Nordcurrent
Nordcurrent is a Lithuanian video game developer and publisher focused on casual and freemium games for mobile devices and computers.
Last updated August 24, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Nordcurrent is a Lithuanian video game development and publishing company headquartered in Vilnius. Its business centers on casual and freemium games distributed through smartphones, tablets, PC, and Mac, with a portfolio spanning cooking, lifestyle, action, mystery, strategy, and narrative-driven titles. The company operates through development locations in Vilnius, Dnipro, Warsaw, and Gothenburg, giving it a broader regional production footprint than its Lithuanian headquarters alone suggests. The business traces its origins to 2002, when Ivolgamus was established in Vilnius by brothers Sergej and Michail Trofimov and Michail's wife, Victoria. In its early period, the company worked primarily as a console-game developer and became associated with cooperation with Activision. Its work on licensed Shrek and Barbie games helped the studio expand during 2007, a period of rapid growth for the company. In 2008, it began publishing games independently, seeking to participate more directly in the global market rather than operating only as an external developer. The company later adopted the Nordcurrent name and, from around 2010, concentrated on casual and freemium games. A major early mobile success was 101-in-1 Games, released for iOS. According to the cited company history, the title reached the top five in 75 countries and had accumulated 20 million downloads by 2014. Nordcurrent's most important commercial breakthrough followed with Cooking Fever, released on iOS in August 2014 and on Android in February 2015. The game became a large-scale mobile hit and was reported to have exceeded 50 million downloads during its first year. Cooking Fever established Nordcurrent's reputation in accessible, mass-market mobile entertainment and became a foundation for further expansion into live-service and free-to-play game development. Nordcurrent broadened its studio network and portfolio during the second half of the 2010s. It opened a Warsaw development studio in November 2015. Sniper Arena, released in 2016, became another major international title and was reported to have reached 50 million downloads worldwide. In 2018, the company acquired the Odesa-based Blam! Games Studio, subsequently renaming it Nordcurrent Odesa. That year it also released Murder in the Alps, a mystery game that later surpassed 10 million downloads and received recognition at the Lithuanian Game Awards. The company continued releasing games across multiple genres in the early 2020s, including Airplane Chefs, Pocket Styler, and Happy Clinic in 2020, followed by Ocean's Heart and Murder by Choice in 2021. It also expanded its Ukrainian capabilities through the acquisition of RinGames, a Dnipro-based studio described as having 28 employees and a decade of industry experience. In November 2023, Nordcurrent acquired Swedish developer River End Games, extending its development presence to Gothenburg and adding a studio known for work in a different segment of game development. Nordcurrent describes its output as exceeding 50 games since 2002 and reaching more than half a billion players worldwide, although the cited material does not provide independently audited financial or user figures. The company is also a member of the Lithuanian Game Developers Association. Its current identity combines a Lithuanian headquarters, an international studio network, independent publishing, and a portfolio built around accessible digital games with strong mobile distribution.
