The history of Chicago’s gaming industry dates back to the early days of the industry itself. Being known as the pinball capital, the city has some popular arcade manufacturers in the early 1970s, like Midway Games and Williams Electronics. These companies have developed some incredible games like Pac-Man and Donkey Kong.
Since then, the gaming industry continued to grow, working on diverse genres. In fact, iconic gaming companies like Wargaming Group and Kabam set up their video game companies in Chicago.
Today, the city remains a major hub for game development. It houses some of the leading game development studios in the world.
From the extensive list of gaming companies, you might be lost in choosing the best one for you. That’s why we are here to make things easier for you.
We have gathered the five very best gaming studios in Chicago and presented them below.
5 BEST CHICAGO GAMING COMPANIES
1. Juego Studios
Juego Studios, established in 2013, is one of the leading game development studios that develop games in multiple genres. They boast a team of over 250 skilled professionals, and their award-winning portfolio includes mobile, PC, console, and even HTML5 games.
They have expanded their expertise to cutting-edge technologies like Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT). This focus on innovation and their experienced team have earned them recognition in Forbes India, positioning them as a leading game development company.
Some of their best games include Medals of War, Hopster, School of Dragons, and ALF Evolution
2. Wargaming Chicago-Baltimore
Wargaming Chicago-Baltimore, formerly Day 1 Studios, boasts a rich history in the video game industry. Founded in 2001, they were initially known for console hits like MechAssault and F.E.A.R. ports. They were acquired by Wargaming in 2012 for $20 million.
Starting with 35 people, the company has grown to a team of 170 employees. To date, they have developed 15+ games for multiple platforms, including consoles, PCs, and mobiles. They are experts in developing free-to-play MMO games.
World of Tanks, Total War: Arena, and World of Warships are some of the best games made by them.
3. Babaroga
Babaroga is one of the leading video game developers in Chicago, with 20+ years of experience working on mobile games. They’ve navigated the evolving landscape of mobile gaming, transitioning from feature phones to smartphones and expanding their reach.
The company has partnered with renowned publishers like Electronic Arts and Disney Interactive. This solidified their understanding of mobile development and gameplay preferences. They have also extended their games to PC and console platforms.
SimCity, Muppets Puzzle Party, DecoderRing, and Bees! are some of the best games made by them.
4. Zynga
Zynga, Chicago based video game companies founded in 2007, carved its name in the social gaming scene with the phenomenal success of FarmVille on Facebook. Following this, they created many Facebook games. However, due to the decline of Facebook games, they shifted their focus to mobile games, developing games like CSR Racing and Words With Friends 2.
Starting from casual games, they have also explored mid-core and hardcore game genres and have developed fantastic games like Empires & Puzzles and RPGs like Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells.
Recently, they have been focusing on cutting-edge technologies like blockchain and newly emerging platforms for game development.
5. NetherRealm Studios
NetherRealm Studios, founded in 2010, is one of the best gaming companies in Chicago. It was founded by industry veteran Ed Boon, who co-created the Mortal Kombat game. Currently, Warner Brothers owns the studio.
The studio primarily focuses on the fighting genre. They have created two popular series: the Mortal Kombat Series and the Injustice Series.
They have made games for multiple platforms like PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox 360, handheld consoles, and mobile devices. Apart from that, their games are also available on cloud gaming platforms like Stadia.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF CHOOSING CHICAGO GAMING COMPANIES?
There is no one reason; we have multiple reasons that show you why Chicago is the best place for game development.
- An abundant talent pool of game designers, artists, and programmers.
- They foster the gaming community through networking events, conferences, and meetups.
- Some of their top universities, like DePaul University and Bradley University, offer game design and developer programs.
- They are the central hub with potential access to the global gaming market.
The government has allocated tax incentives for the game development industry and has taken multiple steps to foster its growth.
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HOW DO YOU CHOOSE A TRUSTED VIDEO GAME STUDIOS IN CHICAGO?
Choosing a reliable game development partner is a crucial first step in game development. In order to select a suitable game development company, you need to define your goals and needs. What type of game are you developing? Who are your target audience? What is your budget and timeline? What expertise do you lack in-house?
By answering these questions, you will be able to determine your needs. Once you are clear of that, you can read the game development companies’ portfolios, reviews, and client testimonials to narrow your search.
Now, you will have a list of the top companies. To choose the best one for you, there are certain aspects you need to take into account. Such as
- Experience of the company
- The company’s expertise
- Communication and Collaboration
- Engagement model
- Legal aspects (like IPs)
Chicago has many expert game development companies with years of experience working on multiple successful game projects. But not every company will work based on your requirements. So, take your time in choosing the correct one for your project.
WHY IS JUEGO STUDIOS A RELIABLE VIDEO GAME DEVELOPMENT?
We are one of the best game design companies in Chicago. Juego Studios offers multiple game development services, including full-cycle game development, co-game development, HTML game development, cross-platform services, and many more. Hire game developers from Juego to make your dream game app into a reality.
Our specialty lies in developing AR/VR, WEB3, Metaverse, Blockchain, and NFT games with trending technologies such as Unity, Unreal, Godot, etc.
We also offer multiple engagement models like fixed cost, staff augmentation, time and material, etc., based on the project needs. Whether it’s a large AAA project or a small game project, we have the adequate resources and expertise to handle them.
Conclusion
In this blog, we have reviewed five top Chicago gaming companies. Each company has its own specialties when it comes to game development. For example, some companies are best in mobile game development, while others focus on PC and console game development.
Irrespective of the list, there are other game developers in Chicago who offer several game development services pertaining to the project requirements. From full-cycle game development and co-game development to staff augmentation, you can find diverse service providers here.
