Game development is a thriving industry in North Carolina, bustling with innovation and creativity. These companies specialize in producing engaging content, captivating experiences, and high-quality systems for gaming. Ranging from those focused on developing cross-platform games to those creating immersive virtual worlds, these diverse companies cater to a variety of audiences and segments. The future of this dynamic industry looks promising, with trends pointing towards more advanced, immersive, and realistic gaming experiences.


Top 19 game development companies in North Carolina

1. Epic Games

  • Website: epicgames.com
  • Headquarters: Cary, North Carolina, United States
  • Founded: 1991
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • Latest funding type: Secondary Market
  • LinkedIn

Epic Games is a company that provides free, cross-platform services to help developers launch, operate, and scale high-quality games. They offer an open distribution platform for PC and Mac, a digital storefront focusing on great games and fair deals for developers, and a library of player engagement tools.


2. Grover Gaming

Grover Gaming is a software development company that specializes in creating gaming-related content and systems for lotteries and charitable gaming jurisdictions. They offer a wide range of products and services to their clients, focusing on providing entertaining gaming experiences.


3. Unreal Engine User Group

Unreal Engine is the world’s most open and advanced real-time 3D tool. Creators across games, film, television, architecture, automotive and transportation, advertising, live events, and training and simulation choose Unreal to deliver cutting-edge content, interactive experiences, and immersive virtual worlds.


4. Underscore Games

Underscore Games is a company that offers innovative and exciting games for gamers of all ages. With a focus on creating immersive experiences, the company develops and publishes a wide range of interactive entertainment products. From action-packed adventures to strategic simulations, Underscore Games strives to engage and entertain players around the world.


5. Banilla Games

Banilla Games is a company that offers a wide range of gaming products and services. They provide entertainment solutions to various locations, including arcades and entertainment venues. Their catalog includes skill-based games with unique gameplay features and attractive bonuses. Banilla Games aims to keep players engaged and entertained with their collection of titles.


6. Puny Human

  • Website: punyhuman.com
  • Headquarters: Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
  • Founded: 2007
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Latest funding type: Seed
  • LinkedIn

Puny Human is a company that develops and publishes online multiplayer games and modifications. Their products include Dystopia, a Source Engine modification, and Blade Symphony. They provide forums for community discussion and support for their games.


7. Hillside Games

Hillside Games is a company offering a variety of online and mobile games for all ages and interests.


8. Tantrum Apps

  • Website: tantrumapps.com
  • Headquarters: Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
  • Founded: 2009
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • LinkedIn

TantrumApps is a company that creates interactive games and apps for children on iPhone, iPad and Android devices.


9. LunchHouse Software, LLC

Lunchhouse Software is a software development company that offers adventure-style games and puzzle games using physics manipulation and free player movement.


10. SOF Studios

  • Website: sofstudios.com
  • Headquarters: Southern Pines, North Carolina, United States
  • Founded: 2011
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Latest funding type: Equity Crowdfunding
  • LinkedIn

SOF Studios Ltd is a veteran-led video game development company that specializes in creating innovative military shooter games. Their first project, H-Hour: World’s Elite, is a tactical team-based shooter game based on real missions from the Global War on Terror.


11. Boss Key Productions Inc

  • Website: bosskey.com
  • Headquarters: Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
  • Founded: 2014
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • LinkedIn

Bosskey.com is a gaming platform that offers a wide range of online games for two players. From cooperative shooters to survival simulations and puzzle-solving adventures, the website provides a universe of endless opportunities for gamers to immerse themselves in exciting gameplay. With captivating storylines, stunning graphics, and engaging multiplayer modes, Bosskey.com delivers an exceptional gaming experience for friends and families alike.


12. NarraSoft Corporation

  • Website: narrasoft.com
  • Headquarters: Cary, North Carolina, United States
  • Founded: 2009
  • Headcount: 201-500
  • LinkedIn

Narrasoft is a company that offers animation services, technical support, Unity development, and dedicated team staffing. They provide customer-centric mobile apps and game development for various platforms. With a focus on digital art and software engineering, they offer services in industries such as toys and collectibles, video gaming, big data, healthcare, and marketing and advertising.


13. East Coast Game Conference

  • Website: ecgconf.com
  • Headquarters: Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
  • Founded: 2008
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • LinkedIn

The East Coast Game Conference (ECGC) is a annual conference for game developers, offering sessions, speakers, exhibitors & sponsors, career lounge, VIP events, and a game art contest. The conference aims to promote diversity and inclusion in video games.


14. HTML5 Game Development

HTML5 Game Development is a website that provides information, tutorials, and news about creating dynamic and interactive desktop and mobile HTML5 games and websites. The website also offers licensing, game reskin, custom development, and white-label portal services.


15. Clair Hartmann Painting

hartmanndesign is a portfolio website showcasing the creative works of Dominic Hartmann including games, illustrations and design layouts.


16. Video Game Development Club at NC State

  • Website: vgdc.org
  • Headquarters: Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • LinkedIn

VGDC is a video game development club at North Carolina State University that provides an environment for students to practice and grow in disciplines related to game development.


17. The Magic Maze

The Magic Maze is an online platform to play and design immersive escape room games.


18. Atomic Arcade

  • Website: company.wizards.com
  • Headquarters: Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
  • Founded: 2022
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Latest funding type: Acquired
  • LinkedIn

Atomic Arcade is a brand-new video game development studio located in the Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina area led by industry veterans from various AAA game and film studios, such as, Warner Bros., Epic, Bethesda, Marvel, Eidos-Montreal and many more. We are proud to be one of the talented studios that make up Wizards of the Coast which is a division the Fortune 500 company Hasbro. We are in the process of staffing up our development team with outstanding talent to create our first multi-platform, AAA game - a bold, new take on the GI JOE Universe starring the legendary ninja/commando character Snake Eyes! Interested in learning more? Please check out - https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2022-03-15-snake-eyes-and-the-evolution-of-adaptation


19. Team Dystopia

Dystopia is a cyberpunk game developed for the Source engine that revolves around a highly detailed futuristic environment. The game offers an immersive experience through interlinked real-world and cyberspace gameplay with 12 primary weapons and 14 selectable implants.


Want to find more game development companies?


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