I've been here for several years now, and I don't think I've seen anything but a friendly, inclusive atmosphere.
Mission
Creating disruptive innovations
in the gaming industry
Our Values
Unleashing Player Creativity
We believe that the essence of play lies in curiosity: “What happens if I do this?” Our theme at Pocketpair is to create games that unleash player creativity, leaving room for players to experiment freely in ways that go far beyond what we, as developers, ever anticipated.
Challenging Industry Conventions
“Don’t stray from the core loop,” “Keep it simple,” “Every bug needs to be addressed.” In game development, “common sense” can often become a shackle to innovation. At Pocketpair, we start by questioning the traditional playbook.
While we respect the history behind these industry standards, we aren’t afraid to re-interpret them for the modern era. This mindset has allowed us to develop incredibly efficient workflows and create games that break the mold.
Sometimes, we’ve even opted to keep a “bug” in the game because it was simply too funny to remove, leading to new discoveries and unexpected joy for our players. We believe our greatest strength is the courage to keep breaking the rules in order to build something better.
Global Impact
From day one, we create games with the global market in mind.
By approaching planning and development with a global perspective, we avoid limiting ourselves to the Japanese domestic market and aim to build games that will resonate with players everywhere. We’ll continue to launch new titles and obsessively pursue what makes a game truly “fun” on a world-class level.
Building the Ultimate Work Environment
We’re committed to creating an environment where our team can perform at their best. Our full-flex system has no core hours, meaning there are no fixed start or end times, and remote work is always an option. Everyone can work at a time and place that works best for their individual preferences.
Pocketpair by the Numbers
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Established2015
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Average Age0
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Employees0
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International Staff Ratio0%
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Countries/Regions Represented10
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Average Monthly Overtime6.7Hours
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Roles by Percentage
- Game Planners18%
- Engineers29%
- Designers36%
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Business
Development11% - Corporate6%
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International Revenue0 %+
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Peak Concurrent Players (Steam)0PlayersAll-time Global Rank (at the time of announcement) 2 nd
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Steam Reviews (English)Overwhelmingly Positive 95% of over 150,000 reviews recommend the game.
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Total Player BaseOver0Million Playersacross all platforms (Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, Mac) since Early Access.
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PlayStation Store Rating4.6
81% of approximately 20,000 reviews are ★5 ratings.
Staff Voices
There are no 'strings attached' or corporate politics here. The absolute priority is making a great game, so people genuinely listen and accept good ideas, no matter where they come from.
It's incredibly easy to speak up regardless of your position. Even if you're new, or if your feedback is outside your specific role, the willingness to voice opinions and improve the game is welcomed.
The vibe is bright and always buzzing. You'll see some people completely immersed in their work, while others are bouncing new ideas off the people around them.
If you have an idea to make the game better, you can share it anytime, anywhere, regardless of your role. It's easily the best environment to actually see your ideas come to life.
I've seen a newcomer shoot down the CEO’s latest idea with a blunt, 'That sounds pretty boring.' with absolutely no issues.
There is absolutely nothing here that restricts you from performing at your full potential.
You never find yourself asking, 'Why on earth do I have to waste my time on this?' Those kinds of pointless tasks simply don't exist here.
There are almost no irrational or arbitrary rules.
It's an environment where people can be honest without walking on eggshells. I find it to be a very logical and straightforward company.
There’s zero red tape. Things move fast, and get done immediately. Whether it’s adopting the latest tech and libraries or requesting new equipment, a single message on Slack is all it takes to get things moving.
You can easily discuss what you want to do with your team, and when it's time to go home, you just leave. There's absolutely none of that 'I can't leave because my boss is still here' pressure. It's completely stress-free.
There are almost no scheduled or recurring meetings. When we need to talk, we just hop on a quick Slack Huddle or have a brief stand-up chat. It's incredibly fast.
Personally, I love our culture of efficiency. Since there are no pointless meetings or morning assemblies, I can actually stay focused on my work.
Not having to deal with endless, meaningless daily meetings makes the work environment so much more comfortable.
We have so few meetings that I honestly don't even know how to book a conference room.
When someone says 'MTG,' they're almost certainly talking about Magic: The Gathering, not a business meeting.
With so many international members, the office is filled with diverse conversations. You'll hear English, Chinese, and other languages all around you. Although I don't understand every word, the atmosphere is just fun.
I love it when a topic comes up and people start sharing how things are done in their respective home countries. It's fascinating to get those different cultural takes.
There's a truly global vibe here, with foreign languages being spoken constantly. More importantly, there's no stiff, formal corporate language, so you can just relax and be yourself.
As a non-native employee, it’s a huge relief that nobody cares about small Japanese mistakes or 'language barriers.' It lets me focus 100% on my work and give my best. At my previous job, I was always worried my Japanese wasn't good enough.
There are people from so many different countries that you can feel the world's cultures just by being in the office. Everyone is incredibly friendly.
