Bigger Games secures $25M to scale mobile title ‘Kitchen Masters’ and expand global reach

Istanbul-based mobile game developer Bigger Games has raised $25 million in a Series A funding round to accelerate the global rollout of its latest game, Kitchen Masters, and expand its development team. The investment round was led by Goodwater Capital, with participation from Arcadia Gaming Partners, Index Ventures, and Play Ventures.

The funding marks a significant milestone for the Turkish studio, which entered the mobile gaming market in 2019 and has since focused on casual puzzle games. Kitchen Masters, a match-3 game with strong early user engagement and retention, is at the center of the studio’s current efforts. The new capital will be used to scale the game to new international markets—including the U.S.—and to bolster marketing and user acquisition efforts.

Coddy Johnson, former president of Activision and now a partner at Goodwater Capital, has joined Bigger Games’ board of directors as part of the deal. Johnson’s experience in the gaming industry is expected to guide the studio through its next growth phase.

CEO and co-founder Hakan Ulvan emphasized the studio’s broader ambitions beyond game mechanics. “We’re focused on crafting emotionally resonant experiences—games where every decision feels meaningful,” Ulvan said. “This investment allows us to test and learn across more markets, understanding what brings joy to players globally.”

Arcadia Gaming Partners’ founder Akın Babayiğit, who has long supported Bigger Games, also took part in the round. Babayiğit is known for co-founding Tripledot Studios, which has become one of the top independent mobile game companies worldwide following its acquisition of AppLovin’s game portfolio. He highlighted Bigger Games as a standout in Turkey’s growing gaming ecosystem, noting the team’s combination of creativity and analytical focus.

This latest round follows a 2020 seed investment of $6 million, which was led by Index Ventures and supported by industry veterans including Unity co-founder David Helgason and former King COO Stephane Kurgan.

Looking ahead, Bigger Games plans to prioritize scaling Kitchen Masters while continuing to invest in its marketing and analytics teams. With a focus on data-driven development and player engagement, the studio is positioning itself to become a more prominent player in the global mobile gaming landscape.