Driver FixRecommendedSound, Wi-Fi or graphics acting up? Check drivers firstFind missing or outdated drivers fast.Check DriversOctober DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsPC HealthRecommendedCrashes, freezes, slowdowns? Check your PC nowSpot repairable issues before they interrupt work.Check PC×
Skip to content
The Finance Base
The Money Desk · Blog
Re:

Seattle Studio Led by Big Fish Games Founder Reports $1.1 Million Raised for Mutant Forge, Now Rift Wars

Reflection Games reported $1.1 million sold in an offering—not $4 million raised. The Seattle studio was founded by Big Fish Games founder Paul Thelen, and its mobile battler Mutant Forge is now presented as Rift Wars.
From TheFinanceBase Team3 min to read

What’s actually slowing this PC down?

Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Seattle-based Reflection Games reported selling $1.1 million in securities in a 2025 offering—not the offering’s full $4 million target. The studio was founded by Paul Thelen, founder and former chairman of Big Fish Games. Its mobile game, covered as Mutant Forge in 2024 and 2025, is now presented by the studio and app store as Rift Wars.

How much did Reflection Games raise?

GeekWire reported on May 13, 2025, that Reflection Games raised $1.1 million. The company’s SEC Form D, filed for an offering with a $4 million total offering amount, reports $1.1 million sold and $2.9 million remaining to be sold. The $4 million figure is the offering’s stated size, not the amount already raised. The filing gives May 9, 2025, as the date of first sale and lists three investors. Read the SEC Form D.

A Form D is a notice filing for an exempt securities offering. The SEC form cautions that the agency has not necessarily reviewed the filing or determined that its information is accurate and complete. The amount sold is therefore what the filing reports; it is not an SEC-verified finding.

Who founded Big Fish Games and leads Reflection Games?

Reflection Games, Inc. is a Delaware corporation incorporated in 2021, with its principal place of business in Seattle, Washington, according to its SEC filing. The filing lists Paul Thelen as an executive officer, director, and promoter. GeekWire identifies him as Big Fish Games’ founder and former chairman. GeekWire’s May 2025 report also names Reflection COO Patrick Wylie, senior backend engineer Christopher Warwick, and game design director Michael Tapley as Big Fish veterans.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
#1 Best Overall
Capstone Games Riftforce Strategy Board Game for 2 Players | Competitive Elemental Duels with Asymmetric Factions, Tactical Depth & Replay Value, Fantasy Tabletop Game | Ages 10+ | 30–45 Min Playtime
  • ELEMENTAL STRATEGY SHOWDOWN: Riftforce is a competitive strategy board game designed for two players, where elemental factions battle across shifting locations using unique powers. Every decision matters as players manage positioning, timing, and momentum to control the rift and outscore their opponent.
  • ASYMMETRIC FACTIONS AND POWERS: Each faction in Riftforce offers distinct abilities and play styles, creating deep asymmetric gameplay. Players must master how different elements interact, combine strengths, and counter opponents through smart planning, careful sequencing, and tactical adaptation during every match.
  • TACTICAL DEPTH WITH FAST PLAY: Riftforce delivers meaningful strategic choices in a streamlined format, allowing players to enjoy deep tactical gameplay without long downtime. Games play efficiently while still offering layered decisions, making it ideal for repeated sessions and focused head to head competition.
  • HIGH REPLAY VALUE DESIGN: With multiple faction combinations and evolving board states, Riftforce offers strong replay value. No two games feel the same as players experiment with different strategies, adapt to opponents, and explore new tactical approaches within a balanced and competitive framework.
  • DESIGNED FOR STRATEGY FANS: Created for players ages 10 and up, Riftforce is easy to learn yet challenging to master. It appeals to hobby gamers who enjoy thoughtful decision making, interactive gameplay, and intense two player experiences packed into a compact tabletop format.

Why does Mutant Forge now appear as Rift Wars?

The name changed in the game’s current public presentation: Reflection Games’ official website calls Rift Wars its debut mobile strategy game, and the former Mutant Forge domain redirects to the Rift Wars site. The current App Store listing also uses Rift Wars. These sources establish the current branding, but not when or why the title changed.

Reflection Games describes the game on its website this way: “Our debut mobile strategy game, Rift Wars, is a testament to this agile and collaborative spirit.” Reflection Games’ official site attributes that statement to the company, not to a named individual.

What kind of mobile game is Rift Wars?

The current App Store listing presents Rift Wars as a free-to-play PvP strategy game with fresh drafts, unit merging, heroes, competitive leagues, and optional in-app purchases. Store descriptions and availability can vary by territory and may change as the listing is updated.

How the game was described during development

In March 2024, GeekWire described the game under its former name, Mutant Forge, as a free-to-play mobile strategy battler in playtesting on iOS and Android. That account outlined disposable monster units with different strengths and weaknesses, recharge timers, and mission rewards used to improve units or create new ones. It said a single-player campaign and PvP modes were planned at the time. Those details describe the game during that earlier stage, not necessarily its current mechanics. GeekWire’s March 2024 account.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #3
Rifts (30th Anniversary Edition)
  • Core Rules: Everything you need to play Rifts TTRPG, even if you're new to tabletop role-playing games
  • Post-apocalyptic setting where magic has returned to earth - sometimes competing with technology and sometimes working against it
  • 28 Playable Classes - Mercenaries, soldiers, scholars, mutant dogs, dragons, spellcasters, and more
  • Deluxe 30th Anniversary hardcover edition - expanded with 32 extra color pages, color end sheets and added concept art & photography
  • Palladium Megaversal System - Fully compatible with all other Palladium RPGs

What was reported after the soft launch

In May 2025, GeekWire said the game had soft-launched out of beta the previous September. Its report described play against both CPU-controlled and human opponents and noted that the second content season, “Season of Hearts,” began in February 2025. Those are dated reports; the current App Store copy provides the more recent public description cited above.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

What the funding announcement does—and does not—tell players

The filing establishes an amount sold in a securities offering and identifies the issuer; it does not report game downloads, revenue, player counts, or market size. The sources cited here provide no named performance metrics for Rift Wars. The financing figure should not be read as evidence of the game’s commercial performance.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More post from the Money Desk

  1. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 267 minMortgage Escrow FAQs: Taxes, Insurance, Shortages, and Refunds
  2. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 265 minHow Mortgage Escrow Accounts Work and What Homeowners Pay For
  3. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 265 minHow to Read a Stock Chart, Volume and Market-Cap Data
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You DownFree scan - exact matches
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They SpreadFree repair scan

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.