The New Zealand Game Developers Association (NZGDA) recently disclosed that total pre-tax revenue for the industry rose to NZ$759.57 million over the past two years.
This 38.6 percent increase looked unlikely in previous years, but indie developers in New Zealand have been putting their best foot forward.
Studios have been supported with funds, mentorship programs and a community mindset. Their creations have become a big hit at gaming showcase events such as PAX Australia.
Government-Powered Momentum: Funding and Mentorship
New Zealand’s government-backed Centre of Digital Excellence (Code) is one of the primary drivers behind this indie renaissance.
Code offers mentorship, business training and guidance across important areas, including marketing, budgeting and global publishing. They provide comprehensive support that allows start-up studios to compete internationally.
Between 2024-2025, Code awarded around NZ$960,000 to 13 studios. The Kiwi government pledged to more than double that figure this year.
The impact is already being felt. Supported by Code, Deep Field Games, developers of Abiotic Factor, have sold more than 1.4 million copies on PC alone.
Code is helping smaller companies compete on the global stage without relying on major publishers.
Creative Diversity: What Makes Kiwi Games Stand Out
Titles such as Headlice, a comedic horror-punk title, and How Was Your Day?, a time loop game about a girl searching for her missing dog, are just a few examples of NZ’s distinctive creativity.
Middle Management, a satirical take on office life, and other captivatingly quirky games with local touches, also generated a massive buzz at PAX.
Government support allows indie developers to experiment and be creative. There is also a sense of camaraderie between studios. They share contacts, ideas and resources to help each other out. This community mindset encourages risk-taking, creativity, and diversity.
The dozens of games currently listed by the NZGDA for PC release pale in comparison to the thousands released across the globe every year.
However, Kiwi games are clearly punching above their weight thanks to their originality and ability to slice in local flavour.
Why the Timing Could Get Even Better: Regulation and Opportunity
The spotlight on indie game development in New Zealand has come just when the country is about to establish a regulatory framework for its online gambling industry.
Indie developers could tap into the iGaming sector to expand their growth opportunities. With online gambling poised to become more nuanced, indie gaming investors and creatives could extend themselves into digital casino games.
It is also an opportunity for talented creatives looking for a new branch in the world of interactive entertainment to explore. They will benefit from the infrastructure already in place and the international attention NZ games are enjoying.
Kiwis looking for the best online casino in New Zealand will naturally gravitate towards those with entertaining titles and content from the indie sector. In that sense, the emergence of a regulatory framework for casinos could further spur the already thriving indie games sector.
A Glimpse Abroad: How New Zealand’s Growth Compares to the United States
To put New Zealand’s success into a global context, it is prudent to consider the scale of the United States gaming market.
According to Statista, the US games market is expected to reach US$141.84 billion in 2025, dwarfing New Zealand’s total (US$431.1m), not just in commercial volume but in maturity and capacity.
In the US, AAA publishers, console giants, mobile game conglomerates and live-service platforms dominate the scene. However, the rise of indie titles on platforms such as Steam shows that the creative, smaller studios will always be in the mix.
A 2024 report from VG Insights found that indie games earned about US$4 billion on Steam between January and September, 48% of full-game revenue on the platform.
With those numbers, indie games can comfortably hang with AA/AAA titles. They are a fundamental part of the international gaming ecosystem.
New Zealand’s indie developers are now an increasingly prominent part of that ecosystem too. They may be small in number, but they are incredibly formidable in creativity and reach.
