Saudi Game Studio Raises $1.5M for Mythical Arabian Games

Three Saudi founders are bringing their culture's rich mythology to gaming consoles around the world, and investors just backed their vision with $1.5 million.

Ash Games, founded in 2022 by Anas Bakhsh, Yaser Alahmadi, and Saud Bakolka, raised the funding from Merak Capital and Impact46 to develop action-adventure games inspired by Saudi history and folklore. The studio's remote team of 18 is creating experiences that showcase authentic Arabian narratives for international audiences.

Their flagship title, Nomad, draws from Ancient Arabian mythology in a roguelite adventure planned for 2027 release on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. The studio is also developing Azooma Escape, a stealth-comedy game inspired by everyday Saudi life that proves cultural storytelling can be both meaningful and fun.

The fresh capital will expand the team, accelerate game development, and strengthen publishing partnerships to get these culturally rooted games into players' hands globally. Operating remotely, Ash Games is scaling its production pipeline while contributing to Saudi Arabia's ambition of becoming a regional gaming hub.

The Ripple Effect

This funding represents more than one studio's success. It signals growing investor confidence in culturally diverse gaming content and the Middle East's creative potential.

While major game studios often overlook regional mythologies in favor of familiar Western or Eastern narratives, Ash Games is proving there's global appetite for stories from different corners of the world. Players everywhere are discovering that compelling gameplay combined with fresh cultural perspectives creates something special.

The investment also strengthens Saudi Arabia's broader push into the gaming industry, creating local jobs in creative fields and showing young developers that building world-class games from the region is possible. As more studios like Ash Games emerge, they're not just making entertainment but building an entirely new creative economy.

Gaming has always been about exploring new worlds, and now those worlds will include the deserts, legends, and folklore of Ancient Arabia brought to life with modern technology and storytelling.