History
Why Game Atelier ?
In 2009, a lead artist and a developer reminisced about the games that had shaped their childhoods and stubbornly stuck with them into adulthood. One of them felt Metroidvanias had lost their spark, stuck in pixel art handhelds, and dreamed of bringing 2D gameplay to a big HD screen. The other had just heard Koji Igarashi admit he wasn’t interested in making 2D games on modern platforms. The conclusion was obvious: if Igarashi wouldn’t make a new Castlevania, they would.
So, on June 29, 2010, Fabien Demeulenaere and David Bellanco left Konami and Gameloft to found Game Atelier, with the carefree ambition of reimagining a 2D HD Castlevania.
A goal which, of course, they did not achieve.
The 2D Era, Childhood Revival
Driven by a nostalgia for the colorful chaos of ’80s and ’90s arcades, the two friends set out to create a playful tribute to Parodius. A year later, Flying Hamster was born, developed entirely in David’s apartment, and it didn’t go unnoticed. Quirky, cheeky, and proudly indie, it gave Game Atelier its first recognition on the scene.
Encouraged, they kept going: more ambitious 2D worlds, a sharper style, and even a first taste of publishing. Four years later came Flying Hamster II, inspired by Wonder Boy III: The Dragon’s Trap. A Kickstarter was launched, fans and friends rallied, legendary composers Motoi Sakuraba and Michiru Yamane joined in, and even Ryuichi Nishizawa, the creator of Wonder Boy, lent his support. Personalized press kits were sent out.
And yet… it flopped.
Coverage was scarce, momentum vanished, and inside the studio it felt like a rookie mistake. Fabien and David considered abandoning the campaign altogether. But then, against all odds, two publishers reached out: Atlus and FDG Entertainment. FDG convinced them to keep going, this time together with Nishizawa-san, with an even bolder ambition: to create the official new chapter in the legendary Wonder Boy saga.
The Monster Boy Era
With FDG and Nishizawa-san on board, Game Atelier shifted gears. What had started as Flying Hamster II was reborn with a bigger vision: to create the official sequel to the legendary Wonder Boy series.
The studio had suddenly leveled up. Over the next four years, the team rode a roller coaster of highs and lows, growing more specialized and attracting renowned musicians such as Yuzo Koshiro and Tee Lopes. In 2018, after countless trials, Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom was finally released.
The game was acclaimed by the public, praised by the press, and, above all, it received an unforgettable acknowledgment: one day, the team got a drawing from a 7-year-old girl named Camille, playing on her console with her dad. The message simply said thank you, and that she loved the game.
In that moment, Fabien and David knew they had reached their goal. They had sparked wonder in a child, just as they had once felt at the same age.
Of course, it wasn’t Castlevania. But it exceeded everything they had ever hoped for.
The 3D Era, Embracing New Challenges
With FDG Entertainment, Game Atelier was pushed beyond its comfort zone to take on an ambitious new challenge.
As a commissioned project guided by FDG, Otherskin blended forward-thinking narrative with cutting-edge development tools, a game firmly in step with its time. This leap to 3D wasn’t easy, but it laid a crucial foundation, strengthening the team’s expertise to create even more engaging experiences.
Recently released, Otherskin has just started its journey and is beginning to find its audience.
At that moment, a third former Vivendi colleague joined the duo. She had never been far from the adventure, having created the original design of Flying Hamster and the first character concepts for Monster Boy. FeiBi, an artist who had worked in several game studios, first came in as graphic support. Step by step, her involvement grew, and she eventually became COO of Game Atelier, helping steer the studio with her creative vision and leadership into this new era.
Let's move to the Next Era!
After countless ups and downs, one thing has never changed: our will to create games that surprise, entertain, and spark wonder. With the experience gained from Otherskin, Game Atelier is now channeling its creativity into new original projects, built from the ground up and fully owned by the studio.
This next chapter is about complete creative freedom, led by a team that has grown through every challenge. We may not have achieved Castlevania, but each chapter has brought us closer to telling our own stories.
The next one? 100% Game Atelier. Stay tuned.
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List of Games
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Otherskin
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Monster Boy
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Tiny Death
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Crazy Market
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SunFlowers
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Flying Hamster
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