Flightless
Mount Maunganui, NZ · 1 known investors
Flightless is an independent game development studio that designs and publishes its own video games, including titles for Switch, Steam, and the Epic Games Store. Based in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand, it develops games such as a plant-rescue game and a multiplayer combat racing game.
Also known as Flightless NZ · flightlessnz
Investors · 1
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Flightless is an indie games studio based in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand. It was founded in 2005 as a digital design company and later transitioned into a full-time games studio developing its own intellectual property. Its commercial work has spanned museum and visitor experiences, games and moving image, online projects and the visual arts.
The studio describes its approach as producing original-looking games with a creative, player-centred focus that often involve environmental themes. Released and featured titles include Doomsday Vault, a game in which players collect the remaining plant life on an Earth whose climate has collapsed and return it to a vault; Element; Bee Leader; Monster Racing League, a multiplayer combat racing game; and Killing Things With Your Friends.
Founding story
Flightless was founded in 2005 in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand, initially as a digital design company, by John O'Reilly and Greg Harding, who serve as Creative Director and Technical Director respectively.
Business model
Flightless develops and releases its own game IP for consoles, PC storefronts and mobile platforms, alongside a history of commissioned commercial interactive and design work.
Traction
Released titles include Doomsday Vault, Element, Bee Leader and Monster Racing League; Doomsday Vault launched on Switch, Steam and the Epic Games Store in August 2021 and Element was added to Google Play Pass in 2020.
Latest developments
On 26 April 2024 Flightless issued a press release addressing the future of Monster Racing League, its multiplayer combat racing title.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
A small independent studio recognised through design and games industry awards, including Gold Pin wins at the New Zealand Best Design Awards (2010, 2015, 2018), an Australian Graphic Design Awards win with distinction, SXSW Interactive Innovation Awards finalist status in 2016, a GLAMi finalist placing at Museums and the Web 2016, and Excellence in Art at the Play By Play Wellington International Games Festival in 2016.
The studio emphasises original visual styles, a player-centred design approach and environmental themes, drawing on award-winning experience in museum and visitor experience design as well as games.
Technology
The studio's interactive work has included Unity-based projects; its Collect and Connect Interactive Table was a runner-up in the Best Non-game category of the Unity Awards in 2015.
Go-to-market
Games are distributed through digital storefronts and subscription services, including Nintendo Switch, Steam, the Epic Games Store and Google Play Pass, supported by press releases, a press kit and social channels on Twitter and Instagram.
Players of premium and free-to-play indie games on PC, console and mobile platforms, plus institutional clients such as museums and visitor attractions for commissioned interactive work.
Geography
Headquartered and operating from Mount Maunganui, New Zealand, with games distributed internationally via digital platforms.
History
Established in 2005 as a digital design business, Flightless accumulated commercial project experience across museum and visitor experiences, games, moving image, online and visual arts work, winning New Zealand and international design and interactive awards between 2005 and 2018. Its mobile title Bee Leader received App Store Editors' Choice recognition in May 2012 and an App Store Best of 2012 listing. In 2019 the studio moved into a new studio space. Doomsday Vault received a Challenge Mode update in June 2020 and a Pyramids Adventure update in November-December 2020, and was announced in July 2021 for Nintendo Switch, Steam and the Epic Games Store with an August release. Element was announced for Google Play Pass in June 2020. In April 2024 the studio published a press release on the future of Monster Racing League.
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 15
launches, deals, and filingsFlightless published a press release titled 'Monster Racing League Future'.
Flightless announced that Doomsday Vault would come to Nintendo Switch, Steam and the Epic Games Store in August 2021.
The Pyramids Adventure update for Doomsday Vault went live, accompanied by a trailer.
The studio launched Challenge modes for Doomsday Vault.
Flightless announced that its title Element was coming to Google Play Pass.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 8
primary sources listed
- Flightlessflightless.co.nz · web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Flightless do?
- Flightless is an independent game development studio in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand, building its own game IP.
- Who are Flightless's investors?
- Flightless's investors include Alt Ventures.
- Where is Flightless headquartered?
- Flightless is headquartered in Mount Maunganui, NZ.