Balor Games is an American video game publisher. Formerly known as Humble Games, it originated from publishing services run by Humble Bundle that started in 2017, and was founded as its own publishing division in 2020.
In July 2024, Humble Bundle's owner Ziff Davis restructured the division and laid off all of its staff. In 2026, Good Games Group, founded by former Humble Games heads, acquired the Humble Games label and rebranded it as Balor Games.
History
In February 2017, Humble Bundle announced that it would begin to offer publisher services to developers across multiple platforms, including computer, console, and mobile devices, building upon its existing suite of services. Such games, such as A Hat in Time, were given a "Presented by Humble Bundle" label. Humble Bundle's lead for the publishing effort, John Polson, said that developers are able to pick and choose a selection of options that Humble Bundle can offer, recognizing that few publishing models are able to meet the vastly different needs of developers. Humble rebranded its publishing division as Humble Games in May 2020.
In June 2020, Humble Bundle announced a Black Game Developer Fund to provide funding, production and marketing support via Humble Games to black game developers. On July 23, 2024, Humble Games laid off its 36-person staff. Humble stated that it was restructuring with the intent to continue operations amidst statements by former staff members that the company had been shut down. Steve Horowitz, president of parent company Ziff Davis, told staff it had tried to sell Humble Games on two occasions, citing long delays and rising costs, before deciding on layoffs. Remaining projects would be completed by a third-party company called The Powell Group. Former employees criticized Ziff Davis, a media company, for not understanding how to properly run a game publisher.
Former Humble Games heads, Alan Patmore and Mark Nash, established Good Games Group in 2024. On 5 March 2026, the company acquired Ziff Davis' publishing business and founded a publishing label, Balor Games. This deal included the back catalog of titles published under the Humble Games label.
Works YearTitleDeveloperNote(s) 2017A Hat in TimeGears for BreakfastSelf-published on PC2018Aegis DefendersGUTS DepartmentWizard of LegendContingent 99WandersongGreg Lobanov, A Shell in the Pit2019Slay the SpireMega Crit GamesEarly access in 2017, fully released in 2019The OccupationWhite Paper GamesStaxelPlukitForagerHopFrogVoid BastardsBlue ManchuCrying SunsAlt ShiftSupralandSupra GamesSelf-published on PC2020One Step From EdenThomas Moon KangWildfireSneaky BastardsFae TacticsEndless Fluff GamesPopup DungeonTriple B TitlesFloor 13: Deep StateOversight ProductionsIkenfellHappy Ray GamesRing of PainSimon Boxer, Twice DifferentCartoSunhead GamesProject WingmanSector D22021The Wild at HeartMoonlight KidsDodgeball AcademiaPocket TrapInto the PitNullpointer GamesFlynn: Son of CrimsonStudio ThunderhorseUnsightedStudio Pixel PunkUnpackingWitch BeamNext Space RebelsStudio Floris KaaykArchvaleidoz & phops2022Supraland Six Inches UnderSupra GamesChinatown Detective AgencyGeneral Interactive Co.Co-published by WhisperGames on PCTemtemCremaEarly access in January 2020, fully released on September 6, 2022MoonscarsBlack MermaidMidnight Fight ExpressJacob DzwinelProdeusBounding Box SoftwareEarly access in November 2020 on PC, fully released on September 22, 2022Ghost SongOld MoonInfinite GuitarsNikko NikkoSIGNALISrose-engineCo-published by PLAYISM on PC and Nintendo Switch2023Protodroid DeltaAdam KareemInfinite GuitarsNikko NikkoStray Gods: The Roleplaying MusicalSummerfall StudiosMineko's Night MarketMeowza GamesTemtem: ShowdownCremaThe Iron OathCurious Panda GamesVersion 1.0 releasedCoral IslandStairway GamesEarly access in October 2022 on PC, fully released in November 2023While the Iron's HotBontemps Games2024HauntiiMoonloop GamesIt's Only MoneyUsual Suspects StudiosRolling HillsCatch & ReleaseBushidenPixel Arc StudiosBō: Path of the Teal LotusSquid Shock StudiosFinal game to be published by Humble Games#BludExit 73 StudiosOn Your TailMemorable Games2025Lost SkiesBossa GamesMonaco 2Pocketwatch GamesWizard of Legend IIDead Mage2026Wild Blue Skies Chuhai Labs, Vitei BackroomSponge BreakGoose ByteTown of ZozStudio PixanohTBABillie Bust Up Giddy Goat GamesNever Alone 2E-Line MediaThreads of TimeRiyo Games
References
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