Kitsune Games Ltd.
- Founded
- 2013-01-01 in The Netherlands
- Headquarters
- Cyprus
- info@kitsune.co
Kitsune Games Ltd. is an inclusive indie video game development studio that creates accessible, diverse titles steeped in Japanese mythology and queer romance. Originally founded in 2013 by Eniko Fox as a Dutch one-person microstudio, the company later incorporated in the United States as Kitsune Games LLC in 2015, and eventually relocated to Cyprus, where it became Kitsune Games Ltd. The studio’s mission—'Traditional gaming made accessible and diverse'—drives its development of classic platformers, puzzle games, and roguelikes that prioritise representation and inclusivity. Its best-known title, *Kitsune Tails* (2024), is a platformer inspired by *Super Mario Bros. 3* with a narrative focused on a queer love story between a human and a fox spirit. The game earned a silver medal at the Queer Games Festival 2024 and was called 'the PC’s very own answer to Super Mario Bros. 3' by PCGamesN. Kitsune Games also published the political satire *Super Bernie World* (2020), which became the #4 top free game on Steam with over 250,000 installs, and the puzzle game *Ultra Hat Dimension* (2020). The studio operates as a distributed team across multiple countries, with leadership based in Cyprus, and relies on a mix of in-house staff and external collaborators. Eniko Fox and James Yarrow, co-founders, continue to guide the studio’s creative and business direction.
Detailed Review
Founding and History
Kitsune Games Ltd. began in 2012 when Eniko Fox, then living in Japan, released her first game, MidBoss, during the Ludum Dare game jam. The positive reception encouraged her to pursue full-time independent development. She founded a Dutch company under the Kitsune Games name in 2013, developing MidBoss into a fully featured turn-based roguelike over four and a half years. In 2015, she visited the United States and, with partner James Yarrow, founded Kitsune Games LLC in Missouri on 22 June 2015. James focused on business operations while Eniko built the game. MidBoss launched on Steam in May 2017.
In March 2020, the studio released Super Bernie World, a free political platformer that went viral, receiving coverage from Vice, The Washington Post, People, ABC, and Japan’s NHK. It became Steam’s top New and Trending game on launch day and attracted a quarter million installs by July 2020. Later that year, in July 2020, Ultra Hat Dimension launched—a puzzle game about hats and combat.
After moving the studio to Cyprus and incorporating as Kitsune Games Ltd., the team announced Kitsune Tails in January 2021. The game launched on 1 August 2024 for Windows, Linux, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch, with "Overwhelmingly Positive" Steam reviews and over 500 reviews in its first week. It won a silver medal at Queer Games Festival 2024 and became a finalist in the Queer Indies Showcase. Reid McCarter of PCGamesN praised it as "the PC’s very own answer to Super Mario Bros. 3."
Key Products
The studio’s product lineup includes Kitsune Tails, Kitsune Zero (a prequel to Kitsune Tails), Lore Finder (a Kickstarter-funded game), MidBoss, Super Bernie World, and Ultra Hat Dimension. Kitsune Games Ltd. remains a small, inclusive team with a strong focus on representation, accessible design, and classic gameplay mechanics.
Awards and Recognition
Kitsune Tails earned a silver medal at Queer Games Festival 2024 and was a finalist in the Queer Indies Showcase. Super Bernie World became the #4 top free game on Steam with over 250,000 installs, garnering international press attention.
Key Products
Kitsune Tails
A classic platformer styled after Super Mario Bros. 3, set in Japanese mythology, featuring a queer romance story. Released August 2024 on Windows, Linux, PS4, PS5, and Switch. Overwhelmingly positive on Steam; silver medal at Queer Games Festival 2024.
Kitsune Zero
A smaller prequel to Kitsune Tails, set in the same universe, announced but not yet released.
MidBoss
Turn-based roguelike with a female protagonist, originally created for Ludum Dare in 2012, expanded into a full release in May 2017.
Super Bernie World
Free political activism platformer featuring U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders. Became #4 top free game on Steam in March 2020, with over 250,000 installs.
Ultra Hat Dimension
Puzzle game where the player uses hats to defeat enemies, released July 2020 on Steam and itch.io.
Lore Finder
Kickstarter-funded game about finding lore; development status uncertain.
Offices & Headcount
24 employees (approx.)
Key Persons
- Eniko Fox (Emma 'Eniko' Maassen)
Founder, Director
- James Yarrow
Co-founder, Writer, Producer