Spry Fox
An American game studio recognized for inventive casual, puzzle, word, and life-simulation games including Triple Town, Alphabear, and Cozy Grove.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Spry Fox is an American video game studio headquartered in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 2010 by David Edery and Daniel Cook, the company became known for producing small-scale games that combine accessible rules with distinctive themes, strategic depth, and a strong emphasis on replayability. Its portfolio spans social-network and mobile games, downloadable titles, and life-simulation experiences. The studio’s early identity was established by games such as Steambirds and Triple Town. Steambirds presented a strategy-oriented flying experience for mobile devices, while Triple Town combined match-based puzzle mechanics with city-building and resource-management elements. Triple Town was distributed through social networks and mobile platforms and used a freemium model, helping Spry Fox become associated with the emerging market for socially connected casual games. The studio also co-created Realm of the Mad God with Wild Shadow Studios. After Kabam acquired Wild Shadow Studios in 2012, Spry Fox sold its interest in the game to Kabam as part of that transaction. Spry Fox continued developing games that used familiar casual formats but added unusual progression systems and collectible or narrative layers. Road Not Taken adapted roguelike structure to a puzzle game, emphasizing repeated attempts and difficult choices. In 2015, the company released Alphabear, a word game in which players formed words from letter grids while collecting bears that supplied gameplay bonuses. The game’s combination of wordplay, collection, and light character humor broadened the studio’s visibility, and Alphabear received the Standout Indie award at the first Google Play Awards in 2016. Bushido Bear followed in 2016, using an action-oriented formula that Spry Fox described as combining elements associated with Fruit Ninja and Smash TV, while retaining the collectible-bear concept. Alphabear 2, released in 2018, expanded the original word-game formula with a more structured campaign and narrative. The project also included English-learning elements and was co-funded by the United States Department of Education, linking the studio’s entertainment work with an educational purpose. In 2021, Spry Fox released Cozy Grove, a life-simulation game for iOS, personal computers, and consoles. The title placed players on a haunted island where they gradually helped spirit characters and developed the environment, positioning the studio in the growing market for relaxed, ongoing simulation games. Netflix acquired Spry Fox in October 2022. The transaction brought the studio into Netflix’s games organization and supported Netflix’s effort to expand its catalog of games available to subscribers. During its period under Netflix, Spry Fox was associated with development of Spirit Crossing, a massively multiplayer online game. Reference material states that Netflix sold Spry Fox back to its founders in December 2025; the studio’s post-transaction operating structure and status are not otherwise established in the supplied sources. Spry Fox’s identifiable brand characteristics remain its independent-studio origins, inventive reinterpretation of familiar genres, and focus on approachable games with collectible, strategic, narrative, or community-oriented systems.
History
Spry Fox emerged in Seattle in 2010, founded by David Edery and Daniel Cook as an independent game-development studio. Its early work was shaped by the expansion of social-network and mobile gaming. Rather than concentrating on a single platform or genre, the studio experimented with compact game systems that could be learned quickly while supporting strategic decisions and repeated play. One early project was Steambirds, a strategy flying game for mobile devices. Spry Fox gained broader recognition with Triple Town, a freemium strategy puzzle game that incorporated city-building mechanics. Players combined game elements to create more advanced objects and expand a town, turning a seemingly simple matching structure into a planning-oriented experience. The game appeared on social networks and mobile devices and reflected the studio’s early interest in games that could operate within social and free-to-play environments. Spry Fox also co-created Realm of the Mad God with Wild Shadow Studios. The project connected the studio to the online and massively multiplayer game space. In June 2012, Kabam acquired Wild Shadow Studios, and Spry Fox sold its stake in Realm of the Mad God to Kabam as part of the deal. The transaction marked an important change in the ownership of one of the studio’s collaborative projects while leaving Spry Fox free to pursue its own development slate. Road Not Taken represented another direction. It was a roguelike puzzle game built around repeated play, procedural challenge, and difficult choices. The title showed that Spry Fox was willing to use the structure of a niche genre while presenting it through a puzzle-focused format. This mixture of accessibility and experimentation became a recurring characteristic of the company’s work. In July 2015, Spry Fox released Alphabear for mobile devices. The game used letter-based word formation and added collectible bears that provided bonuses or altered the player’s progression. Alphabear’s combination of wordplay, collection, and lighthearted presentation helped establish it as one of the studio’s signature properties. In 2016, it received the Standout Indie app award at the first Google Play Awards. That same year, Spry Fox released Bushido Bear, an action game described by the studio as a combination of ideas associated with Fruit Ninja and Smash TV. It used a bear-collection framework related to Alphabear while shifting the play experience toward combat and reflexes. Alphabear 2 followed in September 2018. The sequel expanded the original concept with a full campaign and narrative, rather than relying only on the more self-contained structure of the first game. It also included English-learning content and was co-funded by the United States Department of Education, giving the project an educational dimension in addition to its entertainment function. In March 2021, Spry Fox released Cozy Grove for iOS, personal computers, and consoles. The life-simulation game placed players in an evolving setting populated by spirit characters and emphasized gradual discovery, customization, and routine play. Its relaxed structure aligned the studio with the broader life-simulation and cozy-game movement while retaining Spry Fox’s interest in layered progression and character-driven systems. Netflix acquired Spry Fox in October 2022. The acquisition placed the Seattle studio within Netflix’s expanding games business and reflected the streaming company’s strategy of obtaining original game-development capabilities. Spry Fox had been developing Spirit Crossing, described in the supplied reference as a massively multiplayer online game for Netflix. Reference material further states that Netflix sold Spry Fox back to its founders in December 2025. Because the available material does not explain the terms of that transaction or the studio’s subsequent corporate structure, its present ownership and operating status remain uncertain.
