Hobby World

Hobby World is a Russian publishing house and distributor specializing in tabletop entertainment. Its catalogue spans children's games, family games, party games, strategic titles, military simulations, collectible card games, and other hobby products. The company is headquartered in Moscow and serves Russia and wider Eastern European markets. The business was formed in 2010 through the merger of two earlier competitors, Fantasy World and Smart. Fantasy World had been established in 2003 to develop and publish Berserk, a collectible card game, and later expanded into publishing localized editions of foreign collectible card games, including Magic: The Gathering. Smart operated from the early 2000s and concentrated on board games, including localized editions of internationally known titles such as Catan. The two companies' leaders reportedly first met in 2003 at the Labyrinth board-game club, an operation associated with Smart. Following the merger, Hobby World combined original development, licensing, localization, manufacturing coordination, retail distribution, and media activity. Its published catalogue has included Russian editions of internationally recognized games such as Settlers of Catan, Carcassonne, Munchkin, Ticket to Ride, Game of Thrones, Arkham Horror, and Warhammer. The company has also developed more than 200 board games and maintains a role in introducing foreign tabletop properties to Russian-speaking players. Production is divided between Russian and foreign supply chains. Most game components are manufactured in Russia, with production partners located in the Kaluga and Moscow regions, while some components are supplied by European contractors. This mixed model supports both locally developed products and licensed international editions. Hobby World has broadened beyond game publishing through acquisitions. In 2018 it acquired Mir Fantastiki, a science-fiction and fantasy magazine, adding a specialist media property to its portfolio. In 2024 it acquired Zvezda, a Russian manufacturer of scale models, extending the group’s presence into model-making and adjacent hobby categories. The company’s overall positioning is that of an integrated tabletop and enthusiast-publishing business rather than a single-game developer.

Hobby World emerged from the consolidation of two Russian tabletop companies, Fantasy World and Smart. Fantasy World was founded in 2003 around the development and publication of Berserk, a collectible card game. It subsequently expanded into publishing foreign collectible card games for the Russian market, including Magic: The Gathering. Smart, which had operated since the early 2000s, focused primarily on board games and produced localized versions of established international titles, including Catan. Smart was also associated with the Labyrinth board-game club, where the leaders of the two companies met in 2003. The two businesses merged in 2010, creating Hobby World as a larger publisher and distributor with capabilities spanning original game creation, localization, licensing, and sales. The merger brought together Fantasy World's experience with collectible card games and Smart's board-game publishing and distribution activities. The resulting company developed and released Russian editions of a wide range of tabletop properties, including Settlers of Catan, Carcassonne, Munchkin, Ticket to Ride, Game of Thrones, Arkham Horror, and Warhammer. Hobby World's catalogue has covered several segments of the tabletop market. These include games for children, family and party games, complex strategy titles, military games, and collectible card games. Alongside licensed editions, the company has developed a substantial body of original or locally published material, with the available reference material stating that it has created more than 200 board games. Its activities therefore combine the role of publisher, rights holder, localizer, and distributor. Manufacturing has relied mainly on Russian suppliers, particularly producers in the Kaluga and Moscow regions. Some components have also been sourced from European contractors. This production structure allows the company to manufacture many components domestically while retaining access to external suppliers for selected products or specialized requirements. The company later expanded into adjacent enthusiast categories. In 2018, Hobby World acquired Mir Fantastiki, a magazine devoted to science fiction and fantasy. The acquisition added editorial and media capabilities connected to many of the same fictional universes and fan communities represented in tabletop gaming. In 2024, Hobby World acquired Zvezda, a Russian scale-model manufacturer. That transaction extended the company’s scope from games and specialist media into scale modelling, another hobby category with overlapping distribution channels and audiences. Hobby World is headquartered in Moscow and is described as a major publisher in Russia and Eastern Europe. Its business remains centered on tabletop entertainment, with a portfolio that combines original Russian products, localized international games, collectible card games, and broader hobby offerings.

