Mystery Game Store

4 Mystery Game Store Success Stories [2024]

Pat Walls

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Updated: October 6th, 2024

Engaging their intellect and curiosity, who doesn't love a good mystery? By establishing a mystery game store, you'll cater to this innate fascination. The business proposition is simple: provide various tactile puzzle games, brain-churning intrigue games, and immersive mystery-based board games in one dedicated shop.

While online gaming has its allure, there's an undeniably compelling appeal associated with tangible games: the physicality of puzzle pieces, the anticipation when spinning a wheel, and the thrill of playing against others face-to-face.

Your store will bring individuals together, aspiring to create a buzzing community of mystery enthusiasts. It can serve as a hub for game nights, puzzle solving events, and intriguing product launches. As the proprietor of this venture, you'll possess the ability to stimulate minds, promote in-person connectivity and provoke thrilling wonder in each customer. Consider stepping into the enchanting world of mysteries and become a pioneer of this unique retail experience.

In this list, you'll find real-world mystery game store success stories and very profitable examples of starting a mystery game store that makes money.

1. Hunt A Killer ($60M/year)

Ryan Hogan, co-founder and CEO of Hunt A Killer, came up with the idea for his subscription-based mystery game business after experiencing success and failure in the live event industry. Recognizing the popularity of escape rooms and interactive theater, he pivoted from live events to a subscription box model, immersing members in interactive stories and shipping thousands of episodes each week. With a diverse approach to customer acquisition and a unique sales funnel, Hunt A Killer has seen massive growth in the immersive entertainment space.

How much money it makes: $60M/year
How much did it cost to start: $2.5K
How many people on the team: 62

How We Created A $2M/Month Subscription-Based Mystery Games Business

Hunt A Killer is a subscription-based entertainment company that delivers monthly immersive, interactive story experiences and has grown from 146 subscribers in October 2016 to shipping one million episodes in August 2019, with acquisition costs ranging from $50-60 and gross margins at/or above 60%.

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2. Gameray ($1.02M/year)

As a project manager at a major CIS online store, Mikhail Tsyrulnikov noticed physical logistics hampering sales. Combining his e-commerce acumen and passion for gaming, he launched Gameray—a digital game distribution platform—with an MVP built in 2.5 months, driving over 3 million euros in annual turnover.

How much money it makes: $1.02M/year
How much did it cost to start: $30K
How many people on the team: 15

My Gaming Distribution Business Makes $1M/Year

Discover how an aspiring founder turned a $30,000 investment into a profitable digital game distribution platform with an annual turnover of 3 million euros, leveraging key partnerships and innovative marketing strategies to attract 50,000 monthly users.

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3. Crimibox ($1.02M/year)

Jimmy, the founder of Crimibox, came up with the idea for his business while working in criminal investigations for the Federal Police in Belgium. Seeing that most cases are now solved at the detective's desk instead of out in the field, he decided to create fictional murder cases for people to solve using a police file and online media. With over 4,000 Crimiboxes sold and a monthly revenue of more than $8,000, the business has reached aspiring detectives who love escaping from escape rooms.

How much money it makes: $1.02M/year
How many people on the team: 5

$8K Per Month Side Project Helping People Solve Murder Cases

Belgian-based Crimibox has sold over 4,000 crime-solving games with monthly revenue of $8,000 and a retention rate above 38%, featuring real-life police files, an accompanying app, and a host of fictional suspects.

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4. World of Card Games ($48K/year)

Holger, a designer-turned-programmer from Copenhagen, acquired World of Card Games for its potential, increasing its revenue to $4,000/month within a year. Leveraging his experience with Online Solitaire, he seized the opportunity after ongoing discussions with the original owner.

How much money it makes: $48K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 0

I Acquired An Online Card Game And Solo Run It [$4K/Month Revenue]

This case study article follows the journey of a designer-turned-programmer who acquired a multiplayer card game website, World of Card Games, and managed to increase its revenue to $4,000 per month within a year, sharing insights on building the product, launching the business, and attracting and retaining customers.

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Read by 6,278 founders