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Kiloo
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Kiloo
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Kiloo Games (commonly known as Kiloo and stylized in all caps) was a Danish video game developer. It was founded in 2000 by Jacob Møller,[2] with a focus on developing entertainment content for game console and handheld devices. In 2008, he was joined by his brother, Simon Møller. Together, they both ran Kiloo until it closed down in 2023.

Key Information

Kiloo's best known game, Subway Surfers, was released in the spring of 2012 and was developed in cooperation with SYBO Games. A few weeks after its release, the free running game for iOS was named Game of the Week for 31 May 2012 by AppAdvice.[3] In September, the game made its way to Android and gathered even more enthusiastic players.[4] One month after the Android release, Subway Surfers made it into the top 20 growing Facebook apps by monthly active users.[5] In July 2014, the game exceeded five hundred million downloads across all platforms. In September 2015, the download numbers reached 1 billion.[6]

History

[edit]

Kiloo was founded in 2000, in a small apartment in Aarhus, Denmark, as a two-person company. In 2002, the partnership dissolved and Kiloo changed into a private company. In the same year, Kiloo won the Nokia Mobile Challenge in the games category[7] ahead of 500 competing companies, with their game Popstar, built on a Tamagotchi-like concept of managing the career and basic needs of an upcoming pop music star.

Kiloo later entered an agreement with THQ Wireless to develop the game Worms for mobile.[8] KILOO also cooperated with ITE on the development and distribution of mobile content based on the TV and game character Hugo.[9] By 2004, the Hugo games had been bought by 1 million people.

Between 2006 and 2009, Kiloo had the exclusive mobile rights for the Lego brand worldwide.[10] In 2007, Kiloo broke into Børsen's "Fast Track 100", which placed it in the league of Denmark's fastest growing private companies. In the same year, Kiloo acquired the exclusive rights for Whac-a-Mole worldwide with reference to developing and selling Whac-a-Mole mobile content.[11] In 2008, Kiloo raised capital from Danish VC FirmaInvest for further growth.[12]

In 2008, Kiloo started developing mobile applications alongside game development. These include: Issuu Mobile, a magazine reader for iPhone;[13] JokeToons, an animated videocontent for iPhone; and games licensed from Wham-O.[14] In 2009, Kiloo licensed the full suite of Wham-O rights for mobile (HackySack, SuperBall, Frisbee and Hula Hoop), which so far has resulted in Frisbee Forever and Frisbee Forever 2.[15] In 2010, Kiloo Games announced a new original IP called Zoonies - Escape from Makatu for Nintendo DSiWare. It was sponsored by the New Danish Screen.[16] In 2011, Kiloo released Frisbee Forever[17] and BulletTime HD.[18] In 2012, the endless running game Subway Surfers[19] was released in co-production with Sybo Games, and Kiloo continued the series with Frisbee Forever 2.[20]

In early 2020, Kiloo stopped working on Subway Surfers.[21] In June 2023, Kiloo had laid off its staff and closed doors.[22]

Kiloo Groups

[edit]

In 2013, Kiloo Group was founded by integrating three subsidiary companies in the Kiloo family: Manatee, Katoni, and GivingTales.

Manatee

[edit]

The company was established in 2012, and focuses on apps development. Customers include McDonald's Denmark.[23] The McDonald's Coinoffers app was developed in cooperation with DDB Copenhagen. The campaign, including the app, won gold and silver in the categories “Integrated Campaigns”, “Events & Digital Events”, “Digital Campaigns” and “Brand Driven Apps & Utilities” at the CCA 2012.[24][25] The campaign won also a Bronze Lion in the category “Best Integrated Campaign Led by Mobile” at Cannes Lions 2012 and another Bronze Lion in the category “Best Use of Integrated Media”.[26][24]

Katoni

[edit]

Katoni ApS was established in 2014 and specializes in the development of online shopping portals. In June 2014, Katoni launched Katoni.dk,[27] a shopping portal for fashion. In 2016, Katoni expanded to Norway (Katoni.no) and in 2017 to Finland (Katoni.fi).

