Black Forest Games
German video game development studio based in Offenburg and known for multi-platform action, adventure, and survival games.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Black Forest Games GmbH is a German video game development studio headquartered in Offenburg, Baden-Württemberg. The company was established in July 2012 by a group of former Spellbound Entertainment employees after Spellbound entered insolvency proceedings earlier that year. Andreas Speer, who had been part of Spellbound's management, became the studio's chief executive. The new company initially employed approximately 40 former Spellbound staff, making it both a successor organization and a significant continuation of the earlier studio's development expertise. The studio's first major project was Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams, a modern platform game connected to the long-running The Great Giana Sisters property. Black Forest Games promoted the project through Kickstarter in 2012, using the working title Project Giana. The finished game launched for PC in October 2012 and later reached Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii U through digital distribution. Its development established the studio's early identity: an independent team focused on original or revived intellectual properties, multi-platform releases, and digitally distributed games. Black Forest Games also developed Rogue Stormers, a cooperative action platformer with procedurally generated elements. The project originated under the name RavensDale and was later called DieselStormers. After an unsuccessful Kickstarter campaign in 2013, the team revised its funding effort and successfully raised money in 2014. The game entered Steam Early Access in July 2014. A trademark dispute involving the Diesel name led to the change to Rogue Stormers before release. The project demonstrated the studio's willingness to use crowdfunding and iterative PC development, although it also showed the legal and commercial risks associated with provisional project identities. The studio expanded its portfolio with Fade to Silence, a survival game set in a frozen, hostile environment. The title was announced in 2017, entered Steam Early Access in December of that year, and received a full release in 2019 for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. THQ Nordic published the game. Its systems combined exploration, resource gathering, refuge construction, and recruitment of non-player survivors, representing a move toward larger-scale survival gameplay. A major change in the company's corporate position came in 2017, when Black Forest Games became a subsidiary of THQ Nordic. The relationship gave the studio access to a larger publishing and intellectual-property organization while retaining its base in Germany. The company subsequently worked on licensed and revived properties, most notably the 2020 remake of Destroy All Humans!, developed for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One and published by THQ Nordic. The remake rebuilt the 2005 science-fiction action game and incorporated material that had not appeared in the original release. It became the studio's most prominent high-profile project and strengthened its association with THQ Nordic's strategy of revisiting established game properties. In 2023, Black Forest Games was announced as the developer of a game based on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin, intended for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows. In June 2026, reporting stated that development by Black Forest Games had stopped and that a new version was being developed by PlatinumGames for publication by Paramount Games Studio. The change marked a significant project transition for the studio. The company also experienced substantial internal restructuring. In January 2024, approximately half of its workforce was laid off, while the creative directors and most executives reportedly remained. Despite that reduction, the studio was reported to employ around 50 people in August 2024. Black Forest Games therefore remains an active development company, but its recent history reflects the financial pressure affecting the games industry, a narrower production scale, and a co…
History
Black Forest Games was founded in Offenburg in July 2012 after Spellbound Entertainment filed for insolvency in March of the same year. The new studio was formed by approximately 40 former Spellbound employees from a larger group of 65, with much of Spellbound's management continuing into the new organization. Andreas Speer, previously associated with Spellbound, became chief executive. The structure allowed the team to continue game development in the same German region while operating under a new corporate identity. The studio's first project was Project Giana, a Kickstarter-funded successor to the classic The Great Giana Sisters concept. The project used music by Chris Huelsbeck, the composer associated with the original series, and contributions from Machinae Supremacy. It was released as Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams for PC on 23 October 2012 and subsequently appeared on several console download services. The game established Black Forest Games as a developer of stylized, platform-focused titles with international digital distribution. Another early project was