Big Viking Games
- Open roles
- 0
- Founded
- 2011
- Employees
- 51-200
- Offices
- 2
About Big Viking Games
Big Viking Games is an independent Canadian developer and operator of free-to-play social and mobile games. Founded in 2011, the company combines game development with long-term live operations, maintaining virtual worlds and player-driven economies across Facebook, web browsers and mobile platforms. Its work spans social simulation games, mobile entertainment and HTML5 experiences.
The studio’s history is closely connected to YoWorld. Its predecessor, Tall Tree Games, created YoVille in 2008 before selling the game to Zynga. When Zynga planned to discontinue the title in 2014, Big Viking Games negotiated to acquire it back and renamed it YoWorld. The transition preserved player accounts, game history and the existing virtual economy, allowing the company to continue operating the game for its established community.
Alongside YoWorld, the studio developed and scaled FishWorld, another flagship social simulation game. Its broader catalogue includes games across social, mobile and browser platforms, reflecting a business that combines original development with the continued operation and modernization of existing titles.
Development and ongoing operations
Big Viking Games’ capabilities cover full-cycle development and engineering, cross-platform porting, game-system scaling and the modernization of long-running games. Its ongoing operations encompass in-game economy design, monetization, live events, player support and community services. These activities support games that continue to evolve after their initial release, with attention to virtual economies and the communities built around them.
HTML5 and instant gaming are another part of the company’s work. The studio develops experiences for mobile browsers and social platforms, alongside games distributed through mobile app stores. Its technical focus connects cross-platform delivery with the engineering and operational systems needed to maintain live games over multiple years.
The company maintains a physical presence in Toronto and London, Ontario, bringing together development, product management, live operations and data science.
More about Big Viking Games
Founders and leadership
Albert Lai and Greg Thomson are the co-founders. The report identifies Lai with executive chairman responsibilities and Thomson with creative leadership, while also associating both with CEO titles.
Technology and collaborations
- The company developed proprietary engines for delivering 2D and 3D experiences within mobile browsers and messenger apps without separate app downloads.
- In 2016, it participated in the launch of Facebook Instant Games with its original space combat game Galatron.
- Its January 2016 acquisition of Gallop Labs brought the Toronto analytics company's data science personnel and technology into Big Viking Games' operations.
Working model
After adopting remote flexibility in 2020, the company returned to a four-day in-office hybrid cadence in Toronto by 2026. September–October 2026 job listings described this attendance requirement.
Notable credits
12 creditsOffices
Where Big Viking Games is based
- 70 Peter Street, Suite 200, Toronto, Ontario M5V 2G5, CanadaToronto, Ontario, Canada
Toronto Studio
HeadquartersAbout this office
Corporate headquarters and primary studio supporting executive management, game engineering, live operations, product management and data science.
- 285 King Street, Suite 300, London, Ontario N6B 3M6, CanadaLondon, Ontario, Canada
London Studio
Founding development studio and continuing regional corporate and accessibility contact office.
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