Games made with authenticity, creative freedom and love for the medium, because to make great games, you have to be a gamer first.
We named ourselves after the most fun, creative and magical creature we could think of. In some cultures black cats are seen as lucky. In others, the opposite. There's an element of the mystical to them that reflects our ethos.
We're a small, senior-led games studio working across original games, game design, narrative consultancy and practical games education. We combine hands-on development experience with a wider network of writers, developers, educators and senior industry collaborators.
Through practical education and nexus building, we express our love for our fellow devs, but for us it's really about the games, ours and yours. In all ways we can, we'll contribute to this medium with all the heart and personality we can muster.
Favourite quotes:
"In order to engage someone, you have to engage their inner child." David Mowbray
"You need to learn to sit at the keyboard and open a vein." Damon Knight
"I'd rather be hated for who I am than loved for who I am not." Kurt Cobain
Black Cat has existed for many years, but more recently reawakened in a more evolved, mature form with the benefit of experience at a larger studio. Our goal is to make awesome games. Our belief is that the power of a work, from quirky fun to existential dread, comes from its quality, and its authenticity. Our desire is to make the industry better for both devs and fans.
We're grateful for anyone who wants to join us on this journey, so feel free to get in touch, find us on LinkedIn or join our discord.
What We Do
Games
Black Cat develops original games with a focus on coherent design, strong atmosphere, and meaningful relationships between mechanics, narrative, and artistic intent.
Academy
The Black Cat Academy provides practical, mentor-led game development education built around real production experience, sustainable working practices, and the skills required to finish ambitious creative work.
Consultancy & Training
We provide game design and narrative consultancy, corporate training, guest lectures, workshops, and creative support for studios, institutions, and development teams.
The Black Cat Game Development Bootcamp
A practical, mentor-led programme for developers who want to build stronger projects, improve their production discipline, and learn how to finish games without sacrificing their health or creative ambition.
Participants work through a structured development project with direct guidance from experienced game developers.
Built on Experience
Black Cat is a small, senior-led studio supported by decades of experience across game design, programming, production, narrative, education, and commercial development.
Our core team works alongside a wider network of developers, writers, educators, and industry collaborators, allowing us to remain focused and flexible while drawing on the experience each project requires.
Experience Includes
