Up One Games

Studio Overview

Up One Games is an independent video game development studio based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Founded in 2023 by Hisham Al-Mashal and Basel Al-Anazi, the studio is dedicated to creating original, narrative-driven intellectual property that draws inspiration from Saudi culture, folklore, and regional geography. The studio operates with a mission to share authentic regional storytelling with a global audience through high-quality, interactive experiences.

Production Philosophy

Moving away from traditional work-for-hire or outsourcing models, Up One Games focuses on the development of original 3D puzzle-adventure titles. The studio utilizes a distributed, remote-first production model that integrates local Saudi talent with international expertise in art, design, and programming. This collaborative approach ensures a high standard of production polish and technical execution, utilizing industry-standard tools such as Unity, FMOD, and Wwise.

Institutional Support

Up One Games is a recognized participant in the Saudi digital ecosystem, having been selected for the second cohort of the NEOM Level Up Accelerator, developed in partnership with the DigiPen Institute of Technology. The studio also receives support from key national initiatives, including the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), the Center of Digital Entrepreneurship (CODE), InspireU by stc, and the National Technology Development Program (NTDP).

Flagship Project: Bargan's Treasure

The studio’s debut title, Bargan's Treasure, is a third-person narrative puzzle-adventure game currently in development for PC. The game features hand-painted aesthetics and environmental mechanics that task players with restoring infrastructure and community life to an abandoned mountain village. The project reflects the studio's commitment to contemplative, exploration-based gameplay and culturally grounded worldbuilding.