Private company

Big Fish Games

Logo: Big Fish Games, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons4

American gaming company

Big Fish Games, Inc. is a casual game company based in Seattle with a regional office in Oakland, California, owned by BFG Entertainment. It is a developer and distributor of casual games for computers and mobile devices. In 2016, the company was accused of knowingly deceiving customers into signing up for monthly purchases without informed consent.2 It was founded by Paul Thelen.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

2002Founded1
  • Industryvideo game industry1
  • HeadquartersSeattle1
  • Founded inSeattle1
  • WebsiteBigFishGames.com
  • Legal formassociated company1
  • LEI549300S1SBJHAT7GMI523
  • StatusActive3
  • LEI statusLapsed (not renewed)3
  • Registered addressC/O INCORP SERVICES INC, 98424 Fife, United States3
  • Registered withCorporations Division (Office of the Secretary of State), 602 492 4983

Big Fish Games, Inc. is a casual game company based in Seattle with a regional office in Oakland, California, owned by BFG Entertainment. It is a developer and distributor of casual games for computers and mobile devices.2

The story

Founded by Paul Thelen in 2002, in Seattle.1

The company was founded in 2002. In 2009, it announced the opening of its European headquarters in Cork, Ireland. In July 2010, the company passed one billion game downloads from its online portal.

In August 2013, Big Fish announced the closing of its cloud-based games service, Vancouver studio and Cork offices. In 2014, the company was acquired by Churchill Downs Inc. in a deal valued at up to $885 million. In 2018, Churchill Downs sold Big Fish to Australian gambling machine manufacturer Aristocrat Leisure for $990 million. In September 2018, Big Fish cut 15% of its workforce, and in September 2020, it cut nearly 50% of its workforce.

By October 2025, Aristocrat Leisure sold Big Fish Games to a newly formed owner company, BFG Entertainment. Under BFG Entertainment's new leadership, Big Fish Games handed ownership of its mobile games Evermerge and Gummy Drop to publishers JetSynthesys and 7 Hits Games respectively, ended developer Elephant Games' support of free-to-play game Midnight Castle, terminated its contracts with hidden object game developer GrandMA Studios, and plans to open a new internal studio focused on hidden object games. In May 2026, BFG Entertainment was sued by GrandMA Studios for the alleged illegality of the termination of GrandMA's royalties, contracts, and distribution and licensing rights.

From Wikipedia’s article on Big Fish Games, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.5

Leadership

Who has led Big Fish Games, and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.

Products and brands

  • software

Listed on Wikidata.1

The company entered browser gaming with its acquisition of the game website Ion Thunder in 2007; the service was re-branded as Atlantis after the acquisition. The service, which was revamped as Big Sea Games in 2009, was shut down in 2010 as part of the company's shift from traditional online games to social games on Facebook and other mobile apps.

From Wikipedia’s article on Big Fish Games, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.5

Timeline

  1. 2002Founded Founded in Seattle1

Sources

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