Barcelona's Cheer Games Secures $4.5M to Boost Puzzle Game Innovation and Expansion
March 5, 2026
Investors from Makers Fund express enthusiasm for the team’s ability to generate fresh concepts and build depth that retains players, committing to support Cheer Games’ journey.
Investors cite the founders’ track record and vision for durable franchises, highlighting their impact and potential to create long-lasting mobile IP.
Curtis Urbanowicz of Makers Fund highlights chemistry and shared vision among the founders, while Anton Backman of Play Ventures notes breadth across product, design, engineering, growth, and live ops as a competitive edge.
The company aims to build enduring game franchises and institutions, prioritizing scalable IP and long-lasting mobile franchises over short-term hits.
Cheer Games, a Barcelona-based mobile puzzle studio, announced a $4.5 million pre-seed round led by Makers Fund with participation from Play Ventures to accelerate game development and expand their Barcelona headquarters.
CEO and co-founder Emre Gercel praises the founders—Berkay, Kutay, and Ertan—for their proven track records in game design, scaling, and studio building, with Hexa Sort and other ventures cited as evidence.
The team has assembled an 11-person, Europe-focused, high-talent-density squad and is actively hiring, drawing roots from leading European gaming companies.
No specific financial terms beyond the pre-seed amount were disclosed.
The announcement places the deal in a broader market context, noting a related seed round in the industry to illustrate momentum.
Key quotes from Emre Gercel and investors stress complementary expertise, strong chemistry, and a belief in a long-term, franchise-building approach for the studio.
Makers Fund is a global early-stage investor in interactive entertainment, while Play Ventures focuses on early-stage gaming and consumer apps, with offices in Singapore and Helsinki.
Cheer Games emphasizes a focus on casual puzzle games with fresh gameplay and high-quality execution to deliver engaging experiences.
Summary based on 8 sources
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Sources

Forbes • Mar 5, 2026
Cheer Games Raises $4.5 Million For ‘Next Gen’ Mobile Puzzles
Tech.eu • Mar 5, 2026
Cheer Games closes $4.5M pre-seed round for mobile gaming platform
