www.handy-games.com GmbH[3] (trade name: HandyGames) is a German video game developer and publisher based in Giebelstadt. In July 2018, the company was acquired by THQ Nordic.

www.handy-games.com GmbH
HandyGames
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryVideo games
FoundedApril 25, 2000; 24 years ago (2000-04-25)[1]
Founders
  • Christopher Kassulke
  • Markus Kassulke
  • Udo Bausewein
Headquarters,
Germany
ProductsTownsmen
Number of employees
80[2] (2024)
ParentTHQ Nordic (2018–present)
SubsidiariesMassive Miniteam
Websitehandy-games.com

History

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The company was founded in 2000 by brothers Christopher and Markus Kassulke along with Udo Bausewein. In 2006, HandyGames released its first free, ad-funded game and began the gradual transition to a largely ad-funded business model. Since 2010, all new HandyGames mobile titles are either free or freemium. By 2014 HandyGames had 150,000 app downloads per month and more than 100 million downloads in total.[4] They have developed all the Townsmen games.

In 2012, HandyGames expanded onto other platforms like PC or Smart TVs. In January 2014 and 2015, the company were main sponsors for the "HandyGames Charity Day" in Würzburg, which aimed to raise funds for cancer research. On both occasions the event was able to raise roughly 50000 Euros.[5][6]

HandyGames was one of the first companies to launch games for wearable technology in 2014.[7] The games are compatible with Android Wear devices, including the Moto 360 by Motorola, the Huawei Watch, the Sony SmartWatch and the LG G Watch.[8]

The company began developing VR (virtual reality) games 2015 and released titles like "Hidden Temple – VR Adventure".[9] They can be played in 360° mode or in VR using one of the supported head-mounted displays like Oculus Rift, Samsung Gear VR, or Google Cardboard.[10] Simultaneously, HandyGames began developing games for the Eighth generation of video game consoles like the PlayStation 4, Xbox One[11] or later the Nintendo Switch.

On 9 July 2018, THQ Nordic announced that it had acquired HandyGames and all of its intellectual property. THQ Nordic said that the studio management and all employees remain with the company.[12][13]

Townsmen Expeditions (working title), which will mark the most recent entry in the Townsmen IP, received €150,000 development funding from Creative Europe.[14] As of 2020, HandyGames employs 60 people.[15]

In May 2021, Embracer Group announced the acquisition of Massive Miniteam by HandyGames, which will be fully integrated within the HandyGames organization, under the operative group THQ Nordic.[16]

