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Raji an Ancient Epic

Top Indian Indie Game Studios in 2025

11 AUG 2025, 08:08 AM
  • India’s gaming market projected to soar from $3.7B in 2024 to $60B by 2034, driven by 500M+ gamers.

  • Indie studios thrive in cities like Bengaluru and Kochi, blending culture with innovation and global appeal.

  • Games like Raji: An Ancient Epic showcase India’s rising presence in the global indie game scene.

India is one of the world's biggest gaming hubs, with the industry valued at $3.7 billion in 2024 and projected to reach a staggering $60 billion by 2034. The sector boasts over 488 million online gamers as of 2024, expected to grow to 517 million by 2025, making it one of the fastest-growing gaming markets globally with a 19.6% CAGR. However, indie studios in the country are few and far between among the 1,888 gaming companies nationwide.

The few that exist are pushing boundaries by blending cultural narratives, innovative gameplay and new technologies. Tier 1 cities like Bengaluru have emerged as India's leading indie game development hubs, while the sector is expanding beyond metros to Tier-2 cities like Ahmedabad, Kochi, and Surat. These studios are gaining recognition for their creativity and ability to resonate with both domestic and international audiences, with games like Raji: An Ancient Epic achieving global acclaim and becoming India's first game featured on Nintendo's worldwide showcase. 

Here are some of the top Indian indie game studios shaping the industry, their notable works and upcoming projects.

Nodding Heads Games

Based in Pune, Nodding Heads Games is a trailblazer in India's indie scene with annual revenue ranging from $1-5 million USD and a team of 10-19 people. The studio is known for "Raji: An Ancient Epic" (2020), an action-adventure game inspired by Indian mythology. Released on Nintendo Switch and other platforms, "Raji" has crossed 2 million players and earned global praise for its stunning visuals and narrative rooted in Hindu folklore, securing an Unreal Dev Grant from Epic Games.

SuperGaming

The game generated an estimated $930,000 in Steam net revenue and was nominated for Best Debut Game at The Game Awards 2020, while winning multiple accolades including Grand Prix and Winners Circle Awards at Taipei Game Awards 2021. The studio's focus on cultural storytelling, combined with high-quality production, has made it a standout.

SuperGaming is a Pune-based game development studio founded in 2017. The company has built a reputation for creating engaging mobile games with a strong emphasis on multiplayer and community-driven experiences.

Titles like "MaskGun," which has achieved over 50 million downloads on Google Play, along with "Tower Conquest" and "Battle Stars" have cemented its global presence. The studio raised $5.5 million in Series A funding and their flagship project, "Indus," is an Indo-futuristic battle royale launched in 2024 with more than 10 million pre-registrations and 6 million downloads since launch.

SuperGaming also powers Bandai Namco's official Pac-Man game through their SuperPlatform technology.

Studio Oleomingus

Located in Chala, Gujarat, Studio Oleomingus is run by Dhruv Jani and Sushant Chakraborty. The indie art and game studio explores postcolonial narratives through interactive fiction, with their work supported by prestigious grants including the Arts Practice Grant from India Foundation for the Arts and backing from Serendipity Arts Foundation, Humble Bundle Inc., and The Irregular Corporation. Their short, single-player games, like "It Takes A Long Time To Grow A Mountain," delve into forgotten histories with experimental storytelling and unique art styles. The studio has gained international recognition, winning the AMAZE Humble Award 2020 and exhibiting at prestigious venues including V&A London, Somerset House London, and GDC San Francisco. Supported by grants from the India Foundation for the Arts and Technicolor, the studio creates absurdist games that serve as social commentaries on Indian politics and culture.

Masala Games

Masala Games is an independent studio founded by Shalin Shodhan, a BAFTA-winning and Oscar-nominated developer with over 4 years of experience at Electronic Arts and 4 years at Pixar. At EA, Shodhan contributed to "Spore" under Will Wright. At Pixar, he worked on acclaimed films like "Toy Story 3" and "Brave."

Mono Tusk Studios

After returning to India, Shodhan established Masala Games to craft games that reflect the lived experience of modern India. The company's first project, "Detective Dotson," is a cozy mystery-adventure title released in April 2025. The game has achieved remarkable success with a 95% "Very Positive" rating on Steam and received an 8.5 rating from IGN, showcasing the studio's potential in the indie gaming space.

Mono Tusk Studios, a Hyderabad-based indie studio, is known for "Palm Sugar: A Village Story," an upcoming pixel RPG set in rural South India. The game combines traditional storytelling with engaging gameplay, resonating with players through its authentic portrayal of Indian village life. The studio has gained significant industry recognition, winning the Bharat Tech Triumph Program 2025 (3rd Edition) and being selected for visibility at the India Game Developer Conference (IGDC). Mono Tusk also appeared at the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit 2025 in Mumbai, positioning itself for greater visibility in the Indian gaming ecosystem.

Brewed Games

Brewed Games is representing India at GDC 2025, showcasing at the India Pavilion from March 19-21. The studio is behind "Winds of Arcana: Ruination," a 2.5D dark fantasy Metroidvania with deep combat customization. The game features nonlinear exploration and draws inspiration from titles like "Hollow Knight" and "Castlevania." The studio has earned impressive industry recognition, winning "Upcoming Game of the Year" at India Game Developer Conference 2024 and claiming victory in Bharat Tech Triumph Season 3. The studio aims to launch the game on multiple platforms and establish its presence in PC and console gaming.

GameEon Studios

GameEon Studios specializes in mobile game development, with a portfolio spanning casual games like "Cricket Play 2021," "Crashy Car Racing" and "Highway Truck Racing." The company's flagship project, "Mumbai Gullies," is an upcoming open-world game inspired by "Grand Theft Auto." The game aims to showcase Mumbai's vibrant culture to the world, representing the studio's ambition to create locally-inspired content with global appeal.

Abhimannu Das

Abhimannu Das

Author

Abhimannu Das is a web journalist at Outlook India with a focus on Indian pop culture, gaming, and esports. He has over 10 years of journalistic experience and over 3,500 articles that include industry deep dives, interviews, and SEO content. He has worked on a myriad of games and their ecosystems, including Valorant, Overwatch, and Apex Legends.

Published At: 21 JUL 2025, 06:07 PM