- 2025
Returned to its founders
[1]Reference material states that Netflix sold Spry Fox back to its founders in December 2025.
- 2022
Acquired by Netflix
[1]Netflix acquired Spry Fox in October and added the studio to its games organization.
- 2021
Cozy Grove released
[1]Spry Fox released the life-simulation game Cozy Grove for iOS, computers, and consoles.
- 2018
Alphabear 2 released
[1]The sequel added a full campaign and narrative and incorporated English-learning elements.
- 2016
Alphabear receives Google Play award
[1]Alphabear won the Standout Indie app award at the inaugural Google Play Awards.
- 2016
Bushido Bear released
[1]The studio released Bushido Bear, an action game using collectible bears and fast-paced combat mechanics.
- 2015
Alphabear released
[1]Spry Fox launched Alphabear, a mobile word game built around letter formation and collectible bear bonuses.
- 2012
Realm of the Mad God stake transferred
[1]Following Kabam’s acquisition of Wild Shadow Studios, Spry Fox sold its stake in the co-created Realm of the Mad God to Kabam.
- 2010
Studio founded
[1]David Edery and Daniel Cook founded Spry Fox in Seattle, Washington.
Products and positioning
An independent-minded game studio focused on approachable but mechanically inventive experiences, especially casual, puzzle, word, simulation, and mobile games.
Mobile strategy game
Steambirds
A strategy flying game for mobile devices. It is one of Spry Fox’s early identifiable releases and reflects the studio’s initial focus on compact, rules-driven games designed for portable play.
Freemium strategy puzzle game
Triple Town
A strategy puzzle game that combines matching and combination mechanics with city-building. It was distributed through social networks and mobile devices and became one of Spry Fox’s best-known early properties.
Online multiplayer game
Realm of the Mad God
A collaborative online game co-created by Spry Fox and Wild Shadow Studios. Spry Fox later sold its stake to Kabam when Kabam acquired Wild Shadow Studios in 2012.
Roguelike puzzle game
Road Not Taken
A puzzle game structured around roguelike ideas, including repeated attempts and challenging decisions. It demonstrates Spry Fox’s practice of applying specialized genre systems to accessible puzzle formats.
Mobile word game · 2015
Alphabear
A Scrabble-style word game in which players form words from letter grids and collect bears that provide gameplay bonuses. Its blend of wordplay and collection helped make it a signature Spry Fox title.
Mobile action game · 2016
Bushido Bear
An action game released in 2016. Spry Fox characterized it as a mixture of ideas associated with Fruit Ninja and Smash TV, and it used collectible bears related to the Alphabear concept.
Word and educational game · 2018
Alphabear 2
A sequel that expanded the first Alphabear with a full campaign and narrative. The project also featured English-learning elements and received co-funding from the United States Department of Education.
Life-simulation game · 2021
Cozy Grove
A life-simulation game released for iOS, computers, and consoles. It focuses on gradually developing an island environment, helping spirit characters, and returning to an evolving world through relaxed, ongoing play.
Massively multiplayer online game
Spirit Crossing
A massively multiplayer online game that Spry Fox had been developing for Netflix. The supplied reference does not establish a release date or final commercial status.
Brand decisions
2025
Sale of Spry Fox back to its foundersM&ABackground
Reference material states that Spry Fox had been owned by Netflix since 2022.
Action taken
Netflix sold Spry Fox back to its founders in December 2025.
Aftermath
The available material does not specify the transaction terms, the treatment of Spirit Crossing, or the studio’s subsequent operating structure.
2022
Acquisition by NetflixM&ABackground
Netflix was expanding its games business and sought additional internal game-development capabilities.
Action taken
Netflix acquired Spry Fox in October 2022.
Aftermath
Spry Fox became part of Netflix’s games organization and continued work associated with Netflix, including the Spirit Crossing project.
2012
Sale of Realm of the Mad God stake to KabamM&ABackground
Spry Fox had co-created Realm of the Mad God with Wild Shadow Studios. Kabam acquired Wild Shadow Studios in June 2012.
Action taken
Spry Fox sold its stake in Realm of the Mad God to Kabam as part of the acquisition transaction.
Aftermath
Kabam became the holder of Spry Fox’s interest in the game. The supplied source does not provide financial terms.
Recent events
Reported
Epic Games announces publishing partnership with Spry Fox[2]
Epic Games' publishing arm announced Spry Fox as a new publishing partner. Spry Fox is developing a multiplatform persistent MMO for Epic.
Reported
Epic Games Publishing partners with Eyes Out and Spry Fox[3]
Epic Games Publishing announced partnerships with Eyes Out and Spry Fox, providing financial backing while allowing the studios to retain creative freedom and full ownership of their intellectual property.
Sources3 sources
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