Cypher Games Secures $30M USD for Match Squad and Expansion

• Cypher Games raised $30 million USD in Series A funding, totaling $40 million USD with previous rounds.
• Funds will support the launch of Match Squad, featuring match-3, dice, and city-building gameplay.
• The studio plans to expand its team and develop a second game to grow in casual mobile gaming.

Istanbul-based mobile developer Cypher Games has raised $30 million USD in a Series A funding round led by The Raine Group and Play Ventures, marking a major step in its growth trajectory. The round also saw participation from MIT, E2VC, and Huuuge founder Anton Gauffin’s venture fund Big Bets, along with notable gaming figures such as Discord CEO Humam Saknini, King founder Riccardo Zacconi, and Tripledot co-founder Akin Babayigit.

This latest investment follows a $10M USD seed round closed in September 2024, bringing the company’s total funding to $40M USD. The capital will fuel the launch of Cypher’s debut title, Match Squad, and support the early development of a second project, alongside plans to expand the studio’s team.

“We’re thrilled to close this Series A fundraising with the support of such a strong investor group,” said Anil Simsek, Co-Founder and CEO of Cypher Games. “Our mission is to pursue innovation and deliver it with top-tier storytelling and premium production quality, at the fastest possible pace. This new funding provides the liquidity necessary to execute on that vision as we bring our game to market.”

Innovating the Match-3 Genre with Dice and Design

Cypher’s upcoming title, Match Squad, aims to redefine the casual mobile experience by blending traditional match-3 gameplay with dice-based mechanics and city-building elements.

The game offers a fresh experience for casual gamers by adding dice-based mechanics (introducing chance or randomness) and city-building elements (allowing players to create or upgrade cities) to standard match-3 puzzles. Completing levels grants dice rolls that let players attack rival cities, steal treasures, gain shields, and earn rewards.

This unique combination positions the game to stand out than typical match-3 games, in an increasingly competitive mobile market. According to the company, the funding will also help attract top-tier talent from Turkey and beyond, an effort that investors see as central to Cypher’s growing reputation.

John Salter, Co-Founder and Partner at The Raine Group said, “We’re pleased to deepen our partnership with Anil and the Cypher team as they continue to push the boundaries of the match-3 genre with their innovative integration of the dice mechanic.”

Building the Future of Casual Gaming

With its expanded financial backing, Cypher Games is positioning itself as a major contender in the global casual gaming landscape. The studio’s blend of narrative-driven experiences and gameplay innovation underscores a broader shift in mobile gaming toward premium-quality design and storytelling.

Cypher’s bold vision and the industry confidence surrounding it suggest that Match Squad’s upcoming launch could mark a significant moment for Turkey’s fast-growing gaming scene.