty sheep, giant spiders, skeletons, zombie trees and lots of other dark creatures strive to seize the players' soul. Fantasy
Middle Ages
Sound
Genre
Action audio game
Trivia
The gesture-based controls reflect how smart phones are operated by blind people using a screen reader (VoiceOver, Talkback). About half of the team working on the development consisted of visually impaired people.
Release date
15/5/2022
Сhallenges
To design the game in a way that would make it accessible to both visually impaired and sighted players.
Development time
Awards
Pocket Gamer Magazine: Top 10 Influential Accessible Mobile Games and Award Nomination, Most Innovative Mobile Game (UK, 2022)
8 months Copies sold (2023)
Thousands Number of developers
4 Languages
4 Multiplayer
NO
Social Start-up of the Year (CZ, 2022); Creative Business Cup: 3rd place (CZ, 2023); SozialMarie: nomination 2023 (for Kikiriki Games Studio)
Publisher
Kikiriki Games
Studio
KIKIRIKI GAMES (2021 / Brno) Founded by Jana and Miloš Kukla, Kikiriki Games is an accessible game development studio. It specialises in the development of accessibleand inclusive mobile games. The studio was founded with the aim of improving the range of games available to visually impaired gamers. In addition to removing barriers in the game development industry, it also focuses on improving the position of blind people in the job market and strives to inspire other employers – a large part of the creative team is made up of people with visual impairments. The studio has released the action mobile audio game To the Dragon Cave (2022) and the mobile quiz game Brave Brain (2023). Portfolio: To the Dragon Cave (2022), Brave Brain (2023)
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CL A S S I C NDENT THE CL ASSIC These are the games that the player simply needs to try while keeping his or her mind open to get completely absorbed. The engaging stories draw the player into worlds in the future as well as the past. Time-proven techniques are blended with current trends and the developers are constantly pushing the boundaries of the gaming experience. In addition, some titles feature retro game styling and pixel art, bringing back memories of the gaming era of the 1980s and 1990s. Games in this category have recently been very successful due to a solid base of players who used to play similar ones in the past.
EXHIBITED GAMES
FixFox (Rendlike — 2022)
Last Train Home (Ashborne Games — 2023)
HROT (Spytihněv — 2023)
Ministry of Broadcast (Ministry of Broadcast Studios — 2020)
Kromlech (Perun Creative — ve vývoji)
Nebuchadnezzar (Nepos Games — 2021)
Lords and Villeins (Honestly Games — 2022)
The Last Oricru (GoldKnights — 2022)
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Classic
REDLIKE
FI XFOX Fixfox is a sci-fi adventure game featuring Vix, a space mechanic. Vix crash-lands on a mysterious planet where tools are forbidden. Accompanied by her trusty toolbox Tin, Vix travels across the planet Karamel discovering hidden pirate stashes, repairing friendly household appliances, and sampling tasty local delicacies.
Food
Repair
Fox
Trivia
The game was formerly named SPACR.
Genre
Adventure
The composer of the soundtrack used several types of string instruments during recording, including a historical mandolin. For one composition, he even incorporated elements of Tibetan throat singing.
Release date
31/3/2022 Сhallenges
The studio initially underestimated the need for marketing, launched the campaign late, and struggled with a lack of finances.
Awards
Game Access: Best Art and VisionGame Editorial Selection (CZ, 2022)
Publisher
Joystick Ventures
Studio
RENDLIKE
Development time (years)
10 Copies sold (2023)
Thousands Number of developers
1-3 Languages
2 Multiplayer
NO
(2017 / Prague) The one-member game studio was founded by Jaroslav Meloun, a game developer and teacher at The Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. His games focus on positive attitude. The founder of the studio has been organising the Global Game Jam Prague, a weekend game development marathon, since 2011, single-handedly released 6 games and created over 30 game prototypes. Portfolio (a selection): FixFox (2022), Mimpi (2013, Silicon Jelly), Dex (2015, Dreadlocks), Saturnalia (2022, Santa Ragione)
SPYTIHNĚV
Classic
HROT A first-person retro shooter set in socialist Czechoslovakia after a fictional disaster in 1986. The game begins in a civil defence shelter in Prague’s Kosmonautů metro station. The player defends their country against intruders, tames a pack of Prague Ratters, tries their hand at an astronomical clock simulator and gets rid of litter using a mechanical mop. Hrot differs from other retro games by its period humour and dark, depressing atmosphere enhanced by the graphic style. Retro
Shooting
Alternative history
Trivia
The game includes about 200 Czech signs, propaganda slogans and bulletin boards. The English translation can be displayed by pointing at the Czech sign and pressing the E button.
Genre
Action
The levels are inspired by real locations in former Czechoslovakia with a special focus on period details. The player finds themselves in the Vítkov Mausoleum where the body of the communist President Klement Gottwald was once displayed, the Old Town Square, the Sokol Gym as well as the Strahov Stadium. The player can also visit Czech castles such as Vyšehrad, Točník, Kašperk and the protected area of Babbiččino údolí in Ratibořice, Eastern Bohemia.
