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Seriously develops mobile games designed to evolve into comprehensive entertainment properties. The company focuses on crafting engaging animated experiences and rich narratives, exemplified by its primary product, Best Fiends. Their strategic approach involves launching top-tier mobile games as the foundational element for broader entertainment franchises, emphasizing storytelling and unique character development.
The company was established in 2013 by Andrew Stalbow and Petri Järvilehto. Both founders brought significant experience from their previous executive roles at Rovio, the creator of Angry Birds. Their insight stemmed from recognizing the potential to build enduring global entertainment franchises originating from immersive mobile game experiences.
Seriously targets mobile users globally, providing them with high-quality, narrative-driven gaming content. The company's long-term vision is to establish powerful entertainment brands that transcend their initial mobile game origins, expanding into diverse media and content forms while maintaining a focus on captivating audiences through engaging interactive experiences.
Seriously has raised $23.0M across 3 funding rounds.
Seriously has raised $23.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Seriously Digital Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Seriously) is a mobile game development company founded in 2013, best known for its hit game Best Fiends. It builds casual mobile games targeted at Western audiences, serving gamers seeking engaging, free-to-play puzzle and strategy experiences, and solves the problem of delivering addictive, high-quality mobile entertainment through strong product design and brand marketing.[2] Backed by venture firm Upfront Ventures, Seriously achieved notable growth before its acquisition by Israeli mobile game giant Playtika Ltd. in August (year not specified in sources, but pre-2025), expanding Playtika's portfolio in Western markets.[2]
Seriously was founded in 2013 in Venice, California, by a team including CEO Andrew Stalbow, with early backing from Santa Monica-based Upfront Ventures.[2] The idea emerged from a focus on developing mobile games, quickly gaining traction with "Best Fiends," a popular puzzle-adventure title that established its reputation in the competitive mobile gaming space.[2] A pivotal moment came with its acquisition by Playtika, announced on August 26, allowing Seriously to leverage Playtika's expertise in AI, analytics, online marketing, and live operations while contributing its strengths in product, brand, and offline marketing; the deal keeps its Venice offices operational.[2]
(Note: Other "Seriously"-named entities like Serious Technology (2004, Kuala Lumpur-based outsourcing/consulting[1]) or Serious Development (US healthcare software[3]) appear unrelated based on distinct focuses and locations.)
Seriously rides the wave of mobile gaming dominance, particularly free-to-play models with in-app purchases, a sector fueled by smartphone proliferation and Western market demand for polished casual titles.[2] Timing aligns with consolidations in gaming, where acquirers like Playtika bolster portfolios via talent and IP buys to counter market saturation and compete globally.[2] It influences the ecosystem by enhancing Playtika's Western push, blending creative game design with advanced tech like AI-driven operations, amid broader trends of cross-studio synergies in a $100B+ mobile games industry.
Post-acquisition, Seriously will likely deepen Best Fiends expansions and new titles, powered by Playtika's tech stack for faster iteration and monetization.[2] Trends like AI-enhanced live ops and hybrid marketing will shape its path, potentially elevating its role in Playtika's ambition to lead Western mobile gaming.[2] As integrations mature, expect amplified influence through scaled user acquisition—cementing Seriously as a key asset in gaming's ongoing consolidation era, much like its pivot from indie developer to powerhouse contributor.
Seriously has raised $23.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Seriously's investors include 83North, Northzone, David Lau-Kee, Jari Ovaskainen.
Seriously has raised $23.0M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $18.0M Series A in August 2015.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 1, 2015 | $18.0M Series A | 83North, Northzone, David Lau-Kee, Jari Ovaskainen | |
| May 1, 2014 | $3.0M Seed | 83North | |
| Nov 1, 2013 | $2.0M Seed | 83North |