LVL ZERO, the gaming incubator backed by MIXI Global Investments, Nazara Technologies, and ChimeraVC, have announced the selection of 10 startups for its inaugural cohort.
The selected startups include Arckon Arts, Impulse Mechanics, Kalp Studio, Kyrel Games, Prescription Studios, Rudrac Games, Trojan Productions, Wrought Studio, Xigma Games, and YK Game Studio, spanning a diverse mix of genres, formats, and development stages.
Chosen from over 240 applications, the cohort represents a new generation of Indian game developers building for global audiences across PC, console, and mobile platforms, a media release said. Collectively, these startups reflect the evolving shape of India’s gaming ecosystem, with teams ranging from solo developers to studios of up to 5 team members, and projects across strategy, narrative, puzzle, simulation, and horror genres, the release said.
The cohort highlights a clear shift in Indian game development from mobile-first, services-led work to original IP creation with global ambition. Eight out of the ten selected startups are building for PC and console platforms, signalling a growing push toward premium, high-production-value experiences. From a mid-core 4X strategy title like Metal Haven by Xigma Games to Raahi by Kalp Studio, a culturally rooted slice-of-life experience set in a 1990s Goa-inspired town, the cohort showcases both technical ambition and creative diversity, the release said.
Each selected startup will receive an equity-free grant of USD 10,000, along with access to LVL Zero’s structured 100-day incubation program. The program is divided into three phases:
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Ignition (Days 1–15): Startups define clear milestones, align with mentors, and set execution goals
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Core Build (Days 16–70): Sprint-based development cycles focused on product iteration, testing, and validation
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Market Readiness (Days 71–100): Go-to-market planning, publisher outreach, and investor readiness
By the end of the program, startups are expected to deliver playable builds, refined GTM strategies, and investor/publisher-ready pitches, the release added.