Release date
16/5/2023 Development time (years)
5,5
The custom engine written in Pascal is a successful replica of the 90s games with its pixelated textures in a brown palette and polygon jitter.
Copies sold (2023)
Hundreds of thousands
Сhallenges
Finding the right music composer. There were nine of them during the process.
Publisher
Spytihněv
Studio
SPYTIHNĚV
Number of developers
1 Languages
2 Multiplayer
NO
(2011 / Prague) Spytihněv (the developer’s nickname, their real name is unknown) launched Legie in 2009 under the then-team name Sudokop. Later he launched The Tragedy of Prince Rupert based on the work of Karel Zeman, a Czech film icon. Portfolio: Legie (2009), The Tragedy of Prince Rupert (Tragédie Ruprechta Falckého, 2017), Hrot (2023)
PERUN CREATIVE
Classic
Currently in development
KROMLE CH A dark fantasy adventure game in which the player embarks on a journey to find out why the tapestry of the world has suddenly been unravelling itself. Even the gods themselves appear to be unable to stop it. As the world burns, the player gets ready to face one last assault – it is time to sharpen the blade and gather companions.
Hero
Fantasy
Combat
Trivia
The game features an “easy-to-learn, hard-to-master” combat system, which rewards precision and skillful play.
Genre
Action, RPG
The game world changes not just physically as the settlements become abandoned and fall into ruin, otherworldly growth suffocates flora and fauna, and enemies grow bolder and more numerous, but also audibly. Ambient audio and the accompanying soundtrack change with the state of the world and the situation on the screen. Sounds of nature fall silent as the otherworldly corruption spreads and out-of-place electronic beats.
Development starts
2022 Expected release
2024
Publisher
Perun Creative
Studio
PERUN CREATIVE
Number of developers
20 Multiplayer
NO
(2017 / Ostrava, Olomouc) Perun Creative was founded by the young developers Jan Polach, Roman Valenta and Jiří Vašica. The studio is located in the MoravianSilesian region – one of the regions with the highest unemployment in Czechia – in order to create interesting job opportunities in game development in this region. The first successful project of the studio is their Hobo: Tough Life (2021), which the three developers created during their university studies. The studio is currently working on a new game called Kromlech. Portfolio: Hobo: Tough Life (2021), Kvark (2023), Kromlech (currently in development)
Classic
HONESTLY GAMES
LOR D S A ND VILLEIN S The player aims to build a prosperous settlement in a unique simulation of a feudal economy. Each noble family runs their own shop, owns their goods, and trades with other villagers in a free market. The player will manage the land, build houses, organize events, set taxes, and balance supply and demand while engaging in diplomacy.
Pixel graphics
Feudalism
Economy
Genre
Strategy
Trivia
The game turned into a feudal economy simulation after the author got interested in history. His interest inspired the game design.
Release date
10/11/2022
Сhallenges
5 Tens of thousands Number of developers
4 Languages
6 Multiplayer
NO
Individual AI-driven simulation of the economy, free market and personal property. Designing the logic, architecture and suitable algorithms as well as the implementation with respect to player needs and game design rules.
Development time (years)
Copies sold (2023)
The original goal was to create a medieval pub simulation based on Prison Architect.
Awards
IndieDB: 5th place in the competition (international, 2022)
Publisher
Fulqrum Publishing
Studio
HONESTLY GAMES (2019 / Prague) The studio was founded by game developer Michal Roch. The small team consisting of passionate developers strives to create games that completely immerse the players. It also builds a community of people who love to create, share and express themselves through gaming. The studio's first game was the medieval city-building simulation Lords and Villeins (2022). Portfolio: Lords and Villeins (2022)
Classic
ASHBORNE GAMES
LAST T R AIN HOME The First World War has ended, but the fight continues. The player commands a legion of Czechoslovak soldiers, desperately trying to make their way home amidst the chaos of the Russian Civil War. Leading the soldiers through the unforgiving wilderness onboard an armoured train, the player manages the crew and resources and tries to survive.
Train
History
War
Trivia
The game features a compelling story based on historical events depicting the experiences of the Czechoslovak Legions (a volunteer foreign military resistance unit of Czechs and Slovaks) and their courageous struggle on behalf of the Allied powers during the First World War.
Сhallenge
The development evolution of the game genre from a strategy rogue-like experience into a linear story-driven campaign and necessary adaptations.