GivingTales

[edit]

GivingTales was a cooperation between Kiloo and evershift. The project was established in 2012 to develop an app with versions of popular Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales for children. The tales are narrated by actors and celebrities. The app was developed in Budapest (Hungary), and it was released in June 2015, on App Store, Google Play Store and Windows Phone 8 Store with the following stories:

List of games

[edit]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Kiloo

View on Grokipedia
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Kiloo Games was a Danish video game development studio specializing in mobile and web-based casual games, founded in 2000 by Jacob Møller and his brother Simon Møller and based in Aarhus. The company began as a small two-person operation and transitioned to a private entity in 2002, achieving early recognition by winning the Nokia Mobile Challenge that same year against over 500 competitors. Over its 23-year history, Kiloo developed a portfolio of titles including Bullet Time (2011), Frisbee Forever (2011), Smash Champs (2014), and Stormblades (2015), often collaborating with brands such as LEGO (holding exclusive mobile rights from 2006 to 2009), Hugo the Troll, and Worms. Kiloo's most prominent achievement was co-developing the Subway Surfers with Games, launched in 2012, which amassed over 4 billion downloads worldwide by 2023 and marked Kiloo's involvement until 2020 when assumed sole responsibility. The studio also created original properties like , Spellbinders, and adaptations for franchises including and Kane & Lynch: Dead Men. In June 2023, Kiloo announced its shutdown, laying off its approximately 100 employees amid challenges in the mobile gaming industry, effectively ending operations after more than two decades.

Company Overview

Founding and Location

Kiloo was founded in 2000 in , , by Jacob Møller as a company. The company originated with a primary emphasis on creating entertainment content for emerging digital platforms, marking the beginning of its operations in the nascent mobile gaming sector. From its inception, Kiloo, operating under the name Kiloo Games, targeted the development of casual and family-friendly titles for early mobile technologies, including WAP, , and Java-based systems prevalent on devices like phones. This focus positioned the company at the forefront of mobile during the early , when such platforms were gaining traction among consumers. Throughout its history, Kiloo maintained its headquarters in , , without any reported relocations, serving as the central hub for its development activities.

Leadership and Operations

Kiloo was led by founder Jacob Møller, who served as the company's CEO since its inception in 2000. His brother, Simon Møller, joined in as a key executive, eventually taking on the role of , contributing to creative direction and strategic decisions. Together, the Møller brothers oversaw the company's operations until its closure in 2023. At its peak in the mid-2010s, Kiloo employed approximately 100 staff members, primarily dedicated to development. The team was structured around agile development practices, with roles spanning programming, art, design, and to support rapid iteration on game titles. Kiloo's core business model centered on s monetized through in-app purchases, allowing users to access basic gameplay at no cost while offering premium features and for revenue generation. In 2013, the company diversified into additional apps and ventures through its subsidiaries, such as integrating shopping portal Katoni for fashion retail alongside app developers and GivingTales. The company positioned itself in the mobile gaming industry by specializing in casual, kid-friendly titles optimized for and Android platforms, emphasizing accessible endless runners and puzzle games that appealed to broad audiences. This focus enabled Kiloo to achieve significant scale, with hits like driving substantial revenue growth.

Historical Development

Early Years (2000–2010)

