Frogwares
Corporate brand
UnclaimedUkrainian video game development studio best known for its Sherlock Holmes investigation games.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Frogwares is a Ukrainian video game development studio founded in 2000 by French expatriates working in Ukraine and Ireland. The company is headquartered in Kyiv and has also maintained subsidiary operations in Dublin. Its name refers to the derogatory English expression “froggies,” historically used for people of French origin. The studio began with a small team of six people and expanded substantially over the following years, reaching approximately 80 employees by 2018. Frogwares built its identity around narrative adventure and investigation games, particularly adaptations of Sherlock Holmes. Its first release was Sherlock Holmes: The Mystery of the Mummy in 2002. The studio subsequently developed a long-running Adventures of Sherlock Holmes series spanning personal computers and multiple console generations. These games generally combine exploration, evidence gathering, puzzle solving, interrogation, and branching deductions rather than relying primarily on conventional action mechanics. Across the series, the Sherlock Holmes games have sold approximately seven million copies worldwide, according to the studio's Wikipedia description. The company worked with external publishing and distribution partners during much of its early history, including Focus Home Interactive. When a publisher associated with its casual-games business ceased operations, Frogwares moved toward self-publishing and direct control over online distribution. In 2011 it created Waterlily Games as a dedicated subsidiary for casual, hidden-object, and light adventure games, while another subsidiary, 3AM Studios, was established in 2012 to release the science-fiction puzzle shooter Magrunner: Dark Pulse. Frogwares also experimented with multiplayer strategy through World of Battles: Morningstar, an online massively multiplayer real-time strategy title released in 2012 that was discontinued the following year. Frogwares expanded beyond the traditional linear adventure format with The Sinking City, released in 2019. Inspired by the fiction of H. P. Lovecraft, the game is an open-world investigation title set in a heavily atmospheric supernatural environment. Its development and distribution later became the center of a major contractual and copyright dispute with Bigben Interactive, now known as Nacon. Frogwares alleged that milestone and royalty obligations had not been met and that Nacon attempted to claim rights over the game. The dispute led to the game's removal from several storefronts, competing versions of the title, court proceedings, and takedown actions. In January 2024, Frogwares announced that it had become the sole publisher of The Sinking City across all platforms. In 2020 Frogwares announced Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One, an open-world prequel depicting an earlier period in Holmes's life. The game introduced the fictional island of Cordona as a freely explorable setting and was released first on newer platforms, with PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions affected by delays; the Xbox One version was ultimately cancelled. In 2022 the studio announced a remake of Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened. Originally conceived as a smaller side project, the remake became the studio's principal focus during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Frogwares rebuilt the game in Unreal Engine 4 and reworked it as a narrative sequel to Chapter One. A Kickstarter campaign exceeded its funding target within hours, and the game launched in April 2023 without Russian-language support. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 significantly affected Frogwares' operations. The studio documented the impact on its staff, adopted a hybrid working model, and reported that some employees joined humanitarian or military volunteer efforts. It removed its games from sale in Russia and received an Epic MegaGrant in 2022 to help relocate employees and maintain development capacity. In March 2024, Frogwares announced The Sinking City 2, a sequel set in 1920s New England with a new protagonist and a greater emphasis on combat. The studio remains an independent Ukrainian developer focused on narrative, investigation, horror, and adventure games.
