Circle Games raises $25m in Series A led by Tencent

As initially reported by SwipeLine, Circle Games has outlined clear strategic objectives for the capital. The studio plans to leverage the fresh funds to introduce its recently released title, Jelly Escape, to a wider array of international markets while simultaneously fueling the global expansion and live-ops scaling of its established hit, Sort Express. Beyond product reach, the company is positioning itself for substantial operational growth, with concrete plans to at least double its current employee count and aggressively expand its broader product portfolio with innovative mobile game offerings.

Circle Games first made waves with the global release of its maiden puzzle title, Sort Express. Throughout the development lifecycle of that project, the team concentrated heavily on refining the core user experience and leveraging advanced data analysis to optimize player retention and engagement. That meticulous approach to game design has now paid major dividends, catching the eye of some of the most influential venture capital firms and strategic investors in the global interactive entertainment sector.

Expanding the portfolio

Reflecting on the milestone, Circle Games co-founder and CEO Göktürk Balıkçı отметил that the performance of Sort Express validated the studio’s foundational design philosophy. According to Balıkçı, the game demonstrated that the team possessed the right methodology for tackling the intensely competitive puzzle genre, and the new Series A capital will provide the necessary resources to scale that methodology across future titles.

"In order to be successful in the puzzle genre, it is necessary to establish the details correctly and not to lose that care as the game grows," said Circle Games co-founder and CEO Göktürk Balıkçı. "Sort Express showed us that we had the right approach."

Balıkçı emphasized that the credit for the studio’s rapid ascent belongs entirely to its internal talent pool, noting a steadfast commitment to quality assurance and creative integrity. "The real owner of this success is our team, which does not publish any work that it is not proud of," he added. "With Tencent leading this round and continuing the support of our investors, who have been with us since day one, we have the resources to take this approach much further."

Looking ahead, Balıkçı outlined a vision for organizational culture and regional industry leadership that places human capital at the forefront. "We aim to grow our team with people who set the same bar for themselves and make Circle Games one of the most successful game studios to come out of Turkey."

The Series A round saw strong participation from Circle Games’ existing backers, reflecting continued confidence in the studio’s long-term commercial potential and creative vision. Returning investors include e2vc, BITKRAFT Ventures, APY Ventures, and a16z Speedrun. This broad base of institutional support underlines the strong momentum the studio has maintained since its inception, particularly following its previous $7.25 million seed funding round, which was successfully completed in July 2025.

With Tencent now steering the investment vehicle alongside its seasoned early-stage backers, Circle Games enters its next corporate chapter with a fortified balance sheet and an ambitious roadmap. As the studio works toward doubling its workforce in Istanbul and accelerating the global deployment of titles like Jelly Escape and Sort Express, all eyes will remain on how this emerging developer scales its operations to become a leading force within the international mobile gaming landscape.