Indianapolis game publisher acquired by Oakland company

An Indianapolis-based publisher of board games has reached an agreement to be acquired by Indie Boards and Cards of Oakland, California, the companies announced Monday.

Under the agreement, Action Phase Games will become a regional office for Indie Boards and Cards. The merged company will release new games mostly under the Indie Boards and Cards imprint. The Action Phase Games brand will continue as the imprint for the Heroes Wanted line of games and other select projects.

Financial terms were not announced.

Action Phase Games was founded in 2014 by Nick Little and Travis Chance, the designers of Heroes Wanted. They launched the game at the 2014 Gen Con event in Indianapolis by finding 2,000 backers to pony up a total of $138,000.

Its other games include Aeon’s End, Dreamwell, Kodama: The Tree Spirits, Ninja Camp, Retreat to Darkmoor! and Scoundrel Society.

Little and Chance are joining Indie Board and Games and taking director of product development titles.

“We now have access to financial resources and market reach that we never had before and are looking to expand the number and quality of games we release each year,” Chance said in a written statement.  

Indie Boards and Cards, founded in 2009, is a multi-million business with more than 1 million games sold, the company said. Its top titles include The Resistance, Coup and Flash Point Fire Rescue.

“I just couldn’t keep up with our existing business and continue to grow the company without bringing on a very talented group of game designers and developers,” Indie Boards and Cards CEO Travis Worthington said. “[Chance and Little] are excellent additions, with a proven track record of making great games and providing great convention coverage and customer support.  Together we are going to be unstoppable."