asmodee

What began in 1995 as a small French publisher has evolved into a global powerhouse in the world of tabletop gaming. Asmodee, founded by Marc Nunès, embarked on a journey not just to create its own games, but to champion the work of smaller developers, bringing their creations to a wider audience, initially across France. An early, pivotal success was the acquisition and promotion of 'Jungle Speed' in 1998, a game that would go on to sell millions of copies and solidify Asmodee's reputation for having a keen eye for engaging gameplay. The company's reach expanded significantly in 2003 when it secured the French publishing rights for the 'Pokémon Trading Card Game', further strengthening its distribution network and market presence. The real acceleration in Asmodee's story began around 2007, when a strategic shift towards international markets, backed by investment from Montefiore Investment, set the stage for a series of key acquisitions. This included Esdevium, the UK's largest hobby games distributor, in 2010.

The narrative of growth intensified dramatically in 2014 when French private equity firm Eurazeo acquired Asmodee. This new chapter was marked by a string of high-profile mergers and acquisitions that reshaped the tabletop landscape. Asmodee merged with American publisher Days of Wonder, the creators of the wildly popular 'Ticket to Ride', and later with Fantasy Flight Games, a giant in the hobby games space. This strategic expansion continued with the acquisition of the English language rights for the iconic 'Catan' from Mayfair Games in 2016, leading to the creation of Catan Studio, Inc. The company's ownership changed hands again in 2018 to PAI Partners and subsequently in 2022 to the Embracer Group. This period also saw Asmodee embrace the digital realm, adapting many of its beloved board games for personal computers and mobile devices, and acquiring the popular online platform Board Game Arena in 2021. After a period under Embracer, Asmodee was spun off and listed as a separate public company on the Nasdaq Stockholm in early 2025, marking a new era of independence and continued dedication to its mission of bringing people together through the power of play.