Gamenauts

Lore & Background

Gamenauts was founded in September 2005 by Stanley Adrianus, formerly of Yahoo! Games. The studio is based in Silicon Valley. In 2012, the company announced a publishing initiative for indie Asian developers, signing up studios from South East Asia such as Kurechii Studio, Menara Games, Artlogic Games and Nerdook Productions to publish their mobile titles for the worldwide market.

The studio developed and published several games across PC and mobile platforms, including Burger Rush (2007), Restaurant Rush (2008), Cate West: The Vanishing Files (2008), Cate West: The Velvet Keys (2008), Wonder Island (2010), Stickbound (2010), and Ninja Fishing (iOS, 2011; Android, 2012). In 2013, Gamenauts acted as publisher for King's League: Odyssey and Nuclear Outrun on iOS, followed by Castle Champions on iOS in 2014.

Ninja Fishing, released in 2011 for iOS and later on Android in 2012, is a fishing game where the player fishes for sea creatures and treasure, then slices them with a katana for cash, upgrades, and collectible loot. The game has two sections: a fishing stage where the player tilts the screen to control a hook, and a slicing stage where the player swipes to cut fish and treasure while avoiding dynamite, in the style of Fruit Ninja. Gamasutra noted similarities between Ninja Fishing and Radical Fishing by Vlambeer. In 2013, Vlambeer published Ridiculous Fishing, which received the highest rated reviews of the year.

Reader's Guide

Gamenauts occupies a notable position in the independent game development landscape of the 2000s and early 2010s. Founded by a Yahoo! Games veteran, the studio demonstrated an early commitment to mobile gaming with titles like Burger Rush and Restaurant Rush, and later expanded into publishing for indie developers in Southeast Asia, helping bring games from studios such as Kurechii Studio and Nerdook Productions to a worldwide audience. Its most recognized title, Ninja Fishing, gained attention for its blend of fishing and slicing mechanics, and was noted by Gamasutra for its similarity to Radical Fishing by Vlambeer. This comparison highlights the competitive and sometimes contentious nature of mobile game design during that era. While Gamenauts did not achieve the same critical acclaim as Vlambeer's Ridiculous Fishing, its role as a publisher for Asian indie developers and its catalog of casual and arcade-style games reflect the broader trends of the indie game boom, including the rise of mobile platforms and the globalization of game development. The studio's history offers a case study in the challenges and opportunities faced by small developers navigating a rapidly changing market.

Did You Know?

• In 2012, Gamenauts announced a publishing initiative for indie Asian developers, signing studios from South East Asia.
• Ninja Fishing launched on iOS in 2011 and Android in 2012; Gamasutra noted its similarity to Radical Fishing by Vlambeer.
• Gamenauts published three iOS titles: King's League: Odyssey and Nuclear Outrun in 2013, and Castle Champions in 2014.