Snowborn Games, based in Finland and Sweden, is dedicated to creating online games. Recognized for its ‘Masters’ series of slots, Masters Of Valhalla is followed up by the second installment in the series, Masters Of Olympus. Learn more about this growing iGaming company in our exclusive interview with Björn Zethraeus, CEO at Snowborn Games. Keep your eyes on them this year as we’re told some exciting games are in store in 2023!
Q: With the sheer volume of choice available to players, this is a great opportunity to introduce them to Snowborn Games. Please begin with some background on the company and its commitment to games.
A: My pleasure! Snowborn Games was founded in 2017 but established itself as purely a game studio in 2020. Before that we worked not only on games but on creating our own platform and own game framework - one that is still in use today to power all our game releases. In a nutshell, Snowborn Games is a company with a lot of industry knowhow in game creation, including math, art and business experience all mixed with a strong technological background. We are based in Sweden and Finland which is reflected in everything we do – from the studio brand and games to the way we work as a team with a lot of ambition.
Q: How has working with Games Global contributed to your success?
A: The distribution we get through Games Global is truly one of a kind and is certainly a key factor in creating a successful brand and studio. It’s a collaboration that has worked for us extremely well. It’s important to remember it’s not only about the games, but also about getting the games to the players – distribution and sales are vital to run a successful game studio and with Games Global we are getting exactly that and more. Being data nerds, we also love the wealth of analytics Games Global has to offer; it certainly has played a big part in our path to create the hits we’ve had.
Q: Tell us about the decision to focus on the development of online slot games. It must be an ongoing effort to maintain a strong position in today’s iGaming market.
A: The decision to focus purely on games was an easy one as it’s what we all felt we had the most drive for and felt we had something different to offer. That said, it’s not an easy market by any means; the number of game releases and the overall quality of games is constantly increasing so it’s vital to keep up with competition. Our mission from when we started Snowborn Games was to do everything with quality and with a focus on creating games that stand out regardless of what mechanic or style we go after. This is certainly not a market where you can stay fat and happy, especially as a studio with growth plans. Focusing efforts on the right things in a cost-effective way is something that we always strive for. It’s also important to remain flexible and adaptable with changing regulation and new markets opening up; knowing your customers and players is key.
Q: What can you tell us about the upcoming launch of Masters of Olympus™?
A: Masters Of Olympus™ is the second installment of our “Masters” series, where we are combining a rewarding base game with highly volatile bonus features. Our first “Masters” game, Masters Of Valhalla™ was a huge hit for us, introducing Snowborn Games to a totally new player group enjoying more volatile bonuses and gaining plenty of streamer attention. We expect Masters Of Olympus™ to do the same and more with even more cool added features and tweaks!
Q: What has been your most successful slot game to date?
A: We have had two major hits with Pile ‘Em Up™ and Masters Of Valhalla™ that relied on two very different game mechanics but both proved to be very popular. Pile ‘Em Up™ was our retro take on a cash collect mechanic with an increasing multiplier. I think we hit a nerve with the art style that was a flashback to years gone by with several references to the history of gaming culture (it was also a very fun game to work on!) Masters Of Valhalla™ on the other hand - with its Viking god-inspired theme and streamer appeal - was also a studio-defining game for us. It proved we are capable of producing games that are technically complex and at the same time getting the game right for an enjoyable player experience.
Q: Please describe Snowborn Games’ unique slot mechanics and features.
A: I think it’s important for every studio to find their own niche in the competitive market we are in today. We like to offer base game features that keep players entertained, and combine that with volatile bonus features. We are not looking to compete in the ultra-volatile genre where it’s often only about the bonus games. Getting that studio identity was one of the key factors in the success we had last year and it’s also something that we at Snowborn Games are fond of in slot games as well – well rounded experiences with true win potential.
Q: We’d like to give you the opportunity to add any facts you’d like LCB readers to know about the company and/or products.
A: Look out for Snowborn Games in 2023 – we have a lot of new exciting games coming out for many different tastes. With that, some really exciting bonus games as well that we can’t wait to get out on the market. We are a studio that has a passion for play, so we play a lot and focus on making the games for the players – we are here to entertain!
Follow Snowborn Games on LinkedIn to keep up to date with our latest game releases and studio updates.