Imperia Online at 20: A Look Back at the Mighty Studio's History

• Imperia Online, a long-standing mobile developer, celebrates its twentieth anniversary this year.
• The company was established alongside the launch of its flagship title, also named Imperia Online.
• Over the years, they have developed and acquired numerous other games, including the entire GameLabs portfolio.

It's easy to overlook how relatively young the mobile gaming platform is. While its origins date back to the late 2000s, the modern smartphone gaming era truly began around 2015. Yet, many studios in the mobile space have long histories, and Imperia Online is a prime example.

Marking 20 years since its founding in 2005, Imperia Online might not be a household name, but you're likely familiar with some of its titles. The studio's signature game, Imperia Online, is an MMO strategy title that has been running for almost as long as the company itself.

Imperia Online boasts an impressive catalog of over 70 releases, some of which were acquired from other studios. Notable titles include Siege: World War II, Crush Them All, War Commander: Rogue Assault, and the entire game library from developer GameLabs.

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While Imperia Online may not feature the most advanced graphics or complex gameplay mechanics, nor include popular mini-games like merge or match-three puzzles (a niche filled by other Imperia titles), it has endured the test of time. This longevity is undoubtedly due to its dedicated community of players who have remained loyal throughout the years.

The ongoing success of Imperia Online serves as a reminder of the rich history within the gaming industry, including mobile gaming. It demonstrates that in an era often dominated by high turnover and fleeting trends, some developers continue to operate steadily and faithfully in the background.

Meanwhile, exciting new releases continue to fill various gaming niches. Who knows—perhaps a decade from now, we'll be writing about today's newcomers with the same appreciation. If you're interested in discovering the latest standout titles, explore our weekly roundup of the top five new mobile games to try.