the cooperative action game that eventually became Rogue Stormers. It had been shown under the name RavensDale and had reportedly been in development for several years before the studio's formation. A first Kickstarter effort in 2013 did not succeed. After the project was revised and renamed DieselStormers, a second campaign in early 2014 reached its funding target, and the game entered Steam Early Access in July 2014. A trademark dispute concerning the word Diesel resulted in the final name Rogue Stormers. Black Forest Games moved into survival gameplay with Fade to Silence. Announced in 2017, the title placed players in a frozen wilderness where they had to gather resources, establish shelter, and recruit followers. It entered Steam Early Access on 14 December 2017 and received a full release on 30 April 2019 for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. THQ Nordic published the game, reflecting an increasingly close relationship between the developer and the publisher. That relationship became corporate in 2017, when Black Forest Games became a subsidiary of THQ Nordic. The acquisition connected the studio to a larger publisher with a broad catalogue of established properties. In June 2019, THQ Nordic announced that Black Forest Games was developing a remake of Destroy All Humans!, the 2005 science-fiction action title. The remake was released in 2020 for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One and included content removed from the original game. An extended gameplay presentation was shown at E3 2019. In August 2023, Black Forest Games was named as the developer of a game based on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin. The planned platforms were PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows. In June 2026, it was reported that Black Forest Games' work on the title had ended and that a new version would instead be developed by PlatinumGames, with Paramount Games Studio publishing the console and PC project. The studio underwent substantial downsizing in January 2024, when approximately half of its staff were laid off. Reports indicated that creative directors and most executives remained. Despite the cuts, the company was reported to have around 50 employees in August 2024. Its history shows a progression from a successor team formed after Spellbound's insolvency, through crowdfunding-backed original development, to publisher-supported work on established franchises and remakes.
- 2026
The Last Ronin project transferred
[1]Development of the planned game moved away from Black Forest Games to a new PlatinumGames-led project.
- 2024
Major workforce reduction
[1]Approximately half of the studio's staff were laid off.
- 2020
Destroy All Humans! remake released
[1]Black Forest Games' remake of the 2005 action game launched on PC and eighth-generation consoles.
- 2019
Fade to Silence received full release
[1]The survival title launched for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
- 2017
Joined THQ Nordic
[1]Black Forest Games became a subsidiary of THQ Nordic.
- 2017
Fade to Silence announced
[1]The studio revealed a survival game set in a frozen forest.
- 2014
DieselStormers crowdfunding succeeded
[1]A second Kickstarter campaign funded the action game after an unsuccessful campaign in 2013.
- 2014
DieselStormers renamed Rogue Stormers
[1]The title changed after a trademark dispute involving the DieselStormers name.
- 2012
Studio founded in Offenburg
[1]Black Forest Games was established by approximately 40 former Spellbound Entertainment employees after Spellbound entered insolvency proceedings.
- 2012
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams announced through Kickstarter
[1]The studio launched a crowdfunding campaign for Project Giana, which became Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams.
Products and positioning
German multi-platform game developer combining original concepts, revived legacy properties, survival and action gameplay, and publisher-backed remakes.
Platform game · 2012
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams
A stylized platform game and modern continuation of The Great Giana Sisters concept. Its central design uses contrasting character forms and worlds, allowing the player to shift between distinct gameplay states. It was Black Forest Games' first major release and was initially promoted through Kickstarter under the working title Project Giana. The game launched on PC and later reached multiple console digital storefronts.
Cooperative action platformer · 2017
Rogue Stormers
A cooperative action platformer featuring procedurally generated elements and fast-paced combat. The project was first known as RavensDale and later DieselStormers. After a failed crowdfunding campaign, a second Kickstarter campaign funded the revised project. A trademark dispute led to the final name Rogue Stormers, which entered Steam Early Access before release.
Survival game · 2019
Fade to Silence
A survival game set in a snow-covered wilderness. Players collect resources, construct and maintain a refuge, explore dangerous surroundings, and recruit other survivors as followers. The title was first released through Steam Early Access and later received a full launch for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, with THQ Nordic serving as publisher.
Action-adventure remake · 2020
Destroy All Humans!
