NoxGames’ Hexapolis, a civ-like turn-based strategy mobile title, has passed one-million downloads.

Released in 2021, Hexapolis is developed by NoxGames, a developer based in the Czech Republic. The title is a take on games such as Civilization and pits players against one another on a hex-based grid map, building their factions in the classic 4x (Explore, Expand, Exploit, Exterminate) formula.

NoxGames themselves boast of 70 successful indie title since 2005, and it seems they can add Hexapolis to the list. As a relatively small indie team the company has produced games in a variety of genres including hypercasual titles (Merge Cars) and RPG titles (Mage Legends).

With hypercasual proving to be controversial, not for anything inherent to it but for whether it will continue to be successful, it’s notable that the latest hit for a smaller studio like NoxGames is in what is usually a far more niche genre - strategy. Even major players such as EA have begun to pivot over to the strategy genre, with the recent announcement of EA Sports FC Tactical.

It could be that Hexapolis is a sort of litmus test for how a niche game from a smaller company can still reach a modest milestone. But whether this gets picked up across the industry is another thing to consider altogether.

Notable and modest success

While Hexapolis’ success may pale in comparison to some big hitters in the battle-royale genres, or other breakouts such as Stumble Guys, the fact that a smaller studio such as NoxGames can still reach such a milestone in what is quite a turbulent time is still encouraging.

Elsewhere in the industry a number of layoffs have been taking place, and indie studios and publishers have not been immune to these either. Team17, the UK-based developer and publisher of the Worms games has recently been reported to be considering layoffs that could hit up to a third of its workforce.