Kiloo was established in 2000 in , , initially as a small two-person operation focused on developing entertainment content for emerging mobile platforms. The company quickly gained recognition through its early projects targeting Java-enabled devices, navigating the constraints of rudimentary hardware like low-resolution screens and limited memory that defined the nascent mobile gaming landscape. These foundational efforts laid the groundwork for Kiloo's expertise in porting and creating compact, engaging titles suited to feature phones. A pivotal moment came in 2002 when Kiloo won the entertainment category of the Mobile Challenge with Popstar, a management simulation game where players nurture a virtual pop star's career, akin to a Tamagotchi-style experience. This victory, awarded among over 500 entries, marked Kiloo's first major industry acknowledgment and highlighted its innovative approach to interactive mobile content. The win boosted the company's visibility and secured partnerships, establishing it as a reliable developer in the competitive early mobile market. The Hugo series emerged as a key milestone in 2004, with Kiloo developing licensed mobile adaptations of the popular Scandinavian troll character from the interactive TV show. Titles like Hugo: Black Diamond Fever 2 and Hugo: Ice Cave emphasized quick, puzzle-based gameplay optimized for mobile constraints, achieving over 1 million by that year and demonstrating Kiloo's strength in licensed content. This success solidified the company's reputation for delivering reliable, entertaining experiences that resonated with European audiences. From 2006 to 2009, Kiloo secured exclusive worldwide mobile rights for Lego, leading to themed games such as LEGO Brick Breaker, a breakout-style arcade title developed in partnership with TT Publishing. The company also collaborated with THQ Wireless on Java-based ports, including the 2004 mobile adaptation of Worms, which retained the turn-based strategy core of the original while adapting it to touchless controls and small screens. These projects underscored Kiloo's adeptness at console-to-mobile transitions amid technological hurdles like inconsistent device compatibility, contributing to modest but steady growth in the decade's latter half. As the company expanded, it began forming subsidiaries to support broader operations.

Growth and Peak Achievements (2010–2020)

Kiloo's growth during the 2010s was markedly accelerated by its co-development of with Games, launched on May 24, , as a for and later Android. In this partnership, SYBO focused on character designs, animations, sound, and core gameplay mechanics, while Kiloo handled , integration, server management, and to leverage its expertise in free-to-play mobile models with a 50/50 revenue split. The game quickly gained traction, achieving 130 million downloads by early 2013 and ranking among the top 25 grossing titles in the U.S., often entering the top 10. By September 2015, had surpassed 1 billion downloads worldwide, establishing it as a top-grossing and one of the most downloaded mobile games in history. The collaboration between Kiloo and continued through regular content updates, including new characters, hoverboards, and themed worlds, sustaining the game's momentum until Kiloo's involvement ended in 2020. generated over $80 million in revenue by 2018 and contributed to the game's lifetime earnings exceeding $165 million, underscoring Kiloo's peak as a leading mobile studio with 25 million daily active users and retention rates triple the industry average (91% on day 1, 81% on week 1, and 60% on month 1 for ). The title's success was bolstered by frequent and features, enhancing its global visibility and driving Kiloo's expansion into diversified mobile publishing. Complementing Subway Surfers, Kiloo's Frisbee Forever series, starting with the original in 2011 and followed by Frisbee Forever 2 in 2012, achieved notable success with physics-based gameplay praised for its intuitive controls and vibrant worlds, amassing over 40 million downloads across titles like and the series. In 2015, Kiloo released Stormblades, an action RPG co-developed with Emerald City Games, featuring hack-and-slash mechanics inspired by titles like and emphasizing skill-based combat in a fantasy setting. These hits diversified Kiloo's portfolio, reinforcing its reputation for engaging, monetization-friendly mobile experiences during its most prosperous decade.

Decline and Closure (2020–2023)

In early 2020, Kiloo ended its long-standing collaboration with Games on , the mobile that had been co-developed since 2012, with SYBO assuming full operational and publishing responsibilities thereafter. This separation marked a pivotal shift for Kiloo, which redirected efforts toward independent projects, including the release of MetroLand in March 2022, a new featuring futuristic urban environments and offline progression mechanics. Despite this pivot, Kiloo's output remained limited amid broader industry challenges. The studio's decline unfolded against a backdrop of escalating economic pressures in the mobile gaming sector, including rising development costs, investor pullbacks, and a post-pandemic market correction that triggered widespread layoffs and closures throughout 2023. Kiloo continued supporting existing titles, such as providing updates to Stormblades, its 2015 action RPG, and releasing minor updates to other portfolio games like Smash Champs, but these efforts failed to reverse declining revenues or stabilize operations. In June 2023, Kiloo laid off its more than 55 employees, effectively ceasing all operations by July without an official company statement on the underlying financial or strategic reasons. Following the closure, Kiloo's and assets, including titles like MetroLand and Stormblades, have remained largely dormant, with no reported revival or full-scale acquisitions as of 2025, though select partnerships enabled a console of MetroLand in 2024.

