Why Lagos might be the next Tokyo for gaming (and you didn’t even see it coming.
Picture this: a Nigerian kid playing a mobile game, darting between danfo buses in Lagos, swatting mosquitoes with a swipe, all while laughing at how familiar it feels. Now, guess what?
Those games aren’t just imagination. They’re made in Nigeria.
Maliyo Games’ Mosquito Smasher and Okada Ride, Kucheza’s The Wild Kingdoms, and Gamsole’s addictive titles prove that Nigerian developers aren’t just mimicking global trends, they’re building worlds rooted in African culture.
Gamers + Storytellers = Something Epic
Nigeria’s game studios aren’t just tech shops, they’re storytellers. From action-packed adventures to culturally rich RPGs, these creators are turning familiar sights and folklore into immersive experiences. And the world is taking notice.
According to the 2025 Africa Games Industry Report (by KPMG and Maliyo Games), Nigeria was Africa’s fastest-growing gaming market, with $185 million in revenue in 2022, just mobile games.
Thanks to a booming youth population and increasing smartphone access Vanguard News.
Across Africa, gaming revenue soared past $1 billion in 2024, driven almost entirely by mobile, which makes up 90% of the market Pocket GamerGames Industry AfricaBusinessday NG.
That’s explosive growth, and Nigeria is leading the charge with $60.9 million in mobile game revenue in 2024, up from just $11 million in 2019 Pocket GamerSigmaPlayTribune Online.
Meet the Studios Powering the Revolution
Maliyo Games
The OG of Nigerian game studios. Founded in 2012 by Hugo Obi, Maliyo is the brain behind games like Okada Ride and Aboki Run, blending Lagos chaos with fun gameplay.
They even partnered with Disney to create Rising Chef, inspired by the animated series Iwájú—now that’s cross-cultural power Le Monde.frBusinessday NG.
Gamsole
Founded by Abiola Olaniran in 2012, Gamsole exploded onto the scene with over 35 mobile games and more than 10 million downloads across 191 countries by 2015. A household name in the Nigerian gaming scene Wikipedia.
Kucheza (The Wild Kingdoms)
With The Wild Kingdoms, launched in 2022, Kucheza brings Yoruba mythology to life. Players follow King Alantako in a world shaped by African legend, strategy, adventure, and folklore rolled into one.
Deluxe Creation Studios
Based in Lagos, they’re creators of simple-yet-engaging titles like Stickman Fight and working on ambitious projects like Chike: Lost in the Metaverse, a vision of Africa’s future in digital form.
Dimension 11 Studios
Founded in 2021, they’re already playing at another level. Their title Legends of Orisha: Blood and Water is a 3D Yoruba-inspired RPG built with Unreal Engine. A partnership with Microsoft’s ID@Xbox puts them firmly on the global map.
Dash Studios
The newest kid on the block, Dash Studios burst onto the scene in 2022 with Nouns, a viral mobile game, and followed that success with Nouns Attack and Nouns: The Hunt. They’re here to stay.
Nibcard Games (Tabletop)
It’s not just digital games. Nibcard is leading Africa’s tabletop gaming explosion, creating board games around migration, identity, and sustainability, and hosting AB Con, Africa’s board gaming convention.
Why This Matters
Nigeria’s gaming industry isn’t just entertainment, it’s an economic powerhouse. With the ICT sector contributing over 10% of the nation’s GDP Wikipedia, the rise of gaming studios signals job creation in art, animation, programming, and storytelling.
It’s also fostering entrepreneurship and new educational paths in tech and design nlrc-gov.ng.
Accessibility is key. Smartphone ownership is growing exponentially, internet is becoming more reliable, and mobile data is affordable.
But developers still face hurdles: limited infrastructure, funding gaps, and struggles with monetization, even as the appetite for local, culturally resonant content grows Le Monde.frGlobeNewswirePulse Nigerianlrc-gov.ng.
From Lagos to the Future
Nigeria’s game studios aren’t just building apps, they’re building a legacy. They’re weaving folklore, city life, and African dreamscapes into global media culture.
As investors wake up, gamers tune in, and infrastructure expands, Nigeria’s digital creators are truly leveling up.
The future is loaded up, controller in hand, and Nigeria’s gaming studios are leading the charge.