History
Frogwares was established in 2000 in Ukraine and Ireland by French expatriates. The company began as a six-person team and released its first game, Sherlock Holmes: The Mystery of the Mummy, in 2002. Its early catalog established the studio's long-term concentration on detective adventures and literary properties. During the 2000s and 2010s, Frogwares developed successive Sherlock Holmes titles for personal computers and consoles. The studio used exploration, puzzle solving, suspect interviews, evidence analysis, and deduction as central mechanics. With The Mystery of the Persian Carpet in 2008, it also entered casual games. Waterlily Games was created in 2011 to handle casual, hidden-object, and light adventure projects, many of which were distributed digitally. Frogwares became more involved in self-publishing after a publisher connected to its distribution arrangements closed. The studio broadened its range in 2012. World of Battles: Morningstar was its first multiplayer massively multiplayer real-time strategy project, but the game was discontinued in 2013. Frogwares also formed 3AM Studios to release Magrunner: Dark Pulse, a science-fiction puzzle game built around manipulating magnetized cubes and platforms. Although the project differed from the Sherlock Holmes games, it retained the company's interest in investigation-like problem solving and structured environmental puzzles. In 2014, Focus Home Interactive announced a Frogwares-developed Call of Cthulhu project, but the title later moved to another developer. Frogwares instead developed The Sinking City, an open-world investigation game influenced by H. P. Lovecraft. Released in 2019, it represented a major shift from the studio's more contained detective adventures toward a larger explorable world and supernatural horror setting. Relations with publishing and distribution partners became increasingly contentious. Frogwares disputed the nature of its relationship with Focus Home Interactive, arguing that Focus had acted as a distribution intermediary rather than the financier or publisher of the relevant games. After the arrangement ended in 2019, many Frogwares titles were temporarily removed from sale while the studio completed new certification and online publishing procedures. The games gradually returned to stores during 2020. A separate dispute with Bigben Interactive, later renamed Nacon, concerned The Sinking City. In 2020 Frogwares accused the company of seeking copyright control, withholding royalty payments, and failing to make milestone payments. Frogwares terminated the contract and removed the game from many online marketplaces. A court order later returned the game to stores, while Frogwares warned consumers about versions it alleged had been altered or distributed without authorization. The conflict included a DMCA notice and disagreements over digital storefront versions. In January 2024 Frogwares stated that it had become the game's sole publisher on every platform. Frogwares announced Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One in 2020. The title explored Holmes's early life and used an open-world structure on the fictional island of Cordona. The newer-console release was followed by delays to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One editions; the PlayStation 4 version arrived in 2022, while the Xbox One version was cancelled. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 became another defining event in the company's history. Frogwares publicly described the effect of the war on its employees and production. Some staff participated in humanitarian work or joined volunteer military efforts, while the remaining workforce adopted hybrid operations. The studio withdrew its games from sale in Russia and obtained an Epic MegaGrant to support relocation and continuity. In July 2022 Frogwares announced a remake of Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened. The project was rebuilt in Unreal Engine 4 and rewritten as a follow-up to Chapter One. Wartime constraints transformed what had been intended as a side project into the studio's main focus. A Kickstarter campaign created an additional development buffer and exceeded its goal rapidly. The release was delayed to April 2023, and the game did not include Russian-language support. In March 2024 Frogwares announced The Sinking City 2. The sequel is set in 1920s New England, introduces a new protagonist, and places more emphasis on combat than its predecessor. Frogwares continues to operate as an independent Ukrainian studio whose portfolio combines detective fiction, open-world investigation, supernatural horror, and casual puzzle games.
- 2024
The Sinking City 2 is announced
[1]Frogwares announces a sequel with a new protagonist and a stronger combat component.
- 2024
Frogwares becomes sole publisher of The Sinking City
[1]The studio announces the end of its publishing dispute with Nacon and assumes publishing control across all platforms.
- 2023
The Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened remake launches
[1]The rebuilt and reimagined remake is released after a successful Kickstarter campaign and war-related delays.
- 2022
Operations are reshaped by the war in Ukraine
[1]Frogwares moves to hybrid operations, removes its games from sale in Russia, and uses an Epic MegaGrant to assist staff relocation.
- 2020
Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One is announced
[1]The studio announces an open-world prequel about Sherlock Holmes's early years.
- 2019
The Sinking City releases
[1]Frogwares launches its first open-world investigation game, inspired by H. P. Lovecraft's fiction.
- 2012
Multiplayer and subsidiary expansion
[1]Frogwares releases World of Battles: Morningstar and creates 3AM Studios for Magrunner: Dark Pulse.
- 2011
Waterlily Games is created
[1]The subsidiary is established for casual, hidden-object, and light adventure games.
- 2008
Expansion into casual games
[1]The Mystery of the Persian Carpet marks Frogwares' move into casual game development.
- 2002
First game released
[1]Sherlock Holmes: The Mystery of the Mummy becomes Frogwares' first released title.
Products and positioning
An independent, story-driven game developer specializing in investigation mechanics, literary adaptations, atmospheric mystery, and horror. Frogwares differentiates itself through evidence-based detective systems, exploration, and original interpretations of Sherlock Holmes and H. P. Lovecraft-inspired settings.
Detective adventure games · 2002
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes series
Frogwares' signature franchise adapts Sherlock Holmes into interactive investigation scenarios. The games typically require players to inspect locations, gather evidence, question witnesses, compare clues, and reach deductions. The series has appeared across personal computers and several generations of consoles and has sold approximately seven million copies worldwide.
Open-world investigation horror · 2019
The Sinking City
Released in 2019, The Sinking City is an open-world investigation game influenced by H. P. Lovecraft. It places the player in a supernatural setting where exploration, case-solving, environmental clues, and psychological horror are combined. The title later became associated with a major publishing and copyright dispute between Frogwares and Nacon.
Open-world detective adventure · 2021
Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One
This prequel explores Sherlock Holmes's early years through an open-world structure. Players investigate cases across the fictional island of Cordona, with the game expanding Frogwares' established evidence and deduction systems into a more freely explorable environment.
