Soloband Games, a Cyprus-based studio developing casual games for a global audience, has received a Series A investment from Zubr Capital, a growth equity firm focused on global technology companies. The deal marks a new stage of growth for Soloband Games as it continues to expand its flagship product and strengthen its position in the international gaming market.
Soloband Games is a mobile game studio; its flagship title, World Tour Merge, operates within the fast-growing Merge 2 genre. The puzzle game combines intuitive casual gameplay with a story about travel, discovery, and personal transformation. In the narrative, Ellie receives a long-awaited ticket for the trip of her dreams and, together with her loyal dog Max, sets off on a journey across different countries. Along the way, players encounter vibrant locations, new characters, hidden discoveries, and a gradually unfolding story that creates potential for further franchise development and new chapters of gameplay.
The company is backed by a team of 25 professionals, including founders with over 10 years of technical experience in gaming. The team brings together talent from well-known studios such as Playrix and Melsoft, combining strong expertise in game design, live operations, and product scaling. The company has also attracted early support from established industry leaders, featuring Andrei Yarantsau and Alexander Shilyaev, former executives of Melsoft Games, who provided both capital and operational know-how.
The global mobile gaming in-app market is projected to approach $100 billion by 2028. Within this landscape, the Merge 2 segment continues to demonstrate growth in both downloads and revenue, gaining popularity among a broad audience. This trend creates opportunities for studios that can consistently deliver engaging, high-quality gaming experiences.
The investment is driven by several key factors, including Soloband Games’ expert team, a product with proven market traction, and its position within a rapidly growing segment. The studio has already demonstrated positive dynamics not only in user growth, with over 1M downloads and a 4.8 player rating, but also in revenue.
“Since 2024, we have been focused on building products that, on one hand, feel modern and meet the highest industry standards. On the other hand, we strive to create games that reflect our own experience and perspective — with an intuitive, comfortable, and familiar design that makes players feel at home and keeps them coming back,” said Alexander Kislitsyn, CEO of Soloband Games. “This marks a pivotal moment for our product and the people behind it, as the investment will enable Soloband Games to scale World Tour Merge further, expand in-game content, and enhance its monetisation and retention strategies.”
The company also plans to strengthen its user acquisition efforts, reach new global audiences, and continue optimising live operations to facilitate long-term, sustainable growth.
“Soloband Games represents exactly the kind of company we look to support: a team with deep industry expertise, and a product with proven market fit, strong retention, user appeal, and a clear path to scaling,” said Nikita Krivelevich, Investment Director at Zubr Capital. “We are convinced Soloband Games is well-positioned to capture a meaningful share of the Merge 2 segment growth globally.”
Soloband Games is a Cyprus-based studio developing casual games for a global audience. Its
flagship title, World Tour Merge, is part of the fast-growing Merge 2 genre. The team includes 25 industry professionals with experience at Playrix and Melsoft and focuses on scalable, engaging game development.
Zubr Capital is an investment firm operating as a local entity in Cyprus as part of its long-term expansion plan, managing $250 million across 30 technology companies, including two unicorn businesses. Its investor base includes the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