History
Nordcurrent began in Vilnius in 2002 under the name Ivolgamus. The company was founded by brothers Sergej and Michail Trofimov together with Michail's wife, Victoria. Its initial business was console-game development, including cooperation with Activision. During a period of rapid expansion in 2007, the studio developed licensed Shrek and Barbie games for Activision. In 2008, the company moved beyond an exclusively work-for-hire development role and began publishing games independently. This change allowed it to pursue its own products and reach international digital distribution channels more directly. The business subsequently adopted the Nordcurrent name. From approximately 2010 onward, it focused on casual and freemium games for smartphones, tablets, and computers. The company's first major mobile success was 101-in-1 Games for iOS. The title was reported to have reached the top five in 75 countries and 20 million downloads by 2014. Nordcurrent's most consequential release arrived in August 2014 with Cooking Fever on iOS, followed by an Android release in February 2015. During its first year, Cooking Fever was reported to have attracted more than 50 million downloads. The title helped define Nordcurrent's mobile-first commercial identity and demonstrated the company's ability to build globally distributed free-to-play entertainment. Nordcurrent expanded its physical development structure alongside its growing game portfolio. A Warsaw studio opened in November 2015. In 2016, the company released Sniper Arena, which later reached a reported 50 million downloads worldwide. In 2018, it acquired Blam! Games Studio in Odesa, Ukraine, and renamed the operation Nordcurrent Odesa. The same year brought Murder in the Alps, a mystery title that exceeded 10 million downloads and received several Lithuanian Game Awards. During the early 2020s, Nordcurrent released a sequence of games covering multiple casual and narrative categories. Airplane Chefs, Pocket Styler, and Happy Clinic appeared in 2020, while Ocean's Heart and Murder by Choice followed in 2021. The company also acquired RinGames in Dnipro, Ukraine. The acquired studio was described as having 28 employees, around ten years of industry experience, and a particularly strong graphics team. In November 2023, Nordcurrent acquired Swedish developer River End Games. Together with its locations in Vilnius, Dnipro, Warsaw, and Gothenburg, this gave the company a distributed European studio network. Nordcurrent states that it has developed more than 50 games since its founding and that its titles have reached more than half a billion players worldwide. The company is also a member of the Lithuanian Game Developers Association. Available reference material does not establish a current chief executive, ownership structure, financial results, or a definitive official website address.
- 2023
River End Games is acquired
[1]Nordcurrent acquires Swedish developer River End Games in November.
- 2018
Blam! Games Studio is acquired
[1]Nordcurrent acquires the Odesa studio and renames it Nordcurrent Odesa.
- 2018
Murder in the Alps is released
[1]The mystery game launches and later surpasses 10 million downloads.
- 2016
Sniper Arena is released
[1]The multiplayer action title launches and later reaches a reported 50 million downloads worldwide.
- 2015
Cooking Fever arrives on Android
[1]An Android version launches in February; the game is reported to exceed 50 million downloads in its first year.
- 2015
Warsaw studio opens
[1]Nordcurrent establishes a development studio in Warsaw, Poland.
- 2014
Cooking Fever launches on iOS
[1]Cooking Fever is released for iOS in August, becoming the company's defining mobile hit.
- 2010
Focus shifts to casual and freemium games
[1]Nordcurrent specializes increasingly in casual and freemium games for digital platforms.
- 2008
Independent publishing begins
[1]The company starts publishing games independently to pursue opportunities in global markets.
- 2007
Expansion through licensed console games
[1]The company grows rapidly while developing Shrek and Barbie games for Activision.
Products and positioning
An international game developer and publisher built around accessible casual, freemium, and mobile-first entertainment, while also expanding into narrative and broader cross-platform game development.
Mobile game compilation
101-in-1 Games
An iOS game compilation that became one of Nordcurrent's first major mobile successes. It was reported to have reached the top five in 75 countries and accumulated 20 million downloads by 2014, helping establish the company's international mobile distribution capability.
Casual cooking and time-management game · 2014
Cooking Fever
A casual cooking and time-management game released for iOS in 2014 and Android in 2015. Players manage kitchens, prepare dishes, and progress through a broad set of culinary locations. Its rapid download growth made it Nordcurrent's signature mobile franchise.
Mobile multiplayer action game · 2016
Sniper Arena
A competitive sniper-themed mobile game released in 2016. The title expanded Nordcurrent's portfolio beyond domestic and lifestyle simulation and became one of its largest reported releases, reaching 50 million downloads worldwide.
Mobile mystery adventure game · 2018
Murder in the Alps
A narrative mystery game set around an alpine hotel investigation. Released in 2018, it became a substantial download success and received Lithuanian Game Awards for sound design, smart-device game, and overall game of the year.
Casual time-management game · 2020
Airplane Chefs
A casual game released in 2020 that combines food preparation with an aviation setting. It continued Nordcurrent's use of accessible service-oriented gameplay and culinary themes.
Fashion and lifestyle game · 2020
Pocket Styler
A mobile fashion-focused title released in 2020. It extends Nordcurrent's casual portfolio into styling and lifestyle play rather than cooking, action, or investigation.
