Haven welcomes its second batch of game studios

Some sequels are better than the original. Haven is one of them.
‍

After a successful first run in 2024, Haven is back: powered by Game Habitat, Minc, and our partners WINGS and NyföretagarCentrum. The program brings structure, coaching, and community to brand-new studios, helping them grow from “cool project” to “sustainable company.”

What does success look like? For some, it’s landing investors and scaling fast — like Dead Astronauts, a Haven alumni studio that went on to raise €4M in an oversubscribed seed round earlier this year. For others, it’s securing their first publishing deal, releasing a debut title, or simply building a company culture that can last beyond a single project.
‍

The common thread: Haven studios leave stronger, more confident, and better equipped to shape the future of games.
‍

Jesper Krogh Kristiansen from Game Habitat puts it simply:

“Haven is about giving new studios the tools they need. From pitching and marketing to building a team culture and long-term strategy. They’ll also get continuous coaching and a shot at pitching directly to publishers.”

In other words: a crash course in turning creativity into a real business, taught by some of the region’s most distinguished games industry voices.

‍

Meet the seven studios of Haven 2025

Konditorei Studio

• Guglielmo De Gregori (Design/Programming) & Gleb Polikanin (Art)
  The duo is developing Edelweiss Knights, a tactical RPG inspired by Final Fantasy Tactics. Their goal: create games with a sense of “out-of-this-world”-iness, blending nostalgia with new mechanics.

North of Reality

• Brian Bartram (Game Direction), Isabella Mosteller (Art), Naomi Wirén (Programming, Writing)
  Formed after Brian reached out on Game Habitat’s community Discord, the trio is building Project Spectrum, an investigative horror RPG. A neurodivergent main character, Scandinavian folklore, and narrative-driven puzzles form the heart of their work.

Valley Lodge Games

• Brad Neal (Engineering Lead), Hannah Kjellin (Narrative Lead), Simon Ackemo (Art Lead)
  Valley Lodge is crafting Madame Massacre’s Midnight Matinee — a surreal, episodic point-and-click horror adventure. Think vintage TV fright shows with camp, pulp, and a haunted-theatre host to guide the chills.

Rototoco

• Robert Pettersson (Founder & Art Director), Tomas Pettersson (Founder & Lead Programmer)
  The team brings years of experience into Beachsweeper, a cozy exploration game where players restore beaches, meet quirky animals, and enjoy the small joys of digital island life.

Frozen Maracuyas

• Gaspar Stiglich, Elias Brown, Daniela Marquez (Co-Founders)
  After gaining traction with Sushi2Go, the team now works on What is Love? — a narrative adventure about breakups, self-love, and helping others. Their aim: create meaningful games that connect people.

Smoggers

• Frans Alexandersson (Level Designer), Ylva Oknelid (Art), Alexander Frost (Programming)
  The Smoggers are developing a thriller set in Malmö. For them, games are today’s most powerful artform, and they’re determined to tell their stories on their own terms.

Pica Pica Interactive

• David Darabian (CEO & Designer), Alexander Ericsson (CTO), Daniel Stolpe (Art)
  The trio behind Pica Pica are working on Piccolo, a mobile puzzle game with hotel simulation mechanics. Their ambition is to carve out a fresh path in the casual games space.

What’s next

Over the coming months, the teams will join workshops on everything from pitching and market research to vision-setting and culture-building. They’ll have continuous access to coaching and business advice. Plus the chance to pitch to real publishers later this year. The second edition of the Haven support program concludes in December.

For us at Minc, Haven is a way to support creativity where it starts: small and ambitious teams with big dreams. We’re proud to do this in collaboration with Game Habitat and their mission to grow a more diverse, sustainable games industry. One studio at a time.

🎮 Stay tuned for updates, playtests, and plenty of fika.

‍

About Minc

Minc is Malmö's leading growth engine and the driving force behind Southern Sweden's innovation economy. Home to Fast Track Malmö, Skåne Ventures, and a portfolio spanning more than 40 nationalities, Minc has turned some of the region's most ambitious founders into world-class companies. Founded in 2002 and owned by the City of Malmö. minc.se