Organizational Structure

Formation of Kiloo Group

In 2013, one year after the release of the hit mobile game , Kiloo restructured its operations to establish the Kiloo Group as an umbrella entity. This involved merging the core game development arm with emerging subsidiaries to create a unified holding structure under Kiloo Ventures A/S. The formation aimed to diversify Kiloo's portfolio beyond gaming, capitalizing on its mobile expertise to venture into app development, , and charitable digital products. This strategic shift sought to sustain long-term growth by broadening revenue streams while maintaining the company's primary emphasis on game creation. Under the Kiloo Group, oversight extended to three key subsidiaries: , focused on general mobile applications; Katoni, a shopping portal for ; and GivingTales, which produced interactive story apps with proceeds donated to charities such as .

Subsidiary Companies

Kiloo Group integrated three key subsidiaries to diversify beyond gaming, focusing on mobile applications, , and charitable initiatives. These entities—Manatee, Katoni, and GivingTales—were brought under the group's umbrella in the early , enabling Kiloo to explore non-gaming revenue sources such as branded apps and online retail. Manatee, founded in 2012, specialized in developing branded mobile applications and utility tools for corporate clients. The company created promotional apps, including the Coinoffers application, which facilitated coin-based offers and campaigns. By leveraging Kiloo's mobile expertise, Manatee produced targeted digital solutions that extended brand interactions into everyday consumer experiences, contributing to diversified income through partnerships with major retailers. Katoni, founded and integrated in 2014, operated as an online shopping portal emphasizing mobile e-commerce across Scandinavia. It launched platforms in Denmark (Katoni.dk), Norway (Katoni.no in 2016), and Finland (Katoni.fi in 2017), offering fashion and affiliate-based products with SEO-optimized tools for user discovery. As a subsidiary, Katoni harnessed Kiloo's technological infrastructure to build subscription-based ranking services and hypermarket features, fostering growth in regional digital retail and generating revenue from commissions and advertising. GivingTales, established in 2012 and launched in as a charitable venture, developed interactive mobile applications featuring illustrated adaptations of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales. Narrated by celebrities such as , , and , the apps included engaging elements like music, , and quizzes to promote and core values among children. Proceeds from in-app purchases were donated to , supporting global children's education and welfare initiatives, with GivingTales serving as a socially responsible extension of Kiloo's app development capabilities. The integration of these subsidiaries broadened Kiloo's portfolio, providing stable revenue streams outside volatile gaming markets and enhancing the group's reputation in mobile innovation.

Games and Products

Notable Games

Kiloo's most prominent title, , co-developed with Games and released in 2012, revolutionized the genre on mobile platforms with its simple yet addictive involving graffiti artists evading a train inspector through urban environments. The game featured vibrant graphics, power-ups, and global city-themed updates that kept it fresh, amassing over 4.5 billion downloads as of 2025 and establishing it as a cultural phenomenon with merchandise and cross-media adaptations. Its success stemmed from a model emphasizing in-app purchases for cosmetics and boosts, alongside cross-platform availability on , Android, and later consoles, which broadened its reach beyond mobile users. The Frisbee Forever series, launched with the original in 2011 and its sequel in 2012, showcased Kiloo's early expertise in physics-based casual gaming, where players navigated flying discs through obstacle-filled levels inspired by real-world landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge. Praised for its intuitive controls and accessibility to all ages, the series incorporated multiplayer modes and leaderboards, fostering social competition while maintaining a lighthearted tone; Frisbee Forever 2 expanded this with enhanced visuals and more diverse environments, contributing to Kiloo's reputation for polished, family-friendly titles. These games adopted a freemium structure with optional in-app purchases for additional levels, and ports to web and console platforms extended their longevity. Stormblades, released in 2015 in collaboration with Emerald City Games, marked Kiloo's venture into action-oriented RPGs, featuring hack-and-slash combat in arena-style battles against mythical foes within a post-apocalyptic world. Players progressed by upgrading weapons and gear through relic collection and PvP duels, with the model relying on for faster progression via premium items, which drew both acclaim for its fluid swipe-based controls and criticism for pay-to-win elements. The game's high production values, including cinematic animations, helped it achieve millions of downloads, solidifying Kiloo's diversification from runners to combat genres while supporting on mobile devices. As one of Kiloo's final releases before its 2023 closure, (2022) paid homage to the company's legacy with a subway-themed incorporating elements like jumps and underground dives to evade corporate enforcers in dystopian cities, with console and PC ports released in October 2024 by QUByte Interactive. Emphasizing offline progression and quick sessions, it utilized a framework with cosmetic microtransactions, though it received mixed reviews for lacking the innovation of predecessors like .

