The reasons for this strong growth are rooted in the advent of the digital format, which has made it easy for small studios to publish their video games.

Graph 1: games published by year

There were already digital stores when the generation of console tables like PS3, Xbox 360 or Wii seen in the second half of the 2000s appeared on the scene, and this, coupled with the rise of platforms such as Steam and the development of cell phones that were better for gaming, helped the digital market and indie video games to start growing at a fast pace. Looking at the graph, we see that until 2003 Spanish video games were limited to physical formats, since then, digital formats have been the constant in our industry.

Graph 2: game format evolution by year

There is what is perhaps an unexpected key factor influencing the strong growth of the industry in Spain: video games for mobile platforms. A single fact is very revealing: from 2010 to 2017, the platforms with the most video games published were always Android or iOS. 2018 was the first year since 2003 that PC took the podium in terms of number of games released. Within this period, 2014 has the honor of being the year that saw the highest level of production for video games for mobile platforms - 156 of a total of 225, that is, 69.3%. This preference for mobile platforms has waned. For example, in 2022, only 38 video games were published, 14% of the total volume.

While at the beginning of the last decade it was quantity that attracted attention, now it is quality that makes us open our eyes. Looking at the ranking of the games most highly rated by the foreign press (with a minimum of 25 reviews), we see that in the top 20 only two were released prior to 2017. In other words, not only are there better video games, but those games also attract more attention on the international market. Some, such as GRIS, Endling and Blasphemous that have been nominated for, and have even won, prestigious international awards.

It is difficult to predict what the next step will be in the evolution of video games in Spain. The trend is towards continued growth in production, and probably in average quality as well. Studios are becoming more and more professional and are improving in areas outside the video game itself, such as advertising and marketing. I don't know if we are experiencing a second golden age of Spanish software or not, but I am convinced that, in a few decades, these years will be remembered with much admiration.

Graph 3: Video games with the highest average score analyzed by foreign press with a minimum of 25 registered reviews

Note: All data has been obtained from the DeVuego database as of 11/18/2023.