Ash Games raises $1.5M seed to build Saudi-inspired games for a global audience
What's the deal? Saudi-based Ash GamesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has raised $1.5 million in a seed round co-led by Merak CapitalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, through its Merak Gaming Fund, and Impact46. The studio builds action-adventure games for PC and console inspired by Saudi stories, history, and traditions.
Who's behind it? Founded in 2022 by Anas BakhshDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, Yaser Alahmadi, and Saud Bakolka, the studio is best known for Azooma Escape , a comedic stealth adventure released in August 2025. It is exploring a mobile version, provided touch controls don't compromise the experience.
What's the endgame? The team wants to build games that compete with leading independent studios worldwide while carrying Saudi-made titles to a global audience. Chief executive Bakhsh said the goal is "culturally rich, story-driven games with global appeal."
The product: The raise coincides with the first trailer for the studio's second title, Nomad: The Legend of Zarqa , a top-down action roguelite drawn from ancient Arabian folklore. Players take the role of Zarqa al-Yamama, a legendary seer whose arrows can be guided mid-flight to strike enemies through difficult angles and terrain.
The signal: At $1.5 million, the round sits modestly among startup deals, but it reflects growing investor appetite for MENA-based studios building on regional heritage. Ash Games is betting that authentic local stories, paired with accessible gameplay, can travel far beyond Saudi Arabia.
Read more: Pocket Gamer
Image credit: Generated with Gemini
