The most actively hiring indie game studios in 2022

by Cam Brierley  · 
The most actively hiring indie game studios in 2022
Rebellion

While the games industry will always have its AAA blockbusters, the number of indie studios producing titles that break the mold is considerable. You only need to look at the success of games like Fall Guys and Among Us over the last few years to see how impactful indie releases can be.

So, we took a look at which indie studios have been the most actively hiring throughout 2022. It’s difficult to fully define what ‘makes’ an indie developer, but for this list we were focusing on those studios without parent companies behind them.

Here’s what we found.

The list:

  1. Rebellion — 97 jobs

  2. That’s No Moon Entertainment — 46 jobs

  3. Team17 — 43 jobs

  4. Blind Squirrel Games — 36 jobs

  5. Supermassive Games — 32 jobs

  6. Velan Studios — 25 jobs

  7. Intrepid Studios — 24 jobs

  8. Ascendant Studios — 23 jobs

  9. Counterplay Games Inc. — 20 jobs

  10. Flying Wild Hog — 19 jobs

Data taken from Hitmarker.net between January 1 - November 30, 2022

Who are the companies that made the top 10?

1. Rebellion

A leading independent UK games publisher, Rebellion is the largest company on this list so it’s no surprise that they clinched the top spot. Over its 30-year history, the company has branched into other forms of entertainment media including books, comics, TV, and film.

  • Notable releases: ‘Sniper Elite’ series, ‘Zombie Army’ series

  • Headquarters: Oxford, UK

  • Founded: 1992

2. That’s No Moon Entertainment

That’s No Moon Entertainment is an independent studio founded by a set of game development professionals with a very tenured background. Tina Kowalewski, Chief Strategy Officer, helped launch the original PlayStation console and later served as Director of Product Development at Sony's Santa Monica Studio; Taylor Kurosaki, Chief Creative Officer, was previously Studio Narrative Director at Infinity Ward; and Nick Kononelos, Chief Operating Officer, boasts experience as a Senior Development Director at EA on some of its leading franchises.

  • Notable releases: None (debut project will be a narrative-driven AAA title)

  • Headquarters: Los Angeles, CA

  • Founded: 2021

3. Team17

Team17 is an indie game developer with a number of recognizable titles under its belt over multiple decades in the games industry. Not only that, but the studio also works as a development partner for independent studios of all sizes.

  • Notable releases: ‘Worms’ series, ‘Moving Out’ series, ‘Overcooked’ series

  • Headquarters: Wakefield, UK

  • Founded: 1990

4. Blind Squirrel Games

Primarily serving as a development partner for other projects, Blind Squirrel Games has contributed to some of the most iconic franchises in gaming. And while this was the company’s focus at its founding, it’s also developing an original title, ‘Drifters’, that is currently available through Steam in early access.

  • Notable releases: ‘BioShock: The Collection’ (development partner), ‘Mass Effect Legendary Edition’ (development partner), ‘Drifters’

  • Headquarters: Irvine, CA

  • Founded: 2010

5. Supermassive Games

Supermassive Games is a BAFTA-award-winning studio with a focus on horror titles. More than the other companies in this list, it has a broad catalog of VR games, though it also produces games for console and PC, too.

  • Notable releases: ‘The Dark Pictures Anthology’, ‘The Quarry’, ‘Until Dawn’ series

  • Headquarters: Guildford, UK

  • Founded: 2008

6. Velan Studios

Not to be confused with Velen, the province in The Witcher series, Velan Studios is an indie developer located on the US east coast. Its focus is on imaginative, unique game titles — which is very much on display in its ‘Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit’ release for the Nintendo Switch.

  • Notable releases: ‘Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit’, ‘Knockout City’

  • Headquarters: Troy, NY

  • Founded: 2016

7. Intrepid Studios

Developers of the upcoming MMO ‘Ashes of Creation’, Intrepid Studios placed seventh on our list. After a Kickstarter campaign that raised more than $3 million to support the game’s development, the company has been building out its team to bring the title to life.

  • Notable releases: None (debut project to be ‘Ashes of Creation’)

  • Headquarters: San Diego, CA

  • Founded: 2015

8. Ascendant Studios

Ascendant is another of the newer studios on this list, formed in 2018 with its debut project to be an FPS title. The company was founded by Bret Robbins, former Creative Director for the ‘Call of Duty’ franchise, so it’s understandable why they’ve chosen their first release to be in the shooter genre.

  • Notable releases: None (debut project to be a single-player FPS title)

  • Headquarters: San Rafael, CA

  • Founded: 2018

9. Counterplay Games Inc.

The only remote studio on this list, Counterplay Games is an indie development team of more than 100 members. The company released its first game on November 12, 2020 for the PlayStation 5 and PC, with PlayStation 4 support coming a year later in August of 2021.

  • Notable releases: ‘Godfall’

  • Headquarters: Emeryville, CA (satellite office)

  • Founded: 2013

10. Flying Wild Hog

Flying Wild Hog is a Polish game developer with a focus on producing action-driven titles. Despite not having existed for as long as some of the other companies on this list, it’s already built up an impressive portfolio of games in the action category.

  • Notable releases: ‘Shadow Warrior’ series, ‘Hard Reset’ series, ‘Evil West’

  • Headquarters: Warsaw, Poland

  • Founded: 2009

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Does the sound of working with indie studios that are looking to create the next original hit appeal to you? Check out our full list of job vacancies here to see what’s available.

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