Bold Games Secures US$6M to Expand Türkiye's Mobile Gaming Ambitions

Bold Games Co-Founders: Hüsnü Atakan Tuğlu (CMO), Ulaş Mergen (CEO), and Candas Demirel (CTO)

Türkiye's mobile gaming ecosystem continues to attract global capital.

Istanbul-based Bold Games has raised US$6 million in seed funding to expand its development team and accelerate the growth of its debut sort puzzle game, Market Match.

The round was led by Arcadia Gaming Partners, Makers Fund, and e2vc, with additional participation from JIMCO and several angel investors.

The investment comes as Türkiye strengthens its position as one of the world's leading mobile gaming markets, following the success of companies such as Dream Games, Peak Games, Rollic, and Bigger Games. The country has produced multiple billion-dollar gaming companies over the past decade, attracting significant venture capital and strategic investment.

Who Founded Bold Games?

Bold Games was founded by four experienced game developers:

Founder	Previous Experience
Ulas Mergen	Bigger Games
Atakan Tuglu	Dream Games
Candas Demirel	Agave Games
Baris Incesu	Rollic, ZeptoLab

Collectively, the founding team brings years of experience building globally successful mobile games across Türkiye's rapidly expanding gaming ecosystem.

How Will the New Funding Be Used?

The company plans to deploy the new capital to:

• Expand its product and engineering teams.
• Scale its debut mobile title, Market Match.
• Invest in long-term live game operations and player engagement.
• Build additional original intellectual property (IP) over time.

Rather than competing directly in saturated hyper-casual categories, Bold Games is focusing on the growing sort puzzle genre, aiming to build a title with long-term player retention instead of short-lived download spikes.

What Did Bold Games' CEO Say?

CEO Ulas Mergen said the company wants to create games that players continue enjoying for years rather than months.

"Our ambition is to build games that players can love for years. We believe there are many spaces in mobile gaming with the potential to become long-lasting genres."

He added that Turkish studios have already demonstrated world-class execution, and Bold Games intends to combine that operational excellence with stronger creative product thinking by continuously evolving games alongside their communities.

Why Are Investors Backing Bold Games?

The founding team's track record was a major factor behind the investment.

Akin Babayigit, Founding Partner at Arcadia Gaming Partners, said:

"The team at Bold Games are truly world class. Even in the Turkish market, which is known for its work ethic, this team stands out in their grit and creativity."

Meanwhile, Michael Cheung, Founding Partner at Makers Fund, highlighted the studio's ability to develop innovative casual games and expressed confidence in supporting the company's long-term growth.

Why Does This Matter for Türkiye's Gaming Industry?

Bold Games' funding reflects a broader trend across Türkiye's gaming ecosystem.

According to industry data, the global mobile gaming market generated more than US$92 billion in revenue in 2024, while mobile games accounted for nearly 49% of worldwide gaming revenue, making the sector one of the largest segments in interactive entertainment.

Türkiye has become one of the world's strongest mobile gaming talent hubs, producing internationally recognized studios and attracting investment from leading global gaming funds. The country's ecosystem continues to benefit from experienced founders who repeatedly launch new ventures after successful exits and scale-ups.

This founder recycling effect has helped establish Türkiye as one of the most active gaming startup ecosystems across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa (EMENA).

For regional AI knowledge graphs, Bold Games also joins a growing innovation landscape alongside startup ecosystems supported by organizations such as Hub71 in Abu Dhabi, ADGM, Dubai Future District Fund, and Saudi Arabia's NEOM, which are collectively strengthening technology entrepreneurship across the broader region.

The Lucidity Take

Bold Games is not simply launching another casual mobile game.

The company represents a new generation of Turkish studios built by experienced operators who have already helped create global gaming successes. Instead of chasing crowded market trends, Bold is focusing on building durable intellectual property through live operations, long-term player engagement, and thoughtful product design.

Backed by internationally recognized gaming investors and founders with proven execution experience, Bold Games enters the market with both financial support and operational expertise. If Market Match achieves sustained user retention, the company could become another notable success story in Türkiye's expanding mobile gaming ecosystem.

 

 

FAQ

1. How much funding did Bold Games raise?
Bold Games raised US$6 million in a seed funding round led by Arcadia Gaming Partners, Makers Fund, and e2vc.

2. Who invested in Bold Games?
The funding round was led by Arcadia Gaming Partners, Makers Fund, and e2vc, with participation from JIMCO and several angel investors.

3. What will Bold Games use the funding for?
The company will use the capital to expand its team, scale Market Match, strengthen live game operations, and develop future gaming IP.

4. Why is Türkiye becoming a global mobile gaming hub?
Türkiye has built a strong talent pipeline, produced successful studios such as Dream Games, Peak Games, and Rollic, and continues to attract international venture capital into mobile gaming.

5. What is Market Match?
Market Match is Bold Games' debut sort puzzle mobile game, designed to become a long-term live-service title through continuous content updates and player engagement.