Awards
Game Access: Greatest Surprise (CZ, 2023)
Publisher
THQ Nordic
Studio
ASHBORNE GAMES
Genre
Strategy Release date
28/11/2023 Development time (years)
3 Copies sold (2023)
Not specified
Number of developers
50 Languages
11 Multiplayer
NO
(2020 / Brno) The team of this studio consists of game developers with remarkable experience in creating successful games (including global hits such as Arma, Mafia, Vigor, and other titles) published either independently or under various publishers. Ashborne Games is a proud member of the THQ Nordic Family, Game Cluster, and Czech Game Developers Association. The studio released the new strategy game Last Train Home (2023). Portofolio: Comanche (originally developed by Nukklear, 2021), Last Train Home (2023)
Classic
MINISTRY OF BROADCAST STUDIOS
MINIS TRY OF B R OAD CAS T This platform game with pixel graphics and a cinematic narrative style was inspired by the classic 90s titles such as the original Prince of Persia and Oddworld: Abe’s Exoddus. The game’s atmosphere is a blend of dark Orwellian dystopia and modern reality – the country is divided by the Wall, and in order for a player to overcome it and reach their family, they have to participate in and win a reality TV show broadcast by the regime. Pixel graphics
Reality show
Satire
Genre
Adventure
Trivia
Release date
The art of the game was inspired by the Brutalist period in architecture and the colour code of the game was limited to six colours and their shades. Even though it was a challenge, this resulted in memorable graphics. The game script is over 13 000 words long.
30/1/2020 Сhallenges
The Engine Gamemaker was a bit challenging (at the time), as most of the code the developers needed for scripting did not exist yet and there were no shortcuts to what they wanted to implement.
Awards
Game Access: Best Gameplay (CZ, 2018) Japan Media Arts festival Award (Japan, 2018)
Hundreds of thousands
Publisher
Hitcents, PLAYISM and PM Studios
Number of developers
Studio
Development time (years)
2 Copies sold (2023)
4 Languages
12 Multiplayer
NO
MINISTRY OF BROADCAST STUDIOS (2016 / Brno, Prague) The young independent game studio was formed by the merger of two smaller game studios. The first studio was Twin Petes Brno and its two programmers Petr Škrňok and Petr Melicherík, and the second was Fuchs+Dachs from Prague and its two graphic designers Sanja and Dušan Čežek. Under the team of four working remotely, the debut board game with a strong storyline was created: Ministry of Broadcast (2020). Portfolio: Ministry of Broadcast (2020)
Classic
NEPOS GAMES
NE BUCHA DNEZZ AR The classic isometric city builder game inviting players to experience the mysterious history and culture of ancient Mesopotamia. In the campaign, players get to rule over influential historical cities filled with magnificent monuments. This game will take players through the entire history of the cradle of civilisation, from the first cities to the vast multinational empires that have made an unforgettable mark on the history of humankind. Logistics
History
Mesopotamia
Genre
Strategy
Trivia
The game made its way into the book "Gaming the Past" by Jeremiah McCall, which explores the use of computer games in history education, and the author himself uses the game in his ancient history classes.
Release date
17/2/2021
Сhallenges
The complexity of isometric 2D graphics, a factor the developers initially didn't fully realize, especially when combined with a completely custom game engine.
Awards
Czech Game of the Year 2021: Technological Solutions (CZ, 2022)
Publisher
Nepos Games
Studio
NEPOS GAMES
Development time (years)
6
The game became involved in several interdisciplinary projects focused on the study of ancient Middle Eastern history.
Copies sold (2023)
Tens of thousands Number of developers
2 Languages
16 Multiplayer
NO
(2019 / Prague) Nepos Games was founded by Luděk Hroch, a graphic designer, and Josef Hájíček, a programmer, who met while working at SCS Software, where they both worked on such games as Euro Truck Simulator 2 or American Truck Simulator. At first, they developed their own project in their spare time, but after having worked more than ten years in the mainstream game industry, they eventually decided to leave their jobs and finish their game project, Nebuchadnezzar (2021). Portfolio: Nebuchadnezzar (2021), Nebuchadnezzar: The Adventures of Sargon (2023)
Classic
GOLDKNIGHTS
THE L AST OR ICRU The action game with a complex storyline takes players into a unique setting blending sci-fi elements with a medieval aesthetic. The player appears in the middle of a conflict between two races on a planet isolated from the rest of the universe. The player's decisions have a real impact and shape the future, which is constantly changing based on those decisions.
Story
Fantasy
Sci-fi
Trivia
It is worth playing the game multiple times and making different decisions as the story, enemies and levels are very different each time.
Genre
Action, RPG
The game is equally suitable for one player as well as a team of multiple cooperating players. Together they can come up with new entert.
Release date
13/10/2022
Сhallenges
Working remotely with developers from multiple countries.
Awards
GDS Indie Game Expo Awards 2022: Best Game GDS (CZ, 2023)
Development time (years)
7 Copies sold (2023)
Not specified Number of developers
45 Languages
14 Multiplayer
YES
Gameson: Best Line-up (Germany, 2023)
Publisher
Prime Matter
Studio
GOLDKNIGHTS (2015 / Prague) The studio was founded by the software architect and entrepreneur Pavel Jiří Strnad. A small team of developers started working on their first game Lost Hero. The team grew significantly over time. It consists of newcomers to the industry as well as experienced developers working from Europe and the USA. In 2021, the studio partnered with the Prime Matter label, a division of the German-Austrian media company Koch Media (now Plaion). After that, Lost Hero underwent significant changes and was renamed to The Last Oricru (2022). An update of The Last Oricru: Final Cut was released in 2023. The studio's motto is "Better fantastic and few than mediocre and many." Portfolio: The Last Oricru (2022)