• 2024

  Zvezda is acquired

  [1]Hobby Worlden.wikipedia.org

  Hobby World acquired the Russian scale-model manufacturer Zvezda, expanding into adjacent hobby products.

• 2018

  Mir Fantastiki is acquired

  [1]Hobby Worlden.wikipedia.org

  Hobby World acquired the science-fiction and fantasy magazine Mir Fantastiki.

• 2010

  Hobby World is formed

  [1]Hobby Worlden.wikipedia.org

  Fantasy World and Smart merged to create Hobby World, combining collectible card-game and board-game publishing operations.

• 2003

  Fantasy World is established

  [1]Hobby Worlden.wikipedia.org

  Fantasy World was founded to develop and publish the Berserk collectible card game and later expanded into foreign collectible card-game publishing.

• 2003

  The companies' leaders meet at the Labyrinth club

  [1]Hobby Worlden.wikipedia.org

  The leaders who would later unite Fantasy World and Smart reportedly met at the Labyrinth board-game club.

A broad Russian tabletop-entertainment publisher and distributor combining original game development, international licensing, localization, manufacturing, retail distribution, and adjacent hobby media and model-making assets.

• Collectible card game · 2003

  Berserk

  Berserk was the collectible card game around which Fantasy World was originally established in 2003. It represents the company's early involvement in original game development and collectible-card publishing, before the creation of Hobby World through the merger with Smart.

• Strategy board game

  Settlers of Catan

  Hobby World publishes a Russian edition of the internationally known strategy board game Settlers of Catan. Its inclusion illustrates the company's localization and distribution role for major foreign tabletop properties.

• Strategy board game

  Carcassonne

  Carcassonne is among the established international board-game properties published by Hobby World in Russian. The title fits the company's focus on accessible but strategically rich family and hobby games.

• Party and card game

  Munchkin

  Hobby World's catalogue includes a Russian edition of Munchkin, a humorous card-driven game. The product reflects the company's presence in casual, social, and party-oriented tabletop entertainment.

• Family board game

  Ticket to Ride

  Ticket to Ride is one of the internationally licensed board games associated with Hobby World's Russian publishing programme. It reinforces the company's role in making globally established family games available to local audiences.

• Licensed strategy game

  Game of Thrones

  Hobby World has published tabletop products connected with the Game of Thrones property. Such licensed titles combine established entertainment franchises with the company's localization, publishing, and distribution capabilities.

• Cooperative horror board game

  Arkham Horror

  Arkham Horror is included among Hobby World's localized international tabletop properties. Its setting and cooperative gameplay place it within the company's strategy, thematic, and enthusiast-oriented catalogue.

• Fantasy and military hobby game

  Warhammer

  Hobby World has published Russian-language Warhammer products, extending its catalogue into fantasy and military-themed hobby gaming. The property is consistent with the company's broader focus on specialist enthusiast communities.

• 2024

  Acquisition of ZvezdaM&A

  Background

  Zvezda is a Russian manufacturer of scale models, a category adjacent to tabletop gaming and other enthusiast hobbies.

  Action taken

  Hobby World acquired Zvezda.

  Aftermath

  The transaction broadened Hobby World's portfolio into scale models and related hobby products.

  Source

• 2018

  Acquisition of Mir FantastikiM&A

  Background

  Mir Fantastiki was a science-fiction and fantasy magazine with thematic overlap with Hobby World's game and fan-oriented publishing activities.

  Action taken

  Hobby World acquired the magazine.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition expanded Hobby World into specialist media and strengthened its presence in science-fiction and fantasy communities.

  Source

• 2010

  Merger of Fantasy World and SmartM&A

  Background

  Fantasy World brought experience in collectible card games and foreign CCG publishing, while Smart specialized in board-game production and localization.

  Action taken

  The two competing companies merged to form Hobby World.

  Aftermath

  The merger created a broader tabletop publisher with capabilities across original development, licensed games, localization, manufacturing coordination, and distribution.

  Source

1. 1Hobby Worlden.wikipedia.org