What it’s like to work at My.Games

“We champion freedom of expression and individuality, encouraging everyone to bring their unique perspectives to the table,” says Elena Grigorian, CEO of MY.GAMES, one of Europe’s biggest gamemakers.

Headquartered in Amsterdam, MY.GAMES set up shop in Limassol in 2017, lured by the island’s vibrant gaming scene and strategic location. Today, with a local team of some 100 people, MY.GAMES has upgraded to a new Limassol office, reflecting its growing appetite for expansion. The gamemaker has an impressive portfolio of over 50 games, spanning various genres across mobile, PC and consoles, with blockbuster hits like War Robots, Rush Royale, Hustle Castle and Left to Survive. In 2024, Grigorian reveals, MY.GAMES unveiled Knights Peak, a new publishing unit focused on premium PC and console games, which has already delivered five titles.

Elena Grigorian, CEO of MY.GAMES

“At MY.GAMES, our culture is deeply rooted in our passion for gaming. The games we create are at the core of our strategy and goals, driving our commitment to excellence in game development and understanding our audience,” says Grigorian. She emphasises that to create games that resonate, a culture of openness, transparency, trust and teamwork is essential. Nonetheless, to manage and coordinate over 1,000 employees globally, the gamemaker has adopted a flat organisational structure. “This helps create a culture of support and collaboration – where expertise and good arguments matter more than titles and status,” she notes.

While MY.GAMES doesn’t have formal work-life balance policies – crunch time is an infamous norm in the gaming world – CEO Elena Grigorian ensures that leadership vigilantly monitors workloads to stave off burnout. “When extra hours are necessary during critical phases like game launches, we provide additional time off for employees to rest and recover,” she says. The company also offers meditation and stress management sessions, inviting external experts to train employees on quick recovery and balancing techniques. To counteract the sedentary nature of the work, MY.GAMES subsidises sports activities, keeping employees fit and energised. The benefits package, which is tailored to the specific needs of its distributed team, also includes comprehensive health and mental health support, meal compensation where applicable, corporate discounts and financial aid for significant life events.

According to Grigorian, diversity and inclusion are cornerstones of MY.GAMES’ culture, with women holding 45% of top positions. “Our ‘Women in MY.GAMES club’ further supports this culture, enhancing creativity and contributing to products that resonate with a broad audience,” she says. The club also serves as a professional development platform, helping female employees navigate both career and life. “Professional development is ingrained in our company’s DNA,” she adds. As part of this focus, MY.GAMES hosts internal meetups, regular Town Halls and All Hands Meetings, where everyone can ask questions and suggest improvements, and specialised sessions to discuss case studies and share knowledge in marketing, programming, game design and art, among others. It also provides a multilingual educational platform and invites IT experts to share insights and experiences.

To gauge employee satisfaction, MY.GAMES conducts biannual surveys and, based on the results, the HR team, in collaboration with management and team leaders, holds strategic sessions to develop new initiatives to improve work processes and the work environment. Recent results revealed high scores in eNPS (Employee Net Promoter Score), overall satisfaction and team engagement. Grigorian stresses, “Our greatest asset is our people. Our team is exceptionally talented and genuinely passionate about creating games, fostering an atmosphere of camaraderie and collaboration where colleagues often become friends.” This commitment extends beyond the office, evident in city-wide ESG activities like tree planting and a major clean-up of the reservoir bank near Limassol with the non-profit Friends City Club, where they collected a whopping 130 bags of garbage, much of which was then recycled.

“Our teams are led by ambitious leaders who unite their members towards common goals while empowering each individual with autonomy and responsibility,” says Elena Grigorian. “We value innovation, support new initiatives and encourage continuous learning. So, through honest communication and a strong sense of accountability, we create a dynamic and supportive workplace where everyone is driven to achieve their best!”

(Photos by Giorgos Charal)

This interview first appeared in the August edition of GOLD magazine. Click here to view it.