Agave Games

Based in the thriving mobile gaming hub of Istanbul, Turkey, Agave Games is a developer and publisher focused on the casual puzzle game market. The company was established in 2021 by four high school friends: Alper Oner, Ali Baran Terzioglu, Burak Kar, and Oguzhan Merdivenli. The founding team possesses a significant track record in the mobile gaming industry, having previously contributed to titles that collectively amassed over 2.5 billion downloads. Their prior experiences include roles such as product management and studio leadership at other successful gaming companies. CEO Alper Oner brought expertise in data analytics and business intelligence from his time working in the United States before returning to Turkey to co-found the company.

Agave Games targets the global mobile gaming audience, with a particular focus on markets like the US, Japan, and Europe. The company's business model revolves around developing free-to-play mobile games that generate revenue through a dual approach of in-app purchases (IAP) and in-app advertising (IAA). This strategy allows them to create accessible experiences for a broad player base while maintaining multiple monetization streams. A key part of their development process involves leveraging artificial intelligence to accelerate the creation of initial game art, which is then refined by their artists, striking a balance between automation and human creativity.

The studio's most prominent success is "Find the Cat," a hidden-object puzzle game that gained significant traction shortly after its launch, surpassing 10 million downloads in its first quarter. The game's engaging and charming design has set a new benchmark in its genre. Building on this momentum, Agave Games has secured substantial funding, including a $7 million seed round in 2022 and an $18 million Series A round in late 2024, bringing their total funding to over $25 million. These funds are earmarked for the continued development of "Find the Cat," the launch of at least two new titles, and a significant expansion of their Istanbul-based team.

Keywords: mobile gaming, casual puzzle games, game development, Istanbul startup, Find the Cat, in-app purchases, in-app advertising, Alper Oner, free-to-play, gaming studio, hidden object games, venture capital, Series A, game publishing, mobile entertainment, Turkish gaming