Hidden Variable Studios
- Open roles
- 1
- Founded
- 2010
- Employees
- 11-50
- Offices
- 2
About Hidden Variable Studios
Hidden Variable Studios is an independent game developer based in Pasadena, California, creating original games and providing contract development and co-development services. Its work spans mobile, PC, console and cloud gaming, combining gameplay systems design, cross-platform engineering, animation and live operations. Founded in 2010 and operational from January 2011, the studio has developed physics puzzles, strategy games, fighting games and multiplayer word games.
Its debut release, Bag It! (2011), built a physics puzzle game around packing groceries. Tic Tactics followed in 2013 with asynchronous strategy gameplay. In partnership with original creator Sirvo, Hidden Variable subsequently helped bring Threes! to Android, free-to-play mobile formats and Xbox One, extending the puzzle game's reach across platforms.
Fighting games and live development
Hidden Variable launched Skullgirls Mobile in 2017 with publisher Autumn Games, adapting traditional fighting-game mechanics into touchscreen combat and RPG progression systems. The title surpassed 50 million downloads. The studio later took on lead development responsibilities for Skullgirls 2nd Encore on PC and consoles, working with Future Club on Season 1 Pass character content, including Annie, Umbrella and Black Dahlia.
Hidden Variable's work on the franchise ended on January 21, 2025. These projects remain part of its development history, while its subsequent production focus shifted to original intellectual property.
Original projects
The studio released Letter Trek for Amazon Luna's GameNight party platform and announced Spellomancer, an upcoming multiplayer 2D word-action platformer for PC through Steam. Recruitment material also identifies an unannounced 3D fighting game in active development.
Alongside its own games, Hidden Variable offers contract software development with selected partners. Its portfolio demonstrates experience both creating original gameplay concepts and adapting established games for additional platforms, with capabilities covering 2D and 3D animation, fighting-game systems, mobile development and ongoing free-to-play game operations.
More about Hidden Variable Studios
Founders and leadership
The founders are Charley Price, David Marino and Amos Marvel. The report identifies Price as Creative Director and Marino as President; Marvel is described as a former COO.
Workplace practices
The studio describes a hybrid schedule with in-office work Tuesday through Thursday and work from home on Mondays and Fridays. Its careers material emphasizes employee agency and creative freedom as principles of its working environment.
Production tools
Recruitment for the unannounced 3D fighting game specifically identifies Unity and Maya as production tools.
Publishing dispute
In March 2025, Hidden Variable filed a breach-of-contract lawsuit against former publishing partner Autumn Games, seeking $1.2 million in allegedly unpaid development fees. The report does not establish a resolution.
Notable credits
7 creditsOffices
Where Hidden Variable Studios is based
- 8 Mills Place, Suite 201, Pasadena, CA 91105, United StatesPasadena, California, United States
Pasadena office
HeadquartersAbout this office
Overall headquarters and primary production studio in Old Town Pasadena. This premises refines the saved Los Angeles metropolitan-area association.
- Los Angeles, California, United States
Los Angeles office
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