As a category of entertainment, gaming is thriving in the modern world. Thanks to console gaming products and the emergence of portable gaming devices, like smartphones, we have an abundance of gaming options to explore in 2022. In fact, we’ve never seen anything like it before, with people turning to an extensive selection of gaming products when boredom sets in.
Thankfully, some of Manchester’s very own game development companies have played their part in gaming’s rise up the entertainment ranks. These companies have created new and improved products on console machines, they’re elevating the mobile category of gaming with a collection of innovative titles, and they’re releasing a wave of PC and social media titles that are elevating the overall genre. These companies are generally made up of coders, artists, animation experts, audio developers, and a range of other professionals who help to bring the games we know and love today to life.
An area of business that is showing notable growth in Manchester, these top development companies deserve a lot of plaudits. The market is wide open, too, meaning that gaming companies no longer must create games for consoles only. Mobile games, social media games, and even iGaming titles, with the latter now extending to both software-based games like slots and live dealer games like live roulette, have led to more and more opportunities for studios to build new creations.
People can jump between a console gaming session at home before embarking on a mobile adventure with ease during a train journey, making gaming one of the most prominent entertainment options for people today. Let’s salute some of the Manchester-based game development companies that have impacted the space, too.
White Paper Games
A small independent company with huge potential, White Paper Games has been representing the Manchester game development scene since 2014 and has gone on to become a familiar name in the space. One of the company’s most successful releases is The Occupation, a PC and console gaming option that offers a single-player aspect as players embark on adventures that take place in a government building. The narrative-driven, non-combat immersive sim is just one product from White Paper Games’ extensive catalogue of titles. While it’s a small company on the whole, this Manchester-based developer certainly has big talent.
VoxelStorm
Founded in 2012 by Eugene Hopkinson, VoxelStorm is another game development company that is shining in Manchester. Also acting as a game publisher and music publisher, the company has shown steady growth thanks to a number of solid gaming products. Also enlisting the help of local musicians, writers, programmers and artists, VoxelStorm’s most successful games include the likes of Fractyr, AdvertCity, SphereFace, and TacWing.
Fabrik Games
Since 2014, Fabrik Games has gone on to become one of the most impressive game development companies in the UK. Two of the company’s leading products include Filthy Lucre and The Lost Bear, with the latter release resulting in a number of awards for this exciting game development company. The Persistence is another game that has resulted in Fabrik Games being regarded as one of the emerging forces in this particular area of entertainment.
Acid Nerve
Founded by Mark Foster and David Fenn, the pair brought Acid Nerve to life after meeting at an event in the city. Then, from there, the talented duo struck up a friendship before joining forces to create a Christmas-themed product that managed to hit the mark with gamers. The game, which was called ‘Pantsless Santa’, was Acid Nerve’s first foray into the gaming arena. Since then, other successful games that have been produced by the company’s continually expanding team include the likes of Titan Souls, Leaf Me Alone, and Fruitwolf.
Other top Manchester-based game development companies include Smashmouth Games Ltd, 360 Studios, Phigames, and Prospect Games.
