Imperia Online at 20: A Look Back

• Imperia Online, a long-standing mobile game developer, is celebrating its twentieth anniversary.
• The company was established alongside the launch of its flagship title, Imperia Online.
• Over the years, it has developed and acquired numerous other games, including the entire GameLabs portfolio.

It’s easy to overlook how relatively new the mobile platform is. Although its origins trace back to the late 2000s, modern smartphone gaming truly took off around 2015. Yet, many studios in the mobile space have long histories, and Imperia Online is a prime example.

Marking 20 years since its founding in 2005, Imperia Online might not be a household name, but you’ve likely encountered some of its games. The studio’s flagship MMO strategy title, Imperia Online, has been running for nearly as long as the company itself.

Imperia Online boasts an impressive catalog of over 70 releases, with some titles acquired from other studios. Notable examples include Siege: World War II, Crush Them All, War Commander: Rogue Assault, and the entire GameLabs library.

Emperor

While Imperia Online may not feature the most advanced graphics or gameplay, nor include popular minigames like merge or match-three (those are found in other Imperia titles), it has endured through the years thanks to a dedicated and loyal player base.

The ongoing success of Imperia Online also highlights the rich history within the gaming industry—including mobile gaming. It serves as a reminder that, despite today’s fast-paced trends and high turnover, some developers continue to thrive steadily behind the scenes.

Meanwhile, exciting new releases continue to fill the gaps in the market. Who knows—perhaps in a decade, we’ll be featuring those titles as well. In the meantime, if you're curious about the latest and greatest games, why not explore our weekly roundup of the top five new mobile games to try?