Complete List of Titles

Kiloo developed approximately 25 games between 2001 and 2022, with a primary emphasis on mobile platforms including J2ME for early Java phones, iOS, Android, and later console ports. The company's titles often featured licensed properties in the initial years, transitioning to original endless runners, action, and puzzle games in later periods. The following table provides a chronological enumeration of key titles, including release years, primary platforms, and notes on co-developments or ports where applicable. This inventory focuses exclusively on games directly credited to Kiloo as the lead developer.
TitleRelease YearPrimary PlatformsNotes
Hugo: Black Diamond Fever2001J2ME, Part of the Hugo series; licensed property.
Oil Rig2002J2MEOriginal arcade title.
Hugo Goes Fishing2003J2MEHugo series entry.
Hugo in the Snow2003J2MEHugo series entry.
Hugo in the Xmas Snow2003J2MESeasonal Hugo variant.
Hugo: Follow the Monkey2003J2MEHugo series entry.
Popstar2004Mobile (J2ME)Puzzle game.
Alltime Ski Jumping2004J2MESports simulation.
Apocalypse 30002004J2MEAction shooter.
Hugo: Black Diamond Fever 22004J2MESequel in Hugo series.
Worms2004J2ME, ExEnMobile port of licensed strategy series.
2005J2MELicensed action game.
Maya the Bee and Friends2006Mobile (J2ME)Licensed adventure.
Terminator Revenge2006J2MELicensed action title.
LEGO Bionicle Challenge2007J2MELicensed puzzle-action.
2008J2MESequel to LEGO Bionicle Challenge.
Jupiter Lander2008J2MEArcade simulation.
Zenses: Rainforest2010iPhonePuzzle-relaxation game.
2011iOS, AndroidSports endless flyer; series starter.
Zoonies: Escape from Makatu2011Platform adventure.
2012iOS, Android, WindowsCo-developed with SYBO Games; endless runner. Ports to consoles including .
Smash Champs2014iOS, AndroidAction brawler.
Stormblades2015iOS, Android, WindowsAction RPG. Ports to consoles.
Dawnbringer2016iOS, AndroidOpen-world RPG.
2016iOS, Android card battler.
Dragons & Diamonds2017iOS, AndroidMatch-3 RPG.
2022, , Series, iOS, AndroidEndless runner; console ports.

References

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  4. https://tracxn.com/d/companies/kiloo/__jeEwD-LVr_3UHS4HP4DhvU35AqUhEe2UW8JGuH88uRM
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  6. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/kiloo
  7. https://www.forbes.com/sites/danieltack/2013/03/07/kiloos-subway-surfers-making-mobile-waves/
  8. https://cphpost.dk/2016-01-22/news/business/danish-game-the-worlds-most-downloaded-in-2015/
  9. https://www.gamesbrief.com/2012/06/how-kiloo-sybo-built-and-launched-a-hit-ios-game-in-6-months/
  10. https://techcrunch.com/2013/03/09/kiloo-subway-surfers/
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  13. https://www.mobygames.com/company/7409/kiloo-aps/
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  24. https://www.gamespress.com/KILOO-Launches-New-Endless-Runner-Game-MetroLand
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  26. https://gameworldobserver.com/2023/06/15/kiloo-games-closure-layoffs-23-years-subway-surfers
  27. https://www.gamespress.com/Metroland-Launches-October-17th-on-Steam-Xbox-Switch-and-PlayStation
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  48. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kiloo.dawnbringer
  49. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kiloo.spellbinders
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  51. https://www.mobygames.com/game/241962/metroland/
  52. https://play.google.com/store/apps/dev?id=5062298237373103345
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