Amin Abbas

Red Dunes Games, an Emirati growing indie game studio, is making its mark in the global gaming community.

Co-founders Sultan Al Darmaki and Mohamed Al Jneibi have finally seized the opportunity to work together, bringing their shared passion for gaming to life with the creation of Red Dunes Games — a studio focused on crafting fun, memorable games for players around the world.

Sultan and Mohamed have always shared a deep love for gaming, often dreaming of one day working together to build a game studio. What started as a childhood dream between two lifelong friends has now become a reality. Timing and career responsibilities kept this dream at bay for many years — until now. Finally, the two have partnered to bring everything under one umbrella, creating Red Dunes Games, a company dedicated to making games that are all about having fun.

“After years of working in entertainment and pursuing our separate careers, it’s incredible to finally come together and do what we’ve always wanted — make games,” says Sultan Al Darmaki, CEO and Creative Director of Red Dunes Games. “Red Dunes is all about creating fun, engaging experiences that bring joy to players everywhere.”

Sultan Al Darmaki, CEO and Creative Director of Red Dunes Games, has long been an active force in the entertainment industry. Through his work at Dark Dunes Productions, Sultan has been involved in creating dynamic, story-driven films focused on horror, sci-fi, and fantasy.

His passion for storytelling has been a driving force in his career, and he brings that same creativity and experience to the world of gaming.

Before Red Dunes Games, Mohamed was the Founder and CEO of HelloSir Games, an Emirati-founded indie game studio that broke new ground by exhibiting at the Tokyo Game Show and launching its fully localized flagship title, The Adventures of Zozo.

Mohamed’s experience with HelloSir Games played a pivotal role in the formation of Red Dunes Games, bringing his vision and expertise to the new company.

“HelloSir Games taught me the importance of storytelling and reaching new audiences,” Mohamed reflects. “Now, with Red Dunes Games, Sultan and I can focus on making the kind of fun, story-driven games we’ve always wanted to create, and share them with gamers around the world.”

One key project motivated this move: The Adventures of Zozo. This game, originally conceived under HelloSir Games, inspired Sultan and Mohamed to bring their creative powers together.

While Mohamed had always envisioned Zozo as a flagship game, Sultan’s experience in storytelling and media was crucial in shaping the game’s narrative and direction. Now, Zozo is undergoing an exciting evolution and will be reimagined as Nightmare Battler Zozo, reflecting both founders’ creative visions.

“Zozo has always been a special project for me,” Mohamed explains. “It’s the kind of game that I’ve dreamed of making, and working with Sultan has allowed us to bring that dream to life in a way that blends both of our strengths.”

Red Dunes Games is now working on Nightmare Battler Zozo alongside four other exciting projects.

The company will make its debut appearance at Tokyo Game Show this month (Booth 08-N02), where they will showcase their lineup, including the launch of their first game, The Port of Jumanah. While Zozo remains in development, the reimagined Nightmare Battler Zozo will be officially announced in 2025.

Focused on making fun games that resonate with players, Red Dunes Games is poised to make a lasting impact on the global indie gaming scene. With a mission to deliver enjoyable, story-driven experiences, the studio is ready to share its passion for gaming with the world.

“We’re here to create games that are simply fun to play,” Sultan adds. “The Tokyo Game Show is the perfect place for us to introduce Red Dunes Games and connect with gamers from all over.”