Circle Games is a technology company.
Circle Games has raised $7.0M across 1 funding round.
Circle Games has raised $7.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Circle Games has raised $7.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Circle Games's investors include BITKRAFT Ventures, Galaxy Interactive, Rainfall Ventures, Ryan Wyatt, Thomas Vu.
Circle Games is an Istanbul-based mobile game studio founded in October 2024, specializing in casual puzzle games like its debut title *Sort Express*. The company serves mobile gamers seeking engaging, skill-based puzzles with innovative mechanics for long-term retention, addressing the demand for superior visuals, user experiences, and progression systems in a competitive market.[2][3][4] With a 12-person team of veterans from Gram Games, Dream Games, Good Job Games, Zynga, and others, Circle Games raised $7.25M in seed funding in July 2025 led by Bitkraft Ventures (with a16z Speedrun, Play Ventures, e2vc, and APY Ventures participating) to scale *Sort Express* globally, expand its game portfolio, and grow its team.[2][3][4][5]
(Note: Search results distinguish Circle Games, a puzzle game studio, from "Circle of Games," a separate Web3 gaming app; this profile focuses on Circle Games as the queried technology company matching the funding and studio details.)[1][2]
Circle Games was founded in October 2024 in Istanbul, Turkey, by co-founders Gokturk Balıkcı (CEO), Mustafa Ozdemir, Mehmet Ay, and Arda Ozarslan—all industry veterans with experience at top mobile studios like Gram Games (hit *1010!*), Dream Games (*Royal Match*), Good Job Games, Zynga's New Games Division, PlaySimple, Gameberry Labs, MPL, and Junglee.[2][3][4][5] The idea emerged from their deep expertise in Turkey's dominant mobile puzzle genre, where local hits have thrived, aiming to innovate beyond stagnant mechanics with better late-game progression, dynamic difficulty, and playable ads for superior retention.[2][3]
Early traction includes rapid development of *Sort Express* (in beta since 2024, soft launch expected ~10 weeks post-July 2025 funding) and securing high-profile seed investment, validating their "fast shipping velocity" and market understanding just months after founding.[3][4]
Circle Games rides the casual mobile puzzle boom, a resilient genre led by Turkish studios (e.g., Dream Games' billions in revenue), fueled by rising player expectations for sophisticated, skill-driven experiences amid market saturation.[2][3] Timing is ideal post-2024 funding surge, with *Sort Express* launching into a $100B+ mobile gaming market where retention innovations can capture billions of daily users; Turkey's talent pool (home to multiple unicorns) provides cost-effective, high-skill development amid global competition from Zynga and King.[2][4]
The studio influences the ecosystem by elevating Turkish exports—potentially birthing "Turkiye’s next major casual gaming success"—while a16z Speedrun's involvement accelerates Western market entry, blending regional expertise with global networks.[3][5]
Circle Games is primed for breakout with *Sort Express*' global push in late 2025, leveraging funding for team growth and sequels amid puzzle genre dominance. Trends like AI-driven personalization and ad monetization will shape its path, potentially yielding viral hits if retention mechanics deliver. Its influence could expand as a Turkish benchmark, inspiring more regional studios and solidifying mobile puzzles' role in gaming's casual-first future—echoing the query's nod to this rising technology player.
Circle Games has raised $7.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $7.0M Seed in July 2025.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 1, 2025 | $7.0M Seed | BITKRAFT Ventures, Galaxy Interactive, Rainfall Ventures, Ryan Wyatt, Thomas Vu |