Lo-Fi Games

Lo-Fi Games is an independent game developer and self-publisher based in Bristol, United Kingdom. Founded in 2006 by Chris Hunt as a solo venture, the studio grew around the development of Kenshi, a systemic open-world sandbox role-playing game built around player freedom, emergent outcomes, squad management and survival in a post-apocalyptic “sword-punk” world.

Hunt developed Kenshi independently for six years before its Steam Greenlight Early Access success in 2013 enabled the studio to build a full-time multidisciplinary team in Bristol. The game reached version 1.0 in December 2018 and became the company’s breakout release, selling more than three million copies worldwide.

Games and development approach

Lo-Fi Games focuses on simulation-led game design rather than linear progression. Its work incorporates open-ended exploration, faction and economy systems, base building, real-time tactical control, squad-based management, and dynamic damage and health mechanics. The studio also supports community engagement, player support and modding around its games.

Its released and in-development work includes:

• Kenshi — a single-player, open-ended squad-based sandbox RPG for Windows PC.
• Kenshi 2 — an in-development prequel set 1,000 years before the first game.

While the original Kenshi was made with the open-source OGRE engine and custom physics integration, Kenshi 2 is being developed with Unreal Engine 5.

Independent publishing

The company develops and publishes its own games, covering game design, engineering, narrative, level design, and 3D environment, terrain and character art. Its PC releases reach a worldwide audience through platforms including Steam and GOG.

Lo-Fi Games remains an independently owned, active UK studio. Its Bristol headquarters supports in-person and hybrid development alongside a globally distributed remote workforce.