Casual management game · 2020
Happy Clinic
A casual clinic-management game released in 2020. Its setting and progression structure apply Nordcurrent's time-management and service-management approach to healthcare environments.
Adventure role-playing game · 2021
Ocean's Heart
A 2021 adventure title that represents a broader genre direction within Nordcurrent's publishing and development portfolio, beyond its best-known mobile casual games.
Mobile mystery narrative game · 2021
Murder by Choice
A mystery and narrative-focused game released in 2021. It later won Best Narrative for a Mobile Game at the NYX Game Awards and received additional award nominations in Lithuania.
Brand decisions
2023
Acquisition of River End GamesM&ABackground
Nordcurrent continued extending its European development network and portfolio capabilities.
Action taken
In November, Nordcurrent acquired Swedish developer River End Games.
Aftermath
The transaction added a Swedish studio location in Gothenburg to Nordcurrent's international network.
2018
Acquisition of Blam! Games StudioM&ABackground
Nordcurrent sought to expand its Ukrainian development capabilities.
Action taken
It acquired the Odesa-based studio Blam! Games Studio and renamed it Nordcurrent Odesa.
Aftermath
The acquisition strengthened Nordcurrent's regional development presence.
2015
Geographic expansion into PolandStrategyBackground
The company expanded its production capacity after the growth of its mobile publishing business.
Action taken
Nordcurrent opened a development studio in Warsaw.
Aftermath
Warsaw became part of the company's distributed European studio network.
2010
Specialization in casual and freemium gamesStrategyBackground
The company was transitioning from its earlier console-development work toward digital games for a broad consumer audience.
Action taken
Nordcurrent specialized in casual and freemium games for smartphones, tablets, and computers.
Aftermath
This positioning supported the later success of Cooking Fever and other mobile-led franchises.
2008
Move into independent publishingStrategyBackground
After working as a console developer, the company sought greater control over distribution and access to international markets.
Action taken
Nordcurrent began publishing games independently.
Aftermath
The change preceded the company's later concentration on self-directed casual and freemium games.
- Acquisition of RinGamesM&A
Background
Nordcurrent pursued additional technical and artistic capacity in Ukraine.
Action taken
The company acquired Dnipro-based RinGames, a studio described as having 28 employees and approximately ten years of industry experience.
Aftermath
RinGames became part of Nordcurrent's Ukrainian development footprint.
Recent events
- 2023
Nordcurrent acquires River End Games[1]
M&A
In November 2023, Nordcurrent acquired Swedish game developer River End Games, extending its development footprint to Sweden.
- 2023
Murder by Choice wins a NYX Game Award[1]
Other
Murder by Choice won Best Narrative for a Mobile Game at the NYX Game Awards and also received nominations in several LT Game Awards categories.
- 2018
Nordcurrent acquires Blam! Games Studio[1]
M&A
Nordcurrent acquired the Odesa-based Ukrainian studio Blam! Games Studio and subsequently renamed it Nordcurrent Odesa.
- 2018
Murder in the Alps receives multiple Lithuanian Game Awards[1]
Other
Murder in the Alps was recognized in several LT Game Awards categories, including sound design, smart-device game, and overall game of the year.
- 2017
Nordcurrent founders recognized by the LT Game Awards[1]
Other
Victoria, Michail, and Sergej Trofimov received recognition for their contributions to Lithuania's game industry.
- 2015
Nordcurrent opens a development studio in Warsaw[1]
Other
The company expanded its development network by opening a studio in Warsaw, Poland.
- 2015
Cooking Fever receives Lithuanian Game of the Year recognition[1]
Other
Cooking Fever was named Game of the Year at the LT Game Awards.
Nordcurrent expands through the acquisition of RinGames[1]
M&A
The company acquired RinGames, a Dnipro-based Ukrainian development studio described as having 28 employees and approximately ten years of industry experience.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/nordcurrent · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled