Even if you’re not a hardcore gamer or a seasoned developer, you probably know that the US and Japan are home to some of the world’s most successful video game studios – think Epic Games, Activision, Nintendo, and Square Enix. But just because a region isn’t traditionally associated with gaming doesn’t mean it should be overlooked.

Portugal is another such region that is on its way to becoming a major player in the eyes of the global games industry. Portugal’s video game industry is estimated to have reached revenues of around 258 million dollars last year, with the annual growth rate exceeding 11% by 2027. Much of that is fueled by Portugal’s love for mobile games. The country is home to over one million mobile players (around 10.6% of the population), reaching an annual turnover of around 56 million dollars.

One of its biggest strengths is Portugal’s rising reputation as a key tech hub for European startups. This positioning is reinforced by factors such as its high level of security, ranking 7th globally in the Global Peace Index 2023, and its strong English proficiency, placing 8th worldwide according to Education First 2023. Additionally, Portugal stands out for the quality and quantity of its engineering talent, ranking 3rd in Europe, according to Eurostat.

But rather than discussing the many reasons why Portugal’s video game industry is on the rise, let’s focus on the studios already producing incredible games enjoyed by players worldwide. Below, we hear from the Portuguese game companies doing precisely that.

Four studios are part of the eGames Lab consortium and will be on the show floor at GDC next week at the Games From Portugal stand (S1349). Be sure to stop by if you’re at the event to learn more about their latest projects.

Read the complete edition here.