India’s gaming ecosystem is witnessing a creative shift as developers move beyond hypercasual mobile formats to build immersive, narrative-driven gaming experiences for global audiences. Reflecting this transition, LVL Zero — India’s first dedicated gaming incubator backed by MIXI Global Investments, Nazara Technologies, and Chimera VC — has spotlighted three promising startups from its inaugural cohort that are building emotionally engaging PC and console games rooted in storytelling and world-building.

Selected from over 240 applications, Kyrel Games, Trojan Productions, and Wrought Studios are part of LVL Zero’s first 100-day execution-focused incubation program designed to help early-stage gaming founders transform concepts into globally competitive products. The initiative combines mentorship, publishing support, ecosystem partnerships, and operational guidance aimed at strengthening India’s original gaming IP ecosystem.

Among the standout projects is PHi: The Broken Strings by Kyrel Games, an eight-member studio developing a narrative-led 3D puzzle platformer for PC and console. Set inside a puppet universe shaped by psychological and emotional states, the game explores themes of grief, fear, control, and acceptance through symbolic environments and emotionally driven gameplay.

Speaking about the vision behind the title, Mani Ghadi, Co-Founder of Kyrel Games, said the studio wanted emotions to be experienced rather than simply explained. “The game is about living inside the emotional world of a puppet master through puppets and environments that embody different psychological states. Instead of telling emotions directly, we turn them into spaces, characters, and interactions,” he said.

Another studio gaining attention is Trojan Productions, currently developing Trox: The Reversal, a psychological horror game set in a bleak post-nuclear world inspired by brutalist architecture and social horror themes. The five-member indie team is deliberately steering away from conventional jump-scare horror and instead focusing on what it calls “humane horror” — fear emerging from systems, morality, survival, and emotional tension.

“We want players to feel a constant sense of unease, uncertainty, and emotional conflict. The horror comes not just from fear, but from the world, its systems, and the choices people are forced to make to survive,” said Vinil Verghese, Co-Founder of Trojan Productions.

Meanwhile, Wrought Studios is taking a more grounded emotional route with Last Day Lockdown, a narrative escape-room experience set entirely inside a corporate office. Built by a compact three-member team, the game explores nostalgia, transition, and the emotional weight of letting go through mystery-driven storytelling.

“The office is a universal setting, and the experience of farewell is something players around the world can relate to. We wanted to build a game that captures the emotional complexity of moving on,” said Kunal Negi, Co-Founder of Wrought Studios.

What makes the cohort particularly notable is that all three studios are developing primarily for PC and console platforms — a segment historically underrepresented in India’s gaming landscape, which has largely been dominated by mobile-first development and service-based outsourcing work.

Commenting on the broader shift underway, Sagar Nair, Head of Incubation at LVL Zero, said Indian developers are beginning to prioritise atmosphere, emotional depth, and immersive storytelling over trend-based replication. “For a long time, Indian game development was heavily associated with mobile-first mechanics and engagement loops, but we are now seeing founders think much more deeply about storytelling, immersion, and globally resonant experiences,” he said.

Through partnerships with global ecosystem players including Google Play, ID@Xbox, AppsFlyer, Gameramp, Lysto, and Sentient, LVL Zero aims to bridge long-standing gaps in publishing, growth, and operational support within India’s gaming startup ecosystem.

As the Indian gaming market continues to mature, the emergence of narrative-focused studios building original intellectual property may mark a defining moment for the industry — positioning India not just as a massive gaming consumer market, but also as a serious creator of globally relevant gaming experiences.