View our games

Scroll down

Explore

Our Studio

Founded in 2009, Compulsion Games started as a handful of dreamers in an old gramophone factory. Now an Xbox Games Studio, we continue to strive to build hallucinatory adventures in worlds strange but provocatively familiar. World-building and rich storylines are our passion, and we are devoted to building experiences that feel handcrafted.

Travel Through Time

2009

Journey begins

Compulsion Games is incorporated in May 2009 as a home office providing services to other game studios. We work on a number of other game projects with THQ and Atari.

2010

Contrast Prototypes

Contrast has a rough prototype of the mechanics, along with some animations, level designs and code, all built by the founder but no team.

2013

Canadian Game Awards

Contrast launches and wins Most Innovative game of the year at the Canadian Game Awards. Compulsion Games now has 7 developers and a leak in the office.

2015

Team Begins To Grow

We announce the title and the beginning of our Kickstarter campaign for We Happy Few at PAX East. People are intrigued. We are now 12 developers. The heating in the office occasionally fails.

2016

Microsoft E3 Showcase

We publicly show the intro to We Happy Few for the first time during the Microsoft E3 showcase. The smashing piñata scene makes a splash. We are 25 developers.

2018

Microsoft Acquires Compulsion

Compulsion Games is officially acquired by Microsoft, now part of Xbox Game Studios. We are 38 developers. We Happy Few is banned in Australia for its portrayal of drug use. The ban is reversed after an appeal and We Happy Few launches globally.

2019

We Happy Few DLC

We Happy Few’s DLC Lightbearer gets the game banned again in Australia. The decision is later overturned.

2022

80+ Developers

Now 80 developers, we moved to bigger offices that no longer leak. We are crafting new and strange adventures.

2023

South of Midnight Revealed

We announce our new third person action-adventure game set in the American Deep South. As Hazel, explore the mythos and encounter creatures of southern folklore in a macabre and fantastical world.

2024

Xbox Showcase

We reveal gameplay for South of Midnight at the Xbox Games Showcase and release a documentary that gives a behind-the-scenes look into our development.

2025

South of Midnight Launch

Alongside the debut of our story trailer at Xbox Developer_Direct, we announce South of Midnight's launch date, arriving April 8.

Discover

Montreal

From Cirque du Soleil to the internationally renowned Jazz Festival, we are proud to be nestled at the heart of Montreal, one of the most cosmopolitan cities in North America. A hub for the gaming industry, Montreal also thrives in culture and joie de vivre. Among the many perks we offer, we will cover the cost of full relocation should you choose to join the team here. Check below for any open position available.

Open Positions

Great Place To Work Certified from Jul 2022 - June 2023 in Canada image

Get In Touch

Our Content Creation Policy
Applying for jobs at Compulsion Games