Since its breakout success with Hero Wars in 2016, Nexters has steadily broadened its gaming horizons, evolving from a single‑title studio into a multifaceted developer within the GDEV holding. While Hero Wars remains its crown jewel—boasting over 150 million installs and $1.5 billion in lifetime revenue—the company has diversified across genres and platforms, building a portfolio that spans strategy, farming, tile‑matching, shooters, and survival RPGs. This article explores the titles that define Nexters’ growing catalogue beyond Hero Wars, spotlighting how each contributes to the studio’s global reach and financial resilience.
Throne Rush: Laying the Foundation
Before Hero Wars, Nexters introduced players to Throne Rush in 2013, a browser‑based real‑time strategy game that later expanded to iOS and Android. Though no longer in active development, Throne Rush established Nexters’ early expertise in live‑service mechanics, city building, and multiplayer guild clashes—elements that the studio would refine in subsequent releases. By mastering community engagement and social features, Nexters set the stage for its later RPG ventures.
Island Hoppers: Cultivating Success in Farming Adventure
Marking its foray into casual simulation, Nexters soft‑launched Island Hoppers (originally Island Questaway) in November 2021, with a global release in October 2023. The farming‑adventure hybrid quickly proved a hit: within two years, it amassed over 20 million downloads and generated $47 million in revenue, ranking it among the top ten farming games worldwide by April 2024 . As players assist protagonist Emily in rebuilding her family estate amid jungle puzzles and mini‑games, Nexters demonstrates versatility beyond combat‑centred gameplay.
Puzzle Odyssey: Tapping into Tile‑Matching Trends
In 2023, Nexters expanded into the match‑3 space with Puzzle Odyssey, a tile‑matching title designed to appeal to the casual gamer demographic. Though still in its early post‑launch phase, Puzzle Odyssey represents Nexters’ commitment to genre diversity, aiming to leverage the enduring popularity of puzzle mechanics on mobile platforms. With its vibrant visuals and episodic level design, the game seeks to capture daily active users through frequent content updates and seasonal events.
Pixel Gun 3D: Shooting for the Stars with Cubic Games
Under the GDEV umbrella, Nexters leverages sister studio Cubic Games’ expertise in first‑person shooters. Pixel Gun 3D, launched in 2013 on Steam, iOS, and Android, has surpassed 170 million downloads and maintains a robust monthly active user base of 5.5 million. Blending block‑style graphics with competitive PvP modes, co‑op missions, and mod support, Pixel Gun 3D underscores Nexters’ ability to succeed in adjacent genres through strategic studio partnerships.
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Royal Ark’s Survival Line: Zombie Miner & Dawn of Zombies
Diversifying further, GDEV’s Royal Ark division delivers survival‑RPG experiences. Zombie Miner, released in 2022, combines base‑building with dungeon‑crawling mechanics and has already exceeded 2 million downloads . Conversely, Dawn of Zombies, though no longer actively updated, showcased the studio’s ambition to merge narrative and resource‑management in a post‑apocalyptic setting. These titles highlight Nexters’ growing footprint in the survival genre and its adaptability to darker, more strategic gameplay loops.
Emerging Pipeline: What’s Next?
Looking ahead, GDEV has teased several upcoming projects that promise to extend Nexters’ reach. Notably, Pixel Gun 2 is slated for an early‑2026 launch on mobile and PC, aiming to build on its predecessor’s shooter legacy with cross‑platform play and enhanced graphics . Meanwhile, Nexters continues to refine its live‑service model across existing titles, with ongoing collaboration events—such as the Lara Croft crossover in Hero Wars that brought over 500 000 new players in 2024—demonstrating the studio’s agility in content innovation.
Conclusion
From strategic castles in Throne Rush to cooperative farming in Island Hoppers, and from match‑3 puzzles to block‑style shooters, Nexters’ expanding portfolio reflects a deliberate strategy of genre diversification and cross‑studio synergy. By balancing flagship RPG maintenance with fresh IP launches, the studio fortifies its market position against the volatility of mobile gaming trends. As it gears up for new releases like Pixel Gun 2 and further updates to Puzzle Odyssey, Nexters is poised to sustain growth across multiple gaming verticals, ensuring that its legacy extends well beyond the world of Hero Wars.