LVL ZERO, A GAMING INCUBATOR backed by MIXI Global Investments, Nazara Technologies, and Chimera VC, has spotlighted three startups from its inaugural cohort building story-driven PC and console games: Kyrel Games, Trojan Productions, and Wrought Studios, selected from over 240 applications.
The startups are part of LVL Zero’s 100-day incubation programme, which covers mentorship, publishing readiness, and operational support. Kyrel Games is developing PHi: The Broken Strings, a narrative-driven 3D puzzle platformer set in a puppet universe that explores themes of fear, grief, and acceptance.
Kyrel Games Co-Founder Mani Ghadi said, “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 studio, is developing Trox: The Reversal, a narrative psychological horror game set in a post-nuclear world inspired by brutalist architecture. The studio describes its approach as “humane horror”, focused on fear rooted in isolation, systems, morality, and survival rather than conventional jump scares.
Trojan Productions Co-Founder Vinil Verghese commented, “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 game set within a corporate office environment, exploring themes of nostalgia, change, and the emotional complexity of moving on through mystery-driven gameplay.
Wrought Studios co-founder Kunal Negi said, “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.”
All three studios are building for PC and console platforms, reflecting a shift in India’s gaming ecosystem away from mobile-first and hypercasual formats toward original IP across psychological horror, narrative puzzle design, and immersive storytelling.
LVL Zero head of Incubation Sagar Nair added: “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.”
LVL Zero works with global partners, including Google Play, ID@Xbox, AppsFlyer, Gameramp, Lysto, and Sentient, to provide operational, publishing, growth, and product support to its startups.
