In an industry where digital titles can vanish overnight, the arrival of the Simogo Legacy Collection is a cause for celebration. This anthology lovingly preserves the first seven games from the acclaimed Swedish indie studio Simogo, originally released for iPhone and iPad between 2010 and 2015. It's a vital time capsule from a pioneering era of mobile gaming.
From Malmö to the App Store Frontier
The story begins fifteen years ago in Malmö, Sweden, where animator Simon Flesser and programmer Magnus "Gordon" Gardebäck left their jobs at Southend Interactive. Tired of the complexities of console development, they bet on the nascent Apple App Store, seen then as gaming's most exciting new frontier. Combining their names to form Simogo, the duo became standard-setters for meaningful, inventive smartphone games.
This collection solves a persistent problem for iOS developers. Apple's constantly evolving standards meant older games could become unplayable without perpetual updates. Simogo's elegant solution was to bring the complete mobile experience to PC and Nintendo Switch, ensuring these classics survive for new audiences to discover.
A Masterclass in Curated Gameplay
The anthology is smartly designed, with a homescreen mimicking a smartphone interface—blissfully free of social media apps. Meticulous care allows play across various setups: with a controller on TV, mouse and keyboard on PC, or in handheld mode. The experience is wonderfully adaptable.
The games themselves remain remarkably fresh. It starts simply with Kosmo Spin, a cute arcade score-chaser. Ambition quickly blooms with Bumpy Road, an arcade trip infused with whimsy and melancholy. Then comes an incredible streak of innovation: the rhythm-based heisting of Beat Sneak Bandit, the chilling Swedish folklore of Year Walk, and the typographic thriller Device 6.
An Interdisciplinary Legacy of Playful Longing
Simogo's work has always felt like a letter from eccentric, well-read friends. The duo famously documents influences ranging from cult TV like The Prisoner to experimental literature, blending them into unique interactive prose. Their games are playful yet full of longing—for connection, meaning, and the chance to shape one's own story.
The world that allowed Simogo's App Store brilliance to flourish has changed. The studio has since expanded, creating console hits like Sayonara Wild Hearts and Lorelei and the Laser Eyes. This collection, however, immortalises their foundational, groundbreaking period. It's a chance to dream of a different path for mobile games and to appreciate the enduring wonder of Simogo's early vision. The Simogo Legacy Collection is out now for PC and Nintendo Switch.
