9 Top Gaming Startups to Watch in 2024

Every year, new startups pull to the forefront of their industry through exciting innovation, tech, and industry-disrupting business models. We've rounded up the most exciting gaming startups of 2024 that startup-lovers, investors, and aspiring entrepreneurs should follow.

Disclaimer: With so many exciting startups launching and growing worldwide, we aren’t able to cover them all. Furthermore, the startups listed below are not officially ranked and are listed in no particular order.

• Location: Silicon Valley (Palo Alto, California)
• Founder(s): Alberto Taiuti, Alex Yu, Amit Jain
• Founded In: 2021
• Funding: Series B, $70 Million
• Investors Include: Andreessen Horowitz, Amplify Partners, General Catalyst

Luma AI is an innovative, generative artificial intelligence (AI) startup that’s revolutionizing the way we interact with digital content. By harnessing the power of advanced algorithms, Luma AI enables users to effortlessly transform text descriptions into highly detailed and realistic 3D models. This groundbreaking technology empowers individuals to capture and immerse themselves in a virtual representation of the world around them, opening up new possibilities for sharing memories, exploring products, and navigating online spaces.

• Location: Paris, France
• Founder(s): Alexandre Yazdi, Laurent Ritter
• Founded In: 2013
• Funding: Corporate Round, $516.9 Million
• Investors Include: Goldman Sachs, Tencent, Tikehau Capital

Voodoo is a highly successful mobile games developer based in Paris, France. Founded in 2013, the company has quickly risen to prominence in the hyper-casual gaming market by  creating addictive and easy-to-play games that have captivated millions of users worldwide. This mobile game development studio has a data-driven approach and a keen understanding of user behavior, enabling Voodoo to consistently deliver hit titles like Helix Jump and Crowd City.

• Location: Zephyr Cove, Nevada
• Founder(s): Ian Proulx, Nicholas Bagamian
• Founded In: 2017
• Funding: Series Unknown, $126.5 Million
• Investors Include: Lightspeed Venture Partners, Insight Partners, Human Capital

1047 Games is a dynamic video game company that has quickly made a name for itself in the competitive gaming industry. Founded by Ian Proulx and Nicholas Bagamian, the company is best known for creating the highly popular, free-to-play, first-person shooter game Splitgate. By combining classic arena shooter gameplay with innovative portal mechanics, 1047 Games has crafted a unique and engaging experience that has captivated players around the world.

• Location: Tel Aviv, Israel
• Founder(s): Alon Rabinovitz, Gil Or, Nir Finkelstein, Uri Marchand
• Founded In: 2010
• Funding: Series D, $97.2 Million
• Investors Include: Intel Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Marker

Overwolf is a trailblazing platform that empowers in-game creators to develop, distribute, and monetize custom apps and mods for popular video games. Founded in 2010, Overwolf has become a go-to destination for gamers seeking to enhance their gaming experiences with unique tools, overlays, and extensions. The company provides a comprehensive set of APIs, SDKs, and services that enable creators to build and integrate their applications seamlessly into games across various genres.

• Location: Holland, Netherlands
• Founder(s): Iggy Harmsen, Joshua Lipson, Patrick Rietbroek, Pim de Witte, Zaid Elnasser
• Founded In: 2015
• Funding: Series C, $72.5 Million
• Investors Include: Horizons Ventures, Makers Fund, OMERS Ventures

Medal is a cutting-edge platform that has transformed the way gamers share and enjoy short-form gaming video clips and highlights. It utilizes innovative recording mechanisms to capture the most thrilling moments of gameplay, allowing users to easily create and share captivating clips within the application. With its user-friendly interface and dedication to delivering a top-notch experience, Medal has solidified its position as a leading destination for gamers looking to share their epic moments and immerse themselves in the world of short-form gaming content.

• Location: New York, New York
• Founder(s): Fariz Chowdhury, Amitt Mahajan, Matthew Zaborowski
• Founded In: 2021
• Funding: Seed, $33 Million
• Investors Include: Greenoaks, Andreessen Horowitz

By leveraging blockchain technology, Proof of Play creates a decentralized ecosystem where gamers can securely validate and monetize their in-game achievements, skills, and time spent playing. The platform offers a unique "proof of play" protocol that records and verifies gaming activities on the blockchain, enabling players to earn rewards, digital assets, and even cryptocurrency for their participation and accomplishments within supported games.

• Location: Mountain View, California
• Founder(s): Ilya Gelfenbeyn, Kylan Gibbs, Michael Ermolenko
• Founded In: 2021
• Funding: Series Unknown, $125.7 Million
• Investors Include: Founders Fund, Lightspeed Venture Partners, First Spark Ventures

Founded by a team of experienced entrepreneurs and AI experts, Inworld AI provides a comprehensive platform that enables the creation of highly realistic, emotionally responsive, and engaging AI-driven characters. By leveraging advanced natural language processing, machine learning, and generative AI techniques, Inworld AI empowers developers to bring their characters to life with unparalleled depth, interactivity, and personality.

• Location: Tokyo, Japan
• Founder(s): Kishigami Kento, Shotaro Chida, Yosuke Kori
• Founded In: 2016
• Funding: Series C, $16.1 Billion
• Investors Include: Wing Capital Partners, SBI Investment, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital

MyDearest is a video game development company that focuses solely on producing virtual reality (VR) games. It’s dedicated to creating captivating and emotionally resonant VR experiences that transport players to fantastical worlds and engage them in unforgettable adventures. The studio's flagship title, "Tokyo Chronos," is a critically acclaimed mystery adventure game that showcases MyDearest’s commitment to crafting visually stunning, narrative-driven VR games with deep character development and innovative gameplay mechanics by this startup's game developers.

• Location: New York, New York
• Founder(s): Caroline Strzalka, Dan Projansky
• Founded In: 2020
• Funding: Seed, $5.1 Million
• Investors Include: Sound Media Ventures, Red & Blue Ventures, Stampede Ventures

By providing a powerful and intuitive platform, Overplay enables anyone to easily turn their videos into immersive and playable games thereby unleashing a new era of user-generated content in the gaming industry. With Overplay, content creators — whether they’re professional game developers or passionate enthusiasts — can transform their creative vision into interactive experiences without the need for extensive technical knowledge or resources.

Recommended: Check out our full list of the top startups to watch!