LVL Zero, a gaming incubator backed by MIXI Global Investments, Nazara Technologies, and Chimera VC, has unveiled the first cohort of startups emerging from its program. The initiative highlights a developing trend among Indian developers towards creating narrative-driven PC and console experiences for international audiences.
The program has spotlighted three studios: Kyrel Games, Trojan Productions, and Wrought Studios. These teams are developing story-driven titles that prioritize immersive storytelling, psychological depth, and emotional resonance over traditional fast-paced mobile formats.
Shifting Focus in Indian Gaming
Traditionally, India’s gaming landscape has been largely dominated by mobile-first development and hypercasual games. The emergence of studios within the LVL Zero (https://www.lvlzero.xyz/) cohort signals a strategic shift towards more premium, original intellectual property tailored for PC and console platforms.
Sagar Nair, Head of Incubation at LVL Zero, commented on this evolution, stating, “What stands out across these studios is that they are not building around trends or replication. They are building around emotion, atmosphere, and player experience. For a long time, Indian game development was heavily associated with mobile-first mechanics and engagement loops, but we are now seeing founders think much more deeply about storytelling, immersion, and globally resonant experiences.”
Featured Studios and Their Titles
Kyrel Games is an eight-member studio developing PHi: The Broken Strings, a narrative-driven 3D puzzle platformer for PC and console. The game is set within a puppet universe and explores themes such as fear, grief, control, and acceptance through environmental storytelling and gameplay metaphors. Mani Ghadi, Co-Founder of Kyrel Games, noted, “The game is about living inside the emotional world of a puppet master through puppets and environments that embody different psychological states. Instead of telling emotions directly, we turn them into spaces, characters, and interactions.”
Trojan Productions, a five-member indie studio, is building Trox: The Reversal, a narrative psychological horror experience. Set in a post-nuclear world inspired by brutalist architecture and social horror, the game aims to create “humane horror” rooted in isolation, systemic issues, morality, and survival rather than conventional jump scares. Vinil Verghese, Co-Founder of Trojan Productions, explained, “We want players to feel a constant sense of unease, uncertainty, and emotional conflict. The horror comes not just from fear, but from the world, its systems, and the choices people are forced to make to survive.”
Wrought Studios, a three-member team, is developing Last Day Lockdown, a narrative escape-room experience confined to a corporate office setting. The game explores themes of nostalgia, change, and the emotional complexities of moving on through immersive storytelling and mystery-driven gameplay. “The office is a universal setting, and the experience of farewell is something players around the world can relate to. We wanted to build a game that captures the emotional complexity of letting go,” said Kunal Negi, Co-Founder of Wrought Studios.
LVL Zero’s Role in Ecosystem Development
LVL Zero’s 100-day incubation program provides mentorship, ecosystem partnerships, publishing readiness, and operational support. The incubator collaborates with partners including Google Play, ID@Xbox, AppsFlyer, Gameramp, Lysto, and Sentient, aiming to address execution gaps within India’s nascent premium gaming industry.
This shift underscores a significant transition for India’s gaming market, moving beyond merely consuming games to actively creating globally competitive and critically acclaimed gaming experiences, contributing to broader latest gaming industry insights (https://technosports.co.in/).
