Spellbound Entertainment

Germany Founded 1994 Website

Spellbound was founded by Armin Gessert in 1994 who was one of the three developers of the game The Great Giana Sisters (first released for the C64 in 1987). The Spellbound team initially produced graphics for the company Attic and thus took part in the creation of the role-playing game "Das schwarze Auge III" ("The Black Eye III"). This collaboration led to a commission from the company Fantasy Productions. They were to develop a game for the most successful series of German science fiction novels "Perry Rhodan" of Pabel publishing house. Spellbound’s first title was a strategy game called Perry Rhodan: Operation Eastside released in 1998 under the label Fantasy Productions.

Spellbound Entertainment at a Glance

Spellbound Entertainment, founded in Germany in 1994 by Armin Gessert, built a catalog of twelve titles listed on PlayPile. The team began their work creating graphics for Attic before securing a commission to develop Perry Rhodan: Operation Eastside for Fantasy Productions in 1998. This project marked their first published title and set the stage for an active period spanning from 1998 to 2010. Their output peaked during the 2000s with seven games, compared to four titles in the 1990s and only one release in the 2010s. The company focused heavily on strategy games, developing eight titles in this genre alongside five simulators and four tactical or real-time strategy entries. Their reach remained almost entirely on PC for Microsoft Windows, with twelve releases on that platform. They also released two versions for Linux, one each for PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and Mac. While they experimented with point-and-click adventure games and shooters, the majority of their work fell into simulation and strategy categories. Quality trends show a strong early run followed by a decline in critical reception. Their top-rated titles include Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive from 2001, which holds an 81.3 score, and Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood from 2002 with an 82.2 score. Chicago 1930 also achieved a high mark of 80.5 in 2003. Airline Tycoon rounded out their best work with a 79.9 rating in 1998. However, the ratings for later releases dropped significantly. Desperados 2: Cooper's Revenge from 2006 received a 67.8 score, while Helldorado fell to 50 in 2007. The final game listed, Arcania: Gothic 4 from October 2010, scored just 59.8. Across the seven titles with IGDB ratings, the average sits at 71.6. The breakdown shows three games rated as great and two as good, but they also produced two titles that fell into the mixed category. Their output slowed considerably in the last decade of their operation, and the final years saw a noticeable dip in player scores compared to their peak in the early 2000s.

Total Games

71.6

Avg Rating

1998

First Release

2010

Latest Release