Detective horror adventure · 2023
Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened
The 2023 remake rebuilds Frogwares' earlier Sherlock Holmes and Cthulhu-themed adventure in Unreal Engine 4. The studio rewrote the narrative so that the game functions as a sequel to Chapter One, connecting Holmes's personal development with a supernatural investigation.
Science-fiction puzzle game · 2013
Magrunner: Dark Pulse
Released through the 3AM Studios subsidiary in 2013, Magrunner: Dark Pulse is a strategic science-fiction game based on magnetizing cubes and platforms to navigate levels. Its environmental manipulation and first-person puzzle structure led to comparisons with Portal.
Massively multiplayer real-time strategy · 2012
World of Battles: Morningstar
Frogwares' first multiplayer massively multiplayer real-time strategy game was set in a fantasy medieval world. Players trained and controlled armies, fought other players' forces, and sought gems. The service was discontinued in 2013.
Casual and hidden-object games · 2008
Waterlily Games casual catalog
Waterlily Games developed casual, hidden-object, and light adventure titles for PC and iOS. Its catalog included Sherlock Holmes-themed games as well as projects such as Mata Hari and the Kaiser's Submarines, Department 42, Dracula: Love Kills, and Journey: The Heart of Gaia.
Open-world horror investigation · 2024
The Sinking City 2
Announced in 2024, The Sinking City 2 is planned as a sequel set in 1920s New England. It introduces a new protagonist and is designed to place greater emphasis on combat than the original game.
Controversies
2020
Frogwares dispute with Nacon over The Sinking City
Frogwares accused Bigben Interactive, later renamed Nacon, of attempting to claim copyright control over The Sinking City, failing to make milestone payments, and withholding royalties. Frogwares terminated the contract and removed the game from several storefronts. The dispute later involved court proceedings, competing versions of the game, and a DMCA takedown.
2019
Publishing and distribution dispute with Focus Home Interactive
After its relationship with Focus Home Interactive ended, Frogwares contested how the parties' roles and rights should be characterized. Many of the studio's games were temporarily withdrawn while Frogwares completed new certification and online publishing processes.
Marketing campaigns
- 2022The Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened Kickstarter
International
Frogwares used Kickstarter to create a financial and operational safety buffer for the remake while the war in Ukraine complicated development and staff continuity. The campaign's funding target was surpassed within hours.
Outcome. The campaign exceeded its goal, and the remake was released in April 2023.
- 2022Withdrawal of Frogwares games from Russia
Russia
Following the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Frogwares removed its games from sale in Russia and called on other companies to take similar action.
Outcome. The studio continued operating through a hybrid model while publicly documenting the war's effect on its team.
Brand decisions
2024
Frogwares assumes sole publishing control of The Sinking CityStrategyBackground
The studio's long-running contractual dispute with Nacon concerned publishing, copyright, payments, and the distribution of different game versions.
Action taken
Frogwares announced that it had become the sole publisher of The Sinking City across all platforms.
Aftermath
The announcement marked the stated resolution of the publishing dispute and consolidated distribution control with the developer.
2022
Adoption of a wartime hybrid operating modelStrategyBackground
The Russian invasion of Ukraine disrupted the studio's working environment and affected the personal safety and location of its employees.
Action taken
Frogwares adopted hybrid operations, supported staff relocation, removed its products from the Russian market, and used an Epic MegaGrant to help maintain development capacity.
Aftermath
The studio continued production and made The Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened remake its central project during the conflict.
2022
Rebuild of The Awakened as a Chapter One sequelGeneration changeBackground
A remake of the 2007 game was initially conceived as a side project, but wartime constraints made a contained, focused project more practical for the studio.
Action taken
Frogwares rebuilt the game from scratch in Unreal Engine 4 and rewrote it as a sequel to Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One.
Aftermath
The project received successful Kickstarter backing and was released in April 2023.
2020
Termination of the Nacon contract for The Sinking CityOtherBackground
Frogwares alleged that Nacon had not met milestone and royalty obligations and was attempting to assert copyright control over the game.
Action taken
Frogwares terminated the contract and removed The Sinking City from most online platforms, while retaining selected direct or independently managed distribution channels.
Aftermath
The dispute led to court-ordered restoration, claims concerning altered versions, a DMCA takedown, and eventual sole-publisher status for Frogwares in 2024.
2019
Move toward direct control of game publishingStrategyBackground
The end of Frogwares' relationship with Focus Home Interactive created uncertainty over distribution rights and temporarily removed numerous games from sale.
Action taken
Frogwares undertook new certifications and online publishing procedures for individual titles and progressively returned them to stores.
Aftermath
The studio strengthened its direct publishing role and later used that model in its dispute over The Sinking City.
Recent events
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