The Rise of Grand Games: A New Powerhouse in Turkey’s Gaming Scene
In the bustling world of gaming startups, Turkey has emerged as a fertile ground, especially for those developing casual mobile games. One standout in this vibrant scene is Grand Games, which has made significant waves just nine months into its journey. They’ve recently announced a remarkable $30 million funding round, aiming to replicate their successful formula used to create hits like Magic Sort and Car Match.
Grand Games’ success lies not only in its innovative game development but also in its unique company culture. CEO and co-founder Bekir Batuhan Çelebi, known as Batu, emphasizes that while AI technology accelerates game development, it’s the team’s motivation and freedom that truly drive success. Inspired by Finland’s Supercell, Batu believes that empowering teams to take ownership is key. “It’s all about the team culture we are building,” he shared.
- Series A led by London-based Balderton Capital
- Previous backers include Bek Ventures and Laton Ventures
- Angel investor Mert Gür also participated
“Istanbul is producing some of the world’s finest gaming studios. The founders of Grand Games stood out with their vision to create world-class genre-defining casual games that players love to play,” said Suranga Chandratillake, general partner at Balderton Capital.
{Suranga Chandratillake
While Grand Games hasn’t disclosed its valuation, the buzz around their oversubscribed funding round indicates strong investor confidence. This Series A is one of the largest for a Turkish gaming startup, positioning them alongside other notable companies like Dream Games and Peak Games.
Magic Sort, one of Grand Games’ flagship titles, has already climbed Apple’s top-selling casual gaming charts, contributing to over $4 million in gross app revenues within just six months of launch. This achievement sets Grand apart in an industry where many casual gaming startups prefer bootstrapping over pursuing external funding.
The roots of Grand Games trace back to Good Job, where co-founders Batu, Mustafa Fırtına, and Mehmet Çalım first collaborated. They observed that traditional Turkish gaming companies often restricted creative decision-making to founders alone. By contrast, Grand’s approach distributes decision-making power to talented clusters focused on individual titles.
This strategy not only boosts productivity but also fosters a positive work environment. As Batu notes, “Really capable, high caliber people” thrive when given autonomy over their projects. AI tools further enhance efficiency by handling repetitive tasks, allowing teams more time for creativity.
As Grand Games scales up with new staff and production clusters, the challenge will be maintaining their winning formula. However, with investors optimistic about their potential for sustained success, the future looks bright for this emerging Turkish gaming powerhouse.
