Blackstaff Games
- Open roles
- 0
- Founded
- 2014
- Employees
- 1-10
- Offices
- 1
About Blackstaff Games
Blackstaff Games is an independent game development and creative animation studio based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Founded in 2014, it creates original interactive entertainment with an emphasis on character, stylized visuals and approachable gameplay. Its work spans PC, console and mobile games, alongside children’s media, educational applications and 2D animation.
The studio’s capabilities cover concept development, pre-production, animation, asset creation and delivery of finished games. Its creative approach brings together experience in animation production and interactive design, with projects ranging from drawing adventures for children to narrative puzzles and city-management simulations. Alongside its original productions, Blackstaff Games offers creative production support and collaborative development.
Games and creative direction
An early release, DogBiscuit, combines digital drawing with exploration in a children’s adventure published by Tivola. The studio subsequently developed Safari Slides, a casual mobile puzzle game that adapts pipe-routing mechanics to a hexagonal layout. These projects reflect its interest in accessible interactions and playful visual worlds.
Buildings Have Feelings Too! expanded that approach into a side-scrolling city-management game for PC and consoles. Released in April 2021 in partnership with Merge Games, it gives buildings personalities, friendships, desires and anxieties. Players manage a changing urban environment across Victorian and modern settings while responding to the needs of its architectural characters. The game launched on Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
The studio’s next announced production, Travel Pack!, is a light puzzle narrative game inspired by board games, travel and miniature figurines. Its pocket-sized world uses tiles, terrain and colourful characters to frame a relaxing journey. Blackstaff Games is both developer and publisher of the project, which remained in development in the supplied research. Together, these productions show a continuing focus on family-friendly interactive experiences, distinctive characters and the combination of visual storytelling with puzzle and simulation mechanics.
More about Blackstaff Games
Leadership
Benjamin Donoghue founded the studio and is identified in the research as its Chief Executive Officer, Creative Director and a company director.
Working practices
The studio describes a collaborative boutique working model. Its recruitment material allows for remote work with occasional flexible in-person catch-ups in Belfast; the report also notes the use of contract specialists.
Recognition and development support
- DogBiscuit received a nomination in the Interactive – Original category at the 2016 BAFTA Children’s Awards. Its development received support from Northern Ireland Screen and Invest NI.
- Blackstaff Games was part of the original cohort of Northern Ireland Screen’s Pixel Mill accelerator and secured Assembler Programme funding during its residency.
- Travel Pack! was showcased at the Indie Arena Booth at Gamescom 2025 and featured in the December 2025 Wholesome Snack showcase.
Notable credits
4 creditsOffices
Where Blackstaff Games is based
- Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Belfast offices
HeadquartersAbout this office
**Office** Status: active Headquarters Address: Apt 9, 14 College Gardens, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT9 6BQ Reported head office and core production base. The company combines remote work with occasional in-person collaboration in Belfast. --- **The Pixel Mill** Status: inactive / historical Address: Ormeau Baths Former production residency at Northern Ireland Screen’s game accelerator and co-working hub.
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