10 Best Game Development Companies in 2026

When looking for a partner in crime, you don’t only look for a talent alone — it’s also about how much you can trust this person. Gamedev niche is no exception: the best game development company is the one that can plug into the client studio’s pipeline fast, communicate clearly, and ship without drama. Often, it’s so many metrics at stake — all in all, your choice affects budget, timeline, and final quality — which is why making a proper choice is as rewarding as it is necessary.

This list is made for producers and studio leads who need results, not promises. You’ll see teams that can take full ownership of a game or support you with specific parts like engineering, art, or live ops — with a focus on companies that work well with Western studios and understand how outsourcing should actually work.

Stepico

Stepico is a mature game development outsourcing company with a clear focus on long-term collaboration and technical reliability. Founded in 2015 in Ukraine, the studio has grown to a team of 200+ specialists, including engineers, designers, artists, and producers. Stepico is officially registered in Europe and works primarily with clients from the US and Western Europe, following clear legal, security, and production standards.

One of Stepico’s flagship projects is Discovery, a large-scale sandbox game that required deep technical involvement. The team worked on core gameplay systems, world simulation, performance optimization, and continuous content updates. Discovery demanded stable architecture, clean code, and long-term support — not just feature delivery. This project shows Stepico’s strength in handling complex systems, evolving roadmaps, and live development over years. For studios looking to hire a partner that can scale with the project and stay involved long after launch, Stepico offers experience, structure, and proven results.

N-iX Game & VR Studio

N-iX is a solid option for studios looking to hire game developers for technically complex projects. The company has been on the market for over 20 years and operates as part of a large IT group, which gives it strong process discipline and enterprise-level delivery standards. Their game division works with international clients and supports long-term development rather than short engagements.

The studio is especially strong in VR, AR, and technically advanced solutions, including simulation-heavy games and real-time experiences. N-iX often works as a co-development partner, integrating tightly with in-house teams. This makes them a good fit for studios that already have internal production but need extra engineering power or niche technical expertise.

Pingle Game Studio

Pingle is a well-known co-development partner among studios that need flexible game development outsourcing without heavy enterprise overhead. Founded in 2007, the company has more than 150 specialists and works mostly with PC and console projects. Pingle collaborates with clients in Europe and North America and is used to fitting into existing production pipelines.

The studio is often chosen for co-development, porting, and technical support during active production. Pingle teams handle gameplay systems, performance tuning, and platform adaptation, especially for console releases. This makes them a practical choice for studios that need extra development power while keeping core creative control in-house.

Volmi – A Virtuos Studio

Volmi is part of the Virtuos group and is often mentioned among the best game dev studios for AAA support work. The studio has been operating since 2008 and employs more than 300 specialists. Volmi works with large international publishers and follows strict production and security standards expected in AAA development.

The team focuses on co-development, technical art, and engineering support for PC and console games. Volmi usually joins projects at mid or late production stages, helping studios hit quality and performance targets. This makes them a strong choice for companies that already have a core team but need reliable AAA-level support at scale.

Pushka Studios

Pushka Studios is a practical choice for teams looking for the best game development company focused on engineering and platform support. The studio has been working in game development for more than 10 years and is based in Ukraine, with a strong focus on PC and console projects. Pushka often works with Western clients and follows clear production and communication processes.

Co-development, porting, and technical problem-solving during active production is what defines this Ukraine-based studio. Pushka engineers help studios bring games to new platforms, improve performance, and meet certification requirements. This makes the studio a good fit for projects that are already in development and need strong technical support to move forward safely.

Kevuru Games

According to various statistics, Kevuru Games is often mentioned among top game developers 2025 thanks to its strong focus on visuals and content-heavy production. Founded in 2011, the company has grown to 300+ specialists and works with clients from the US and Europe. Kevuru operates as a service studio and is used to working under tight schedules and clear client requirements.

The team is best known for art production, animation, and co-development support for PC and mobile games. Kevuru usually joins projects where visual quality and consistency are critical. This makes the studio a good fit for teams that already have solid gameplay but need experienced artists and technical artists to bring the game to a polished, market-ready state.

Ulysses Graphics

Ulysses Graphics is a niche studio for teams that want to hire game developers focused purely on high-end visuals. The company has been on the market for more than 15 years and works mainly as an art outsourcing partner for PC, console, and mobile games. Their teams are based in Ukraine and collaborate closely with Western studios.

The studio specializes in 2D and 3D art, UI, VFX, and technical art pipelines. Ulysses usually joins projects where visual consistency and production speed matter more than full-cycle development. This makes them a strong choice for studios that already have engineering covered but need experienced artists who can match an existing style and production standards.

Program-Ace (Game-Ace)

Program-Ace is a long-running studio with a strong focus on game development outsourcing for complex and non-standard projects. Founded in 1992, the company has decades of experience in software and game development and works with clients from the US and Europe. Their teams are used to structured processes, documentation, and stable long-term cooperation.

The studio often works on simulation-heavy games, serious games, and technically demanding projects where logic and performance matter more than visuals alone. Program-Ace is a good fit for studios that need experienced engineers who can handle complex systems and integrate smoothly into an existing production workflow.

Whimsy Games Group

Whimsy Games Group is a compact studio that works well for teams looking to hire game developers without dealing with large outsourcing structures. Founded in 2016, the company focuses on custom game development and has experience with mobile, PC, and browser-based projects. Whimsy works mainly with clients from Europe and the US.

The studio is known for taking full ownership of small to mid-size projects. Their teams handle design, development, and polishing, making them a good option for startups or publishers that need a reliable partner for clearly scoped games. Whimsy fits best when speed, flexibility, and direct communication matter more than scale.

Fgfactory

Fgfactory is a service studio with a long background in game development outsourcing, especially for art-heavy projects. Founded in 2010, the company works with international clients and supports both game development and art production. Their teams are based in Ukraine and are used to remote collaboration.

Fgfactory often joins projects that need fast content production, visual updates, or extra development support during peak production stages. The studio is a practical choice for teams that already have core systems in place and need additional capacity to move faster without sacrificing quality.

Conclusion

There is no single best choice for every studio, but there is a right partner for every project. The best game development company is the one that understands your goals, aligns with your production style, and stays with you for the long run. Size, location, and portfolio matter, yet clear communication and proven delivery matter more.

Whether you are experiencing publisher pressure or just want to see your game’s first build sooner, move faster in production without burning out your team, or require rare expertise necessary for bringing your project to life, turn to an outsourcing game development provider like Stepico. We provide development and live ops expertise in any kind of game development, be it your mobile casual debut or a well-structured AA project.

October 15, 2025

Choose Stepico and step into the future!

Kateryna

Content marketer with over 5 years of experience in IT sector and narrative designer background

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