In a significant milestone, Pan-African game development studio, Maliyo Games, is in the global spotlight as the American multinational technology company, Apple Inc., features three of Maliyo Games’ titles in this year’s Africa Day App Store celebration, recognising the studio’s standout role in shaping culturally relevant gaming experiences from the continent.
As part of Apple’s annual editorial celebrating African innovation across apps, games, music, and film, Maliyo’s Crazy Ludo, Safari City, and Whot King were handpicked and showcased with exclusive, Africa Day-themed updates — all crafted by local talent trained through Maliyo’s flagship GameUp Africa initiative.
The Africa Day editions of Crazy Ludo, Safari City, and Whot King are available from May 21, 2025 on the App Store and Google Play.
“This recognition from Apple is a huge moment for us — and for African game development as a whole,” said Hugo Obi, founder of Maliyo Games. He enthused: “It validates the years of hard work by our amazing team across the continent. We’re proud to tell African stories through our games, built by African developers, for a global audience.”
Obi stated that each of the spotlighted titles brings African themes, artistry, and storytelling to life, noting: “Crazy Ludo reimagines the timeless board game with African power-ups, dynamic daily missions, and exclusive Africa Day tournaments. The latest update features in-game art inspired by traditional African design motifs.
“Safari City combines match-3 puzzle gameplay with city-building, allowing players to construct African homes and neighborhoods. The update introduces new character stories like Mama Gold, refreshed interfaces, and architecture inspired by real-world African landmarks.
“Whot King, Maliyo’s digital version of the beloved Nigerian card game, now features a new Africa Day Challenge — a multi-city tournament where players face off with heritage-inspired card decks across iconic African locations.’’
Obi added further that Maliyo Games founded in Lagos in 2012, has become a cultural ambassador through gaming, and expressed delight that its selection for this year’s Africa Day App Store celebration places a spotlight on Africa’s mobile-first gaming future and the creative power of African talent.
“At the heart of this growth is GameUp Africa, Maliyo’s developer training program launched in 2021. With over 6,000 applicants to date, the initiative has become a pipeline for nurturing young African developers — many of whom worked on the featured games and Maliyo’s collaboration with Disney on Iwájú: Rising Chef,’’ he said.
Obi concluded by stating that Maliyo’s inclusion in Apple’s Africa Day feature follows a broader trend of rising interest in African gaming.
According to him, a recent KPMG report revealed that the continent’s gaming industry generated over $1 billion in revenue last year, cementing its place within Africa’s creative economy.
“The future of gaming is diverse, inclusive, and global — and Africa is a big part of that story,” Obi added. “We’re building games that reflect our culture, our stories, and our people. This is just the beginning.”
