Mobile Puzzle: Circle Games raises $7.25M
Turkish Studio Circle Games raised $7.25M in our Seed Round, led by BITKRAFT Ventures, with participation from a16z speedrun, Play Ventures, APY Ventures, and e2vc!
The studio’s founding team brings heavyweight experience from Turkey’s mobile giant, Gram Games, Dream Games, and Good Job Games, and is now focused on building premium experiences for the casual puzzle market.
Circle’s debut title, Sort Express, is currently in development and will be scaled globally with this new funding. The studio also plans to launch new puzzle games and expand beyond its 12-person team.
🧠 “We want to double down on our talent and scale our first title,” said CEO Göktürk Balıkcı. “Players today expect better visuals and UX because the casual puzzle space is more competitive than ever. We’re focused on delivering skill-based gameplay and innovating in the later stages of the game to boost long-term retention.”
With Turkish studios historically producing top-performing puzzle hits, Circle Games is leveraging deep local expertise and player insights. Their gameplay strategy includes introducing new mechanics in mid-to-late game phases to keep users engaged beyond the early levels.
Bitkraft Ventures partner Jasper Brand added:
“Circle Games is one of the most promising studios we’ve seen at seed stage. They combine deep domain expertise with a strong game sense, fast shipping velocity, and a clear understanding of how to win in today’s mobile gaming market. With innovation in progression systems, dynamic difficulty, and playable ad strategy, they have all the ingredients to become Turkey’s next major casual gaming success.”
With Sort Express leading the charge, Circle Games is poised to carve out a strong position in the global casual puzzle market.