Awards

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Games

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Title Platform Release date Developer
Townsmen Java 2003 HandyGames
Townsmen 2 Java 2003
Townsmen 3 Java 2005
Sexy Puzzle 2[18] Java 2006
Porn Manager[19] Java 2006
Bulldozer Inc.[20] Java 2006
Townsmen 4 Java 2007
Porn Manager 2[21] Java 2007
Townsmen 5 Java 2008
The Egyptians[22] Java 2008
4 in a Wheel[23] Java 2008
AD 1066 – William the Conqueror[24] Java 2008
The Great Bible Game[25] Java 2008
Romans and Barbarians[26] Java 2008
Little Firefighter[27] Java 2008
Sexy Twins 1[28] Java 2008
Townsmen 6 Revolution Java 2009
Android February 4, 2011
The Great Beer Quiz[29] Java 2009
World of Dice[30] Java 2009
Porn Tycoon[31] Java 2010
Casino Crime[32] Java 2010
Shark or Die[33] Java 2010
Guns 'n' Glory[34] Java 2010
Truth or Lies[35][36] iPhone February 15, 2011
Romans and Barbarians Gold[37] Java 2011
The Egyptians Gold[38] Java 2011
Cyberlords: Arcology[39][40] Java 2011
Android
Clouds and Sheep[41] Android 2011
iOS
Guns 'n' Glory WW2[42] Android 2011
iOS
Aporkalypse: Pigs of Doom[43][44] Java 2011
Android
Happy Vikings[45] Android 2011
1941 Frozen Front Android, iOS 2013
Townsmen Android August 3, 2013
Aces of the Luftwaffe: Squadron Microsoft Windows July 24, 2018
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams - Owltimate Edition Nintendo Switch September 28, 2018 Black Forest Games
Townsmen Nintendo Switch November 9, 2018 HandyGames
Aces of the Luftwaffe: Squadron - Nebelgeschwader Microsoft Windows November 13, 2018
Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Jagged Alliance: Rage! Microsoft Windows December 6, 2018 Cliffhanger Productions
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Clouds & Sheep 2 Nintendo Switch December 21, 2018 HandyGames
Dynamite Fishing: World Games Nintendo Switch December 21, 2018
Stunt Kite Party Nintendo Switch February 8, 2019
Rad Rodgers: Radical Edition Nintendo Switch February 26, 2019 Slipgate Studios
Townsmen: A Kingdom Rebuilt Microsoft Windows February 26, 2019 HandyGames
SpellForce: Heroes & Magic Android April 26, 2019 Hex Games
iOS
Stunt Kite Party Microsoft Windows June 7, 2019 HandyGames
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
ChessFinity Android July 4, 2019 Orkitec
iOS
Battle Chasers: Nightwar - Mobile Edition Android August 1, 2019 Airship Syndicate
iOS
This Is the Police 2 Android September 12, 2019 Weappy
iOS
Lock's Quest Android September 26, 2019 Digital Continue
iOS
Little Big Workshop Macintosh October 17, 2019 Mirage Game Studios
Microsoft Windows
Through the Darkest of Times Macintosh January 30, 2020 Paintbucket Games
Microsoft Windows
Townsmen: A Kingdom Rebuilt PlayStation 4 February 20, 2020 HandyGames
Xbox One
Townsmen: A Kingdom Rebuilt – The Seaside Empire Microsoft Windows February 20, 2020
Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Spitlings Stadia February 25, 2020 Massive Miniteam
Aces of the Luftwaffe: Squadron – Extended Edition Android February 28, 2020 HandyGames
iOS
Rebel Cops Android April 23, 2020 Weappy
iOS
Through the Darkest of Times Android May 7, 2020 Paintbucket Games
iOS
Spitlings Microsoft Windows August 4, 2020 Massive Miniteam
Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Through the Darkest of Times Nintendo Switch August 13, 2020 Paintbucket Games
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Little Big Workshop Xbox One September 24, 2020 Massive Miniteam
PlayStation 4
Nintendo Switch October 1, 2020
Neighbours back From Hell Microsoft Windows October 8, 2020 FarbWorks
Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Chicken Police: Paint it Red! Microsoft Windows November 5, 2020 The Wild Gentlemen
Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Little Big Workshop Stadia November 6, 2020 Massive Miniteam
El Hijo: A Wild West Tale Stadia December 3, 2020 Honig Studios
Microsoft Windows
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated Android January 21, 2021 HandyGames
iOS
Titan Quest: Legendary Edition Android February 2, 2021
iOS
Pile Up! Box by Box Microsoft Windows March 18, 2021 Seed by Seed
El Hijo: A Wild West Tale Nintendo Switch March 25, 2021 Quantumfrog
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Townsmen: A Kingdom Rebuilt GeForce Now June 10, 2021 HandyGames
Townsmen: A Kingdom Rebuilt – The Seaside Empire GeForce Now June 10, 2021
Chicken Police: Paint it Red! Android June 29, 2021
iOS
Skydrift Infinity Microsoft Windows July 29, 2021
Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Neighbours back From Hell Android August 3, 2021
iOS
Pile Up! Box by Box Nintendo Switch August 17, 2021 Seed by Seed
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
El Hijo: A Wild West Tale Amazon Luna September 9, 2021 Quantum Frog
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams Amazon Luna September 9, 2021 Black Forest Games
Pile Up! Box by Box! Amazon Luna September 9, 2021 Seed by Seed
Spitlings Amazon Luna September 9, 2021 Massive Miniteam
Chicken Police: Paint it Red! MacOS November 4, 2021 The Wild Gentlemen
Stadia December 6, 2021
One Hand Clapping Android December 14, 2021 Bad Dream Games
iOS
GeForce Now
Microsoft Windows
Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 4
Stadia
Xbox One
Scarf GeForce Now December 23, 2021 Uprising Studios
Microsoft Windows
El Hijo: A Wild West Tale Android January 25, 2022 HandyGames
iOS
Townsmen VR HTC Vive March 24, 2022 HandyGames
Oculus Rift
PlayStation VR
Chicken Police: Paint it Red! PlayStation 5 March 30, 2022 The Wild Gentlemen
Xbox Series X/S
One Hand Clapping Xbox Series X/S March 31, 2022 Bad Dream Games
PlayStation 5 April 5, 2022
This Is the President Android May 10, 2022 HandyGames
iOS
Townsmen: A Kingdom Rebuilt Netflix May 24, 2022 HandyGames
Through the Darkest of Times Stadia June 1, 2022 Paintbucket Games
Endling: Extinction is Forever Microsoft Windows July 19, 2022 Herobeat Studios
Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Neighbours Back from Hell Stadia July 28, 2022 FarbWorks
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? Microsoft Windows August 23, 2022 Massive Miniteam
Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 4
PlayStation 5
Xbox One
Xbox Series X/S
Chicken Police: Paint it Red! Amazon Luna October 20, 2022 The Wild Gentlemen
Endling: Extinction is Forever PlayStation 5 November 3, 2022 Herobeat Studios
Xbox Series X/S
Wreckfest Mobile Android November 16, 2022 HandyGames
iOS
Perish [46] Microsoft Windows February 2, 2023 Item 42
De-Exit: Eternal Matters [47] Microsoft Windows April 14, 2023 SandBloom Studio
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
PlayStation 5
Xbox Series X/S
Airhead Microsoft Windows TBA Octato
Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Endling: Extinction is Forever Android TBA HandyGames
iOS
A Rat's Quest: The Way Back Home Microsoft Windows TBA The Dreamerians
Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Devil and the Fairy HTC Vive TBA HandyGames
Meta Rift
Steam VR
Lethal Honor: Order of the Apocalypse Microsoft Windows TBA Viral Studios
Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 4
Xbox One

References

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