Magical Sheep, Cosmic Horror, and VR Cooking: 603,000 Euros for Games from North Rhine-Westphalia

At its most recent meeting, the Digital Games Grant Committee decided to support ten game projects with a total of 602,944 euros. The funded studios and companies are based in Cologne, Düsseldorf, Bergisch Gladbach, Gelsenkirchen, Bochum, and Stolberg. This latest round of funding once again highlights the wide range of game development in North Rhine-Westphalia: from strategic core games and narrative apps to VR experiences for the location-based entertainment market, as well as horror, detective games, cozy games, and socially reflective multiplayer strategy games—it’s all there.

When board game strategy meets children’s book magic

With the highest individual grant of 191,978 euros, Bellfrost by Laserbread from Cologne is receiving support. The project is aimed at core strategy gamers and combines roguelike city-builder mechanics with the strategic placement of buildings in the style of classic board games. The game is complemented by real-time exploration in a dark, ice-covered fantasy world.

Also from Cologne is *Jeppe & Oswald*—a picture-book-style elf app by Dully&Dax, funded with 100,000 euros. The app is based on the children’s book IP “Jeppe & Oswald” and is set to be developed as an international co-production. The story centers on the elf Jeppe, who, together with Oswald the hamster and Runkel the female elf, overcomes various challenges to pass his exam to become a house elf.

Horror Meets Detective Instinct

Several funded projects focus on suspense, atmosphere, and narrative depth. “Hope Voiden” by Stilbruch Games from Stolberg received 83,215.46 euros. This first-person survival horror game takes players to an abandoned frontline and combines a surreal war zone with cosmic horror and a clear gameplay mechanic: each character has only one life.

“Mit Steinenbrück / Stonebridge” by GoraGames from Cologne is another horror project receiving 26,750 euros in funding. The first-person horror adventure is being developed in Unreal Engine 5 and is set in an abandoned mining settlement in the Bergisches Land region. The focus is on psychological horror, environmental storytelling, and the uncovering of conspiracies, occult rituals, and tragic fates.

*The Silence Between* by Fantastic Foe from Bergisch Gladbach is receiving 50,000 euros. The episodic game focuses entirely on interrogations in an interrogation room. Players must question suspects, interpret clues, detect lies, and elicit confessions.

MicroMacro: Missing Links by Soft Boiled Games from Düsseldorf is also receiving 50,000 euros in funding. The project builds on the successful MicroMacro series and expands the hidden-object and investigation mechanics with an “Evidence Board,” on which players must reconstruct identities, relationships, and connections.

Chaos, Crafting, Coziness

For the location-based entertainment market, Holocafe Franchise GmbH from Düsseldorf is developing “Ramen Chef,” which has received 24,000 euros in funding. This 20-minute cooperative VR chaos cooking game transports up to four players into a virtual Japanese ramen kitchen, where communication, division of labor, and quick reactions are crucial.

“Shepherd’s Glade” by Playground Pigeon from Cologne, a cozy game, is receiving 12,000 euros in funding. Players take on the role of a magical herding dog living in an enchanted clearing who, together with a forest witch, protects a flock of magical sheep from Fey wolves and other creatures.

“Smithereens” by Pascal Pieper & Mare Holzapfel GbR from Gelsenkirchen is receiving 15,000 euros. The game centers on a puzzle-crafting concept: Players take on the role of a blacksmith, accept commissions from townspeople, and craft everyday items, armor, or weapons as needed. The quality of the craftsmanship directly influences the reward.

Media Literacy as a Survival Strategy

“Zero World – Varnish of Civilization” by kgi from Bochum, a multiplayer survival strategy game, is receiving 50,000 euros in funding. The setting is the fictional German village of Kleinachbach, where survival is only possible through trade, cooperation, or social manipulation. Rumors, break-ins, and a manipulated news feed turn virality into a game mechanic and media literacy into a survival strategy.

Overview of Funding Decisions for Digital Games and Immersive Content

Production Funding

Bellfrost Applicant: Laserbread GbR, Cologne Funding: 191,978.88 euros A roguelike city-builder set in a dark, ice-covered fantasy world.

Jeppe & Oswald – a picture-book-style elf app Applicant: Dully&Dax, Cologne Funding: 100,000.00 euros Narrative app based on the children’s book IP “Jeppe & Oswald.”

Vertical-Slice Funding

In Hope Voiden Applicant: Stilbruch Games UG, Stolberg Funding: 83,215.46 euros First-person survival horror set in a surreal war zone.

Ramen Chef Applicant: Holocafe Franchise GmbH, Düsseldorf Funding: 24,000.00 euros Cooperative VR chaos cooking game for the LBE market.

Early-Stage Funding

The Silence Between Applicant: Fantastic Foe UG (limited liability), Bergisch Gladbach Funding: 50,000.00 euros An episodic interrogation game focusing on lies, evidence, and confessions.

MicroMacro: Missing Links Applicant: Soft Boiled Games GmbH, Düsseldorf Funding: 50,000.00 euros A deductive investigation and hidden-object game based on the MicroMacro series.

Zero World – Varnish of Civilization Applicant: kgi/GbR, Bochum Funding: 50,000.00 euros Multiplayer survival strategy game about cooperation, manipulation, and media mechanics.

Steinenbrück / Stonebridge Applicant: GoraGames, Cologne Funding: 26,750.00 euros First-person horror adventure set in an abandoned mining settlement in the Bergisches Land region.

Smithereens Applicant: Pascal Pieper & Mare Holzapfel GbR, Gelsenkirchen Funding: 15,000.00 euros A puzzle-crafting game about craftsmanship, quests, and crafting strategies.

Shepherd’s Glade Applicant: Playground Pigeon, Cologne Funding: 12,000.00 euros A cozy game about a magical herding dog, a forest witch, and a flock of magical sheep.