Dead Mage (From Tehran to Global Indie Acclaim)
Dead Mage, established in 2010 by Amir-Hossein Fassihi and veterans of the Tehran-based Fanafzar software collective, is the most internationally celebrated independent game development studio originating from Iran. Born out of the ambitious team behind the mythological action title *Garshasp: The Monster Slayer*, Dead Mage conquered mobile platforms with the sleek platformer *Shadow Blade* (2014) before achieving worldwide critical and commercial triumph with the narrative roguelite *Children of Morta* (2019), co-published by Polish powerhouse 11 bit studios.
Origins and the Fanafzar Foundation
Dead Mage's core personnel coalesced at Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, working under Fanafzar Sharif to develop Iran's ambitious action title *Garshasp*. Navigating crippling economic sanctions, software licensing hurdles, and international payment blockades, founder Amir-Hossein Fassihi formed Dead Mage to bridge local artistic craftsmanship with international distribution.
Shadow Blade and Mobile Precision
In 2014, Dead Mage released *Shadow Blade*, a razor-sharp ninja action platformer designed for touch screens and PC. Combining traditional comic book art direction with responsive movement mechanics, *Shadow Blade* garnered worldwide App Store Editor's Choice accolades and established Dead Mage's reputation for exceptional mechanical polish.
Children of Morta and Global Critical Triumph
In 2019, partnering with Poland's 11 bit studios, Dead Mage released *Children of Morta*. Chronicling the emotional trials of the Bergson family defending Mount Morta from Corruption, the title merged procedurally generated dungeon crawling with hand-crafted pixel art animation and rich narrative warmth. Selling over one million copies worldwide across consoles and PC, it stands as a landmark achievement for Iranian creative game development.