A Manchester-area tabletop games developer and publisher best known for Dark Souls and Resident Evil board games.
Steamforged Games is a developer and publisher of tabletop games based in Salford, Greater Manchester. It describes itself as the UK's leading developer and publisher of licensed tabletop games, with more than fifteen ranges. Its best-known work turns video games into board games, including Dark Souls, Monster Hunter: World, Resident Evil and Horizon Zero Dawn. Some titles, such as Guild Ball, started as original ideas from the founders.
Its stated goal is to "create unforgettable tabletop worlds for you to love and lose yourself in". It says it loves the hobby and wants to serve all kinds of players, from casual to competitive. It also publishes its own games such as Bardsung, Epic Encounters and Animal Adventures. It says it wants to serve both casual players and competitive ones.
The company was founded in 2014 by Rich Loxam and Mat Hart, and began in a hobby gaming store in Manchester. An article described it as "the dream of two friends". Their first big title was the sports-themed miniatures game Guild Ball. The Dark Souls board game was a record-breaking Kickstarter in 2016, and the company says it has completed more than 11 crowdfunding campaigns.
In 2022 it moved to a new office at MediaCityUK, with over 50 full-time staff. Loxam said the location suited the company's history and its geographically spread workforce. A business article reported that the firm took its team to 52 after outside investment, and that it had once operated from a corner of a store in Stockport. Those staff figures are dated. The Prolific North article names Stephen Wild of MediaCityUK describing it as "expanding rapidly" in 2022.
Tabletop game companies employ designers, sculptors, artists, producers, marketing and community staff, and logistics and customer-service teams. If you enjoy board games, Steamforged shows how a hobby can become a business with a team of fifty or more. Crowdfunding means staff work closely with the people who back their games, which gives a direct picture of what players want. A good way to prepare is to play and review tabletop games, join a local club, or try designing a small game of your own. Skills in illustration, writing rules clearly, project planning and talking to customers all help in a company that makes games for people who love the hobby.
Website: steamforged.com
PURPOSE helps school and university students explore 62 sectors and over 1,000 entry-level careers in the UK, then connects them directly with employers.
Explore PURPOSE