Grand Games: Inside the Istanbul Studio Behind Viral Hybrid‑Casual Mobile Games

Founders and Background

Grand Games was founded in 2024 by three entrepreneurs:

• Bekir Batuhan Çelebi (CEO)
• Mehmet Çalım
• Mustafa Fırtına

The founding team previously worked in the mobile gaming industry and brought experience building successful puzzle games prior to launching the company.

$70M Series B Funding Round

In May 2026, Grand Games secured a $70 million Series B investment, led by Balderton Capital’s Growth Fund.

Additional participants in the round included:

• Bek Ventures
• Laton Ventures
• Mert Gür (angel investor and mobile gaming entrepreneur)

The investment brought the company’s total capital raised to $103 million, achieved within roughly two years of its founding.

Reports also indicate the company’s valuation increased significantly—nearly sixfold compared with its previous round—placing it close to unicorn status.

Popular Mobile Games

Grand Games focuses on puzzle‑driven hybrid‑casual titles. Some of its best‑known games include:

• Magic Sort
• Car Match
• Block Out

These games emphasize quick, satisfying gameplay loops while incorporating deeper progression systems to maintain long‑term engagement.

Early Success and Growth

Despite being founded only in 2024, the company has reported rapid growth:

• More than 50 million downloads worldwide across 200+ countries
• 5× year‑over‑year revenue growth
• Multiple titles running as live games with ongoing updates

Two of the studio’s titles—Magic Sort and Block Out—have also reached the top of the U.S. iOS download charts, demonstrating strong traction in one of the world’s most competitive mobile gaming markets.

To accelerate development, Grand Games organizes its staff into small autonomous game teams, each responsible for creating and scaling new titles.

How the New Funding Will Be Used

The Series B capital will be used to expand the company’s global gaming platform and accelerate growth. Key priorities include:

• Hiring additional developers and expanding the team
• Increasing marketing investment to grow global player acquisition
• Launching new games internationally

These investments are aimed at helping the studio scale its hybrid‑casual gaming strategy and bring more titles to the worldwide mobile market.

Why Investors Are Betting on Grand Games

The mobile gaming market remains one of the largest segments of the global gaming industry, and Turkey has emerged as a hotspot for successful mobile studios. Grand Games’ rapid user growth, early chart‑topping games, and strong revenue momentum have positioned it as one of the country’s most promising gaming startups.

With more funding, additional teams, and a pipeline of new puzzle‑driven titles, the company is aiming to expand its global footprint and compete with established mobile gaming publishers.