Multiple languages are used on Slack. Everyone just uses translation tools to communicate, so there aren't really any situations where we find ourselves stuck or unable to understand each other.
I work full-remote from a distance, but it's not just about the location—it's the freedom of time. I work best in the early mornings and late evenings, so I choose the hours that allow me to reach peak productivity rather than sticking to a standard 9-to-5.
The combination of Super Flex and remote work has been a lifesaver. If my son is feeling unwell, I can care for him at home while getting my work done. I can book doctor's appointments whenever I need to without any stress at all.
Having almost total control over my hours has been a lifesaver for balancing work with family. Whether it’s picking up the kids from preschool, unexpected doctor's appointments, or running mid-day errands at the city office, the flexibility here is genuine. I can be there for my family without feeling like I’m falling behind at work.
With Super Flex, I can take a break whenever I need to refresh—often playing a quick game of table tennis or badminton with colleagues to clear my head.
I can take breaks when I want and start or end my day whenever I need (within reason). Being able to work entirely at my own pace is a massive help.
My favorite thing about Pocketpair is that Super Flex enables me to build a work environment and schedule that is perfectly tailored to maximizing my individual performance.
Whenever a major game is released, half the office disappears because everyone takes the day off just to play it.
People start gathering for poker, card games, or board games in the evening. The office is busy even after the official working hours.
I joined the poker games on a whim and went from a total amateur to a decent player. It's an ideal environment where learning games is made easy and, more importantly, fun.
Whenever I want to try a new board game, I just call out on Slack. Even if it's 3:00 PM—the 'golden hour' for work—people will gather to play. It feels like a university club in the best way possible.
The freedom here is great. I recently made a game and a quiz for our year-end party without needing anyone's permission. It's the kind of place where 'just doing it' is welcomed and appreciated.
Benefits
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Super Flex System (No Core Hours)
At Pocketpair, there are no fixed start or end times, and we've completely eliminated "core hours". The Super Flex System doesn't just allow you to choose when you work; it gives you the autonomy to adjust the number of hours you work each day, allowing you to manage your schedule based on your own rhythm and productivity.
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Remote Work System
At Pocketpair, you have the freedom to combine office-based and remote work to suit your personal circumstances. We prioritize results over location, and we have several team members who work fully remote while living far away. About 70% of our team works from the office, though the balance varies—some come in every day, while others go remote once a week. Around 10% of the studio works fully remote, including those living far from the office. We also accommodate extended stays abroad; international staff often spend a month working from their home countries during family visits.
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Housing Allowance
A monthly allowance of 30,000 JPY is provided to employees who live within a 2km radius of the office and commute on foot.
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Free Drinks & Coffee
All vending machines in the office are completely free. We also have coffee machines on-site, allowing you to grab a drink and refresh yourself whenever you need.
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Equipment On-Demand
From high-end PC hardware and software to standing desks and premium gaming chairs, if you think a tool will improve your workflow or efficiency, we'll procure it immediately upon request. We're committed to providing an environment where you can reach your peak performance.
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Hobby Clubs
Pocketpair is home to a wide variety of internal clubs where team members gather to have fun over shared interests. From poker, darts, and card games to badminton, social drinking, and even a regular "What I've Been Playing Lately" showcase, there are countless ways to connect and bond outside of core development.
Who We’re Looking For
People who want to build “Insanely Fun” games.
At Pocketpair, we develop games with a Player-First mindset. We dive deep into the questions that matter: What are gamers playing right now? What’s the next experience they’re craving? What kind of game will resonate with them?
We welcome open-minded creators who can focus on a single goal: understanding and bringing joy to players around the world.
People with an International Mindset
We develop our games with a global audience in mind from day one. Our daily conversations naturally revolve around the latest hits from all over the world, from niche indie gems to massive AAA titles. If you’re a fan of gaming, you’ll find this environment incredibly exciting.
People who want to start with: “Wouldn’t this be fun?”
We give our team the freedom to experiment. Our games aren't just the vision of a single director; a feature suggested by an animator or a visual change suggested by an engineer often becomes a permanent part of the game. Even when opinions differ, we use internal surveys and open discussions to stay focused on one ultimate goal: "What's best for the player?"
A Message from our CEO
Pocketpair isn’t your typical Japanese game studio.
While the Japanese gaming industry has traditionally evolved around consoles, our roots have always been firmly planted in the world of PC gaming.
We believe that streaming, community engagement, and modding culture aren’t just “extras,” but essential to modern game development.
Our games are designed around player ingenuity and the unexpected “emergent” moments that occur when people are given the freedom to experiment.
We’re a collection of creators who live and breathe indie games from every corner of the globe. Here, your title or role doesn’t define your influence. Instead, every decision we make is guided by a single, unwavering question: “Is this fun for the player?”
Join us and help define the next generation of gaming. If you’re ready to commit to a new way of creating games, we want you on the team.
Takuro Mizobe, CEO