Mohamed Fawzy

Role: Founder and Game Director, Rare Castle

Location: Egypt

Background

Mohamed Fawzy founded Rare Castle in 2018 as a solo project while working a full-time job. He spent the following years developing the studio’s vision, game design philosophy and business model before making the project more tangible from 2023 onwards. He became an Official PlayStation Partner in Q1 2025.

Fawzy also experimented with a crowdsourcing model, with Rare Castle’s volunteer team reaching six people in 2025. The experience shaped his approach to team building, with the studio now operating as a one-person team while volunteers remain available for future production needs.

Current Focus

Fawzy is focused on developing Off the Grid: Bad Dream, the first game in the wider Off the Grid universe. The game, previously referred to by its development codename Project Escher, is currently in prototype development for PC and PlayStation. Its second development sprint focuses on action, shooting and crystal healing, with the goal of completing a full prototype and vertical slice.

Development has so far been entirely bootstrapped and self-funded. Rare Castle is now pitching publishers and investors, with a major focus on the PlayStation MENA Hero Project’s funding and incubation track.

Industry Position

Fawzy is building Rare Castle around a “Healing Games” philosophy, which aims to use the mystery, psychological tension and atmosphere associated with games such as Silent Hill and Alan Wake while directing the emotional experience toward calm, hope, love, faith, knowledge and curiosity rather than fear and anxiety.

Rare Castle is also developing its games from Egypt, which Fawzy describes as “fertile ground” for business, startups and game development due to its young population, growing technology sector and creative talent.

What He Is Open To

Publishing and investment opportunities for Off the Grid: Bad Dream, particularly as Rare Castle works toward its full prototype and vertical slice. The studio is also open to crowdfunding at the appropriate stage and future platform expansion once the PC and console version is established.