American technology company Apple Inc. has featured three mobile games developed by Lagos-based Maliyo Games as part of its Africa Day celebration on the App Store, drawing attention to the studio’s role in advancing African storytelling in gaming.

The selected titles — Crazy Ludo, Safari City, and Whot King received special Africa Day-themed updates and are now available on the App Store and Google Play. The updates were developed by local talent trained through Maliyo’s GameUp Africa initiative, which aims to equip young African developers with skills to create culturally relevant digital content.

Maliyo Games was founded in 2012 and has since gained recognition for producing games that reflect African culture and stories.

Founder of Maliyo Games, Hugo Obi said the Apple feature was an acknowledgment of the studio’s efforts to place African narratives at the centre of its games.

“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,” Obi said.

He added that Safari City combines match-3 puzzle gameplay with city-building elements, allowing players to create neighbourhoods inspired by African architecture. The latest update includes new characters and stories such as “Mama Gold” and refreshed game interfaces.

“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,” he said.

Obi also highlighted the importance of Maliyo’s GameUp Africa programme, launched in 2021, which has attracted more than 6,000 applicants to date. Many of the developers involved in the programme contributed to the featured games as well as Maliyo’s collaboration with Disney on Iwájú: Rising Chef.

The growing visibility of African gaming comes amid increasing interest in the sector, driven by the continent’s young population and expanding mobile connectivity. A recent KPMG report estimated that Africa’s gaming industry generated over \$1 billion in revenue in 2024, reflecting its growing contribution to the creative economy.

Industry analysts say initiatives like Apple’s Africa Day feature help raise awareness of African developers on a global stage and could encourage further investment and growth.

Obi said the future of African gaming is “diverse, inclusive, and global,” emphasising the need for games that authentically represent African culture and stories.

The Africa Day editions of Crazy Ludo, Safari City, and Whot King became available on May 21, 2025, coinciding with the continent-wide celebration of African innovation and creativity.