16 games showcased at Exel by Merak Gaming Accelerator Demo Day

Exel by Merak has concluded its Demo Day for Cohort 2 of its accelerator program. Sixteen games in development were revealed during the show, offering an early look at projects currently being built by studios based in Saudi Arabia.

The demo day marked the graduation of 17 startups from the accelerator programme, with teams spanning PC, console, and mobile development across competitive multiplayer, narrative-driven experiences, hybrid casual, and co-op titles.

If you missed the event, here’s a quick roundup of all the games that were showcased. 

1- Holodot Game Studio revealed Shotball, its flagship competitive multiplayer title, which has already reached 32,000 beta installs.

The studio confirmed plans to feature the game within the Esports World Cup ecosystem ahead of a full release in Q2 2027.

2- PackDev Games, a studio originally founded in Serbia and now based in Saudi Arabia, presented SOS Incident, the first in a planned yearly release cycle.

The PC title has secured publishing support from Critical Reflex and has reached 10,000 downloads and 5,000 wishlists without any paid marketing. 

3- Saer Games showcased Horosha, a small-scale RPG project with a combat demo planned for Q2 2026 and a soft launch pencilled in for Q3 2027. The studio said it aims to release four games over the next decade as it works toward becoming a globally recognised indie developer.

4- Entropy Minds Studios shared progress on Psi Break, a team-based title currently targeting console platforms. The studio, which previously placed third at the Saudi Game Jam, said the title is scheduled to launch in Q4 2027 with a playtest set for Q1 2026. 

5- While Nimble Fox Games did not showcase a specific title, the studio outlined a mobile-first approach built around controlled experimentation, with plans to ship a new game every three weeks. 

6- Inventix Games, which specialises in hybrid casual mobile titles, revealed a portfolio of 13 released games and a commercial agreement with Voodoo. The studio plans to develop 40 prototypes over the next 36 months, targeting two breakout hits. It is currently developing a mobile title named Board Jam Escape. 

7- Blame The Game Studios presented Greedy, a PC title built around procedural ruins, escalating difficulty, and tension between team objectives and individual player incentives.

Early access launch is set for November 2026, with a full launch planned for Q2 2027. The studio has shipped four games in eight months, including three PC projects and one mobile release, after its founders left their previous jobs to focus full-time on development.

8- Sandouq Studios also showcased Puppetter, a 2D souls-like boss rush game that's no stranger to our audience. The studio aims to provide players with monthly boss releases and planned DLC expansions.

Early access is planned for June 2026 with a full launch set for December 2026. The team also plans to bring the title to consoles in 2027. 

9- Madness Afloat from Dynamic Box Studio is a Lovecraftian naval action experience built around sanity-driven exploration, where players question what is real and what is not.

Pilot customisable steamships through a Lovecraftian Polynesian archipelago, taking on handcrafted missions, managing cursed cargo, and balancing sanity and power in solo or optional co-op play.

10- Evlnu GameWorks revealed Office Chaos, a physics-based 1-4 player co-op office game where small mistakes spiral into disasters during 8-minute workdays.

This co-op office simulator is targeting a Q1 2027 launch. It is the first game in a series of IP titles which will include University Chaos (2028) and Airport Chaos (2029).

11- PlayBack Games is building Extraction76, a fast-paced arena multiplayer title for global audiences. The team is developing this co-op extraction shooter for PC and is doubling down on the co-op feature.

12- Rocket Force from Luma Play is an original chaotic shooter IP from the studio that developed Rocket Boots Mania. Rocket Force is set to launch in 2027 across multiple platforms. 

13- Crystalone from Stellar Mythical is a narrative-based JRPG mixing turn-based and side-scrolling action both in combat and world exploration. The title is scheduled to release in Q4 2027.

Play as Kaz in his journey to uncover the secrets of his whereabouts and his destiny, joined and strengthened by the bonds of allies and friends met along the way.

14- HexaFootball from Taka Studio is a turn‑based football strategy game for PC that blends tactical depth with the excitement of the beautiful game. Plan, pass, and outsmart opponents on a stylish hexagonal pitch.

The studio said the game is part of a broader sports strategy universe that will later expand into HexaBasketball and more.

15- Kiddo Education presented Math Punk, a puzzle-based mobile game designed to reduce maths anxiety through humour and exploration. The game will release in different phases, with a mobile launch set for September 2026, while a PC software launch is planned for December 2026 ahead of Nintendo Switch ports in 2029.

16-  Limeless Studio showcased SlappingRot and outlined plans to release two games every two months as it prepares to expand into mobile and other platforms.

 Looking for more games developed by teams across MENA? Explore our Games Directory.