Origin Story

Dark Unicorn Games was established by a group of game industry veterans with the goal of making games that are small in scale but big on fun. Games in which the creators have creative control, to ensure that our high quality standards are met. Games that are inclusive, bridging the gap of geekdom, expanding the army of young gamers our world so desperately needs.

The Name

Super Powered Smash Masters™, the first of Dark Unicorn Games’ products, was created before the company came into being. The design came first, and we fell in love with it, and we all decided to form a company to make it happen. The game features a lot of really fabulous and silly heroes, none of them more fabulous or silly than the game’s iconic mascot, Dark Unicorn himself.

When a friend heard that we were struggling to agree on a name for the new company, she (brilliantly) suggested that we embrace Dark Unicorn, and embrace him we did (but carefully — mind the horn).

We soon realized that the name combined two elements that Dark Unicorn Games is all about:

• A dark horse is a non-conformist, something that upsets the status quo.

• A unicorn is a rare beast, full of magic and mystery, and, and, and… sought after by maidens! Yeah!

• Their wild offspring, a Dark Unicorn , has power and promise. It has heart and perseverance. It has hope and excellence, fury and fun…and it’s super cool.

The People

Dark Unicorn Games is a motley rabble of friends and game industry veterans spread all over
the East Coast of the US. Combined, the primary vets have over 60 (*gulp*) years of game experience under their belts! Which is crazy. We’ve worked together for many years, but this is the first time we’ve had the opportunity to come together and form a company devoted to fun and games.

We love games. And we have families. And we love playing games with our families. So one of our most important goals is to produce games that you can play with your own families. Your kids, and your spouses, your grandparents and cousins, your siblings and, perhaps, your evil step siblings.

The Name of the Game

For a long time, Super Powered Smash Masters™ went under the working title of Battle Royale with Cheese. Then we played around with names that spelled out fun and colorful acronyms like SHART, KABLAM, and SALSA. But eventually, we arrived at the final, more specifically-heroic Super Hero Smash Masters. And there was much rejoicing. Such a name. You can almost hear the accompanying guitar solo, right? We were excited. We wrote it all over our documents, we made the logos. It was happening. And then later we discovered that Marvel and DC Comics (and Disney and Warner Bros.) jointly own the term “superhero” and all variations thereof, etcetera, etcetera, for all perpetuity, amen. Thus, we arrived at our MORE final final name: Super Powered Smash Masters™.

The Future

If you’re still reading this, thank you! We appreciate your interest in us. We’re looking forward to making new friends and making great games to share with them, and it’s people like you who will help us succeed.

To stay in touch with us, check out our Facebook and our Twitters, and sign up for our newsletter!

We want to hear from you, and we promise you’ll hear from us, too. Tell us what kind of games are capturing your imagination, and what you’d like to see from us. We’re all ears! And also horns!

-The Dark Unicorn Games team