A remake of the 2005 science-fiction action game in which players control an alien invading Earth. Black Forest Games rebuilt the title for contemporary PC and console hardware and included content that had been cut from the original release. The project was announced in 2019 and published by THQ Nordic in 2020 for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
Licensed action game
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin
A planned game adaptation of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin, announced for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows. Black Forest Games was initially identified as the developer, but reporting in 2026 stated that its development had stopped and that a new version was being developed by PlatinumGames.
Marketing campaigns
- 2014Second DieselStormers Kickstarter
Global
A revised crowdfunding campaign was launched after the first attempt failed.
Outcome. The campaign successfully funded the project, which entered Steam Early Access later in 2014.
- 2013DieselStormers Kickstarter
Global
The studio attempted to fund its cooperative action project under the DieselStormers name.
Outcome. The campaign was unsuccessful, leading to a later revised campaign.
- 2012Project Giana Kickstarter
Global
Black Forest Games used Kickstarter to finance a new installment connected to The Great Giana Sisters. The project was presented as Project Giana and later released as Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams.
Outcome. The campaign supported development and the game launched in 2012.
Brand decisions
2026
Transfer The Last Ronin developmentStrategyBackground
The project had previously been announced as a Black Forest Games production.
Action taken
Development by Black Forest Games stopped, and a new version was announced under PlatinumGames.
Aftermath
Paramount Games Studio was identified as publisher for the new console and PC project.
2024
Downsize development workforceStrategyBackground
The studio underwent restructuring during a difficult period for the games industry.
Action taken
Approximately half of the workforce was laid off, while creative directors and most executives reportedly remained.
Aftermath
The studio was reported to employ approximately 50 people in August 2024.
2017
Join THQ Nordic as a subsidiaryM&ABackground
The independent studio's development activities became part of THQ Nordic's expanding publisher and developer structure.
Action taken
Black Forest Games was acquired and operated as a THQ Nordic subsidiary.
Aftermath
The studio subsequently developed and released THQ Nordic-published projects, including Fade to Silence and the Destroy All Humans! remake.
2014
Rename DieselStormers to Rogue StormersOtherBackground
The original project name became subject to a trademark dispute involving Diesel S.p.A.
Action taken
Black Forest Games changed the game's title to Rogue Stormers.
Aftermath
The renamed game continued development and was released as Rogue Stormers.
Recent events
- 2026
The Last Ronin development transferred from Black Forest Games[1]
Other
Development by Black Forest Games was reported to have stopped, with a new version of the game announced under PlatinumGames and Paramount Games Studio.
- 2024
Black Forest Games reportedly cut approximately half its workforce[1]
Leadership change · Other
The studio carried out major layoffs affecting roughly 50 percent of its team. Creative directors and most executives reportedly retained their positions.
- 2023
Black Forest Games announced as developer of The Last Ronin game[1]
Product launch
The studio was announced as the developer of a game based on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin for current-generation consoles and PC.
- 2019
Destroy All Humans! remake announced[1]
Product launch
THQ Nordic announced that Black Forest Games was developing a remake of the 2005 science-fiction action game for PC and consoles.
- 2017
Black Forest Games became a THQ Nordic subsidiary[1]
M&A
THQ Nordic announced the acquisition of Black Forest Games, bringing the German developer into its subsidiary network.
- 2017
Fade to Silence entered early access[1]
Product launch
The studio's snowbound survival game became available through Steam Early Access after its announcement at The Game Awards.
- 2014
Rogue Stormers changed from DieselStormers after trademark dispute[1]
Lawsuit · Other
Following a trademark lawsuit involving the DieselStormers name and Diesel S.p.A., the studio renamed the game Rogue Stormers.
- 2012
Black Forest Games established as successor to Spellbound Entertainment[1]
Other
A new Offenburg studio was announced after Spellbound Entertainment entered insolvency proceedings. Black Forest Games began with about 40 former Spellbound employees, including former management members.
- 2012
Project Giana Kickstarter launched[1]
Campaign · Product launch
The studio used Kickstarter to fund a new entry in The Great Giana Sisters lineage. The project became Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams.
Sources1 sources
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