Presskit banner

Mini Metro Presskit

Factsheet:

Description:

Mini Metro is a minimalist subway simulation game about designing efficient subway networks. The player must constantly redesign their line layout to meet the needs of a rapidly-growing city.

History:

The prototype for Mini Metro, Mind the Gap, was created at the end of April 2013 during the three-day Ludum Dare 26 Jam. The first pre-alpha build was made public in September 2013. Mini Metro was put up on Steam Greenlight (remember when that was a thing?) in March 2014 and was greenlit within three weeks. Mini Metro was released on Early Access on the 11th of August, 2014.

After more than a year of additional development, the game launched out of Early Access on 9th of November, 2015. The iOS and Android versions launched on the 18th of October, 2016. The Switch version launched on the Nintendo eStore on the 30th of August, 2018, with porting and extra features by Radial Games.

Features:

  • Compelling, constructive, hectic, relaxed gameplay. If that makes sense?
  • Four game modes: Classic for quick scored games, Endless mode for stress-free sandbox play, Extreme for the ultimate challenge, and Creative for designing your fantasy layouts.
  • Twenty seven real-world cities to design subways for, including London, New York City, and Paris. Each has a unique colour theme, set of obstacles, and pace.
  • Random city growth, so each game plays out differently. A strategy that proved successful last game may not help you in the next.
  • Each game’s map is a work of art, built by you in the classic abstract subway style of Harry Beck. If you think it’s a keeper, save it, tweet it, show it off or make it your background!
  • Dynamic soundtrack by the wonderful Disasterpeace – disasterpeace.com
  • Colourblind and night modes.
  • Trains!

Awards & Recognition:

Mini Metro

  • “PAX Australia Indie Showcase” PAX Australia, 2016
  • “Excellence in Audio” Independent Games Festival, 2016
  • “Finalist for Seumas McNally Grand Prize”, Independent Games Festival, 2016
  • “Finalist for Excellence in Design”, Independent Games Festival, 2016
  • “Finalist for Excellence in Visual Art”, Independent Games Festival, 2016
  • “Finalist for Best Debut” Game Developers Choice Awards, 2016
  • “Finalist for Best Debut” BAFTA Games Awards, 2016
  • “Finalist” IndieCade, 2014

Dinosaur Polo Club

  • “Highly Commended for Best Emerging Business” New Zealand International Business Awards, 2021
  • “Fast 50 index – 12th Place” Deloitte Fast 50 Awards, 2021
  • “Fastest Growing Technology Business – lower North Island” Deloitte Fast 50 Awards, 2021
  • “Creative Gold Winner” The Wellington Gold Awards, 2020

Videos:

Images:

Download all images here

Logos & Icons:

Selected Articles:

  • “If you’ve ever wanted to design a subway map, you should play ‘Mini Metro’.”
    – Adi Robertson, The Verge
  • “Mini Metro is a game which marries city planning and London tube map porn thanks to its ultra-minimalist layout.”
    – Philippa Warr, Wired.co.uk (article no longer present)
  • “Mini Metro is such a perfect marriage of form and content”
    – Emanuel Maiberg, iQ by Intel (article no longer present)
  • “If you love the city-planning aspect of Sim City but can’t handle the pressure of playing god, then you may have just found your new favorite time-waster.”
    – Ashley Feinberg, Gizmodo
  • “Mini Metro Lets You Design Your Own Minimalist Subway System”
    – Steve Marinconz, Kotaku
  • “It’s a small thing, but I’ve had the tab open with the game running for the past 40 hours.”
    – Graham Smith, Rock Paper Shotgun
  • “If you won’t take my word for it that a game about mass-transit system design can be a tense, white-knuckle thriller, go play the free in-browser beta of Mini Metro yourself.”
    – Owen Faraday, Pocket Tactics
  • “Mini Metro: fun game simulates planning and running public transit system.”
    – Cory Doctorow, Boing Boing
  • “Players have one aim: to design a subway system that works.”
    – Rachel Z. Amdt, Popular Mechanics
  • “Şehrimize Metro Kuruyoruz”
    – S. Safa Paksu, Spaksu Blog
  • “Love it! Simple gameplay, deep tactics. Perfect casual game.”
    – MC Frontalot, frontalot.com

Monetization Permission:

Dinosaur Polo Club allows for the contents of Mini Metro to be published through video broadcasting services for any commercial or non-commercial purposes. Monetization of videos created containing assets from Mini Metro is legally & explicitly allowed by Dinosaur Polo Club.

About us:

Surrounded by lush green hills and blue oceans, Dinosaur Polo Club is a studio of 18 little dinos based in lovely Wellington, the creative capital of New Zealand. The last couple of years have seen our delightful studio grow, and we’re working on some new and exciting games. 

Founded in 2013 by brothers Robert and Peter Curry, our studio is best known for the award-winning and BAFTA-nominated debut Mini Metro. Created in collaboration with Disasterpeace and Jamie Churchman, Mini Metro explores relaxed and minimalist subway design. 

With an inclusive and supportive culture that believes in giving back to its creative community, we create games that make everyday concepts fun and engaging for everyone.

Credits:

  • Peter Curry
    Programming, Design
  • Robert Curry
    Programming, Design
  • Jamie Churchman
    Visual Design
  • Disasterpeace
    Audio
  • Poppy de Raad
    Art
  • Casey Lucas-Quaid
    Community Management
  • Ruby Solomon
    Community Management
  • Tom Butler
    Design
  • Cassandra Gray
    Production
  • Clélia Tran
    Production
  • Jair McBain
    Production
  • Navi Brouwer
    Production
  • Niamh Fitzgerald
    Production
  • Liam de Koster-Kjaer
    Programming
  • Michael Block
    Programming
  • Tana Tanoi
    Programming
  • Tom O'Brien
    Programming
  • Chantelle Cole
    Studio Direction
  • Lucy Weekley
    Quality Assurance

Contacts: