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Top Game Development Companies in Ireland

Updated 6 August 2026 · 1 min read · 10 companies

Written byNuala Canning

Ireland's game sector is bigger than most people expect, and most of it does not make its own games. The largest studios here work in co-development on other publishers' titles. A smaller group develops original IP, usually funded and owned by themselves rather than available for hire.

What to look for in a game studio

  • Original IP or co-development. It determines whether the studio can take your project at all.
  • Shipped credits. Ask what they shipped and exactly what they did on it. Games credits are specific and checkable.
  • Team scale against scope. Two people and 999 people are both on this list.
  • Who owns the engine work. Tools and technology built during a project can be retained by the studio unless the contract says otherwise.

Scope creep is worse in games than in any other software category, because the product is judged on feel rather than function. Agree what "done" means in writing before development starts.

  1. 1. Black Shamrock - A Virtuos studio

    Best for AAA co-development

    Location
    Dublin, Ireland
    Team size
    50 - 249
    Founded
    2015

    Dublin studio founded in 2015 and the largest AAA game development operation in Ireland, working in co-development on major titles as part of the Virtuos group.

  2. 2. Magic Media

    Best for large multi-discipline production

    Location
    Dublin, Ireland
    Team size
    250 - 999
    Founded
    2016

    International gaming and entertainment group of 250 to 999 people based in 14 countries, founded in 2016. The largest organisation on this list.

  3. 3. Whimsy Games Group LTD

    Best for full-cycle and porting work

    Location
    Bailieborough, Ireland
    Rating
    4.9 (32 reviews)
    Team size
    50 - 249
    Hourly rate
    $25 - $49
    Founded
    2016

    Bailieborough studio of 50 to 249 people founded in 2016, with a portfolio of more than 100 games. Covers full-cycle production, co-development, porting and post-launch support across mobile and PC. Holds 32 verified reviews at 4.9, the strongest review evidence here.

  4. 4. Vela Games

    Best for original multiplayer game development

    Location
    Dublin, Ireland
    Team size
    2 - 9
    Hourly rate
    < $25
    Founded
    2017

    Independent Dublin studio founded in 2017 developing original multiplayer games.

  5. 5. Boon Studios Ltd.

    Best for original mobile games

    Location
    Dublin, Ireland
    Team size
    10 - 49
    Hourly rate
    $25 - $49
    Founded
    2015

    Independent Dublin studio founded in 2015 focused on original mobile games, built from the ground up as a small team.

  6. 6. Pewter Games Studios

    Best for narrative-driven original IP

    Location
    Dublin, Ireland
    Team size
    2 - 9
    Hourly rate
    $25 - $49
    Founded
    2013

    Award-winning independent Dublin studio formed in 2013 with a narrative-driven approach and several original properties developed to date.

  7. 7. Cyrex Ltd.

    Best for game and application security

    Location
    Dublin, Ireland
    Rating
    5.0 (1 review)
    Team size
    50 - 249
    Founded
    2015

    Dublin firm of 50 to 249 people founded in 2015, working on developing and securing applications, which puts it closer to security engineering than game production. One verified review at five stars.

  8. 8. TADCO

    Best for app development with game elements

    Location
    Galway, Ireland
    Team size
    10 - 49
    Hourly rate
    $25 - $49
    Founded
    2017

    Galway app development company founded in 2017 with a global development team.

  9. 9. ORB Media

    Best for interactive commerce experiences

    Location
    Dublin, Ireland
    Team size
    10 - 49

    Dublin firm running an interactive platform for ecommerce engagement and consumer data rather than games in the conventional sense.

  10. 10. Squareroot solutions

    Best for cost-effective mobile builds

    Location
    Dublin, Ireland
    Team size
    10 - 49
    Hourly rate
    < $25
    Founded
    2016

    Dublin firm founded in 2016 developing mobile applications with a focus on cost-effective delivery.

Frequently asked questions

How much does game development cost in Ireland?
No Irish studio publishes rates, and game budgets vary by orders of magnitude. A small mobile title and a co-developed AAA contract are not comparable products. Studios quote on scope, and scope in games expands more than in any other software category.
What is co-development in games?
It means working on someone else's title, usually a publisher's, taking on art, engineering or porting rather than owning the game. Ireland's largest studio works this way. It is where most Irish game employment sits, and it is a service business rather than a product one.
Can an Irish studio build my game from scratch?
Several here develop original titles, but most independent studios are working on their own IP rather than taking commissions. Full-service commissioned development is more available from the larger groups and the full-cycle studios than from small independents.
How do I evaluate a game studio?
Shipped titles, not showreels. Ask what they shipped, what their specific contribution was, and whether it launched on time. Only two studios here carry directory reviews, so credits are the evidence that matters.

Building something interactive that is not quite a game?

Tell us what you have in mind and we will tell you straight whether we are the right fit.

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