Making games in Syria despite war, sanctions, and uncertainty
For Mohanad, founder of Mohanad Games, the path into game development began with a childhood dream, a computer running Windows XP, and a determination to learn programming independently. Today, the Syrian developer has built a portfolio of mobile games, an Instagram community of around 50,000 followers, and a business that has generated revenue through advertising and the sale of a successful title.
His experience offers a practical look at what it takes to build an independent game development career in Syria, where local creative talent is finding opportunities despite persistent challenges with international payments and publishing infrastructure.
From childhood curiosity to independent game development
The developer's interest in games started long before he published his first title. As a child, he enjoyed educational games on Windows XP and imagined creating something of his own. Turning that ambition into a career, however, took time.
"At 25, after several unsuccessful attempts to find work, I began teaching myself programming, starting with Java. I built a few simple mobile applications, and as I learned more, I became increasingly interested in turning my passion for mobile game development into a source of income," Mohanad recalled.
By 2021, he had successfully published his first mobile games and started earning advertising revenue. What began as a personal interest in programming was rapidly evolving into a viable independent career.
The early stages came with formidable practical challenges. Poor internet connectivity, the difficult circumstances surrounding Syria's conflict, and strict international sanctions made it exceptionally hard to access the services required to publish games globally. "It was not just about learning how to make a game; I also had to find a way to publish it and access the services needed to do so," he explained.
To overcome these barriers, Mohanad eventually travelled to the UAE to establish an official developer account. This key arrangement allowed him to publish his games internationally while continuing to reside, design, and code in Syria, providing a vital foundation for his independent business.
Why marketing matters for indie mobile games
One of the most important lessons Mohanad Games learned was the value of building an audience around a game. As his portfolio expanded, Mohanad recognized that crafting a compelling game was only half the equation. Discovering potential players, introducing them to his titles, and sustaining their engagement required an entirely distinct strategic mindset.
"One of the most important changes in my journey since 2021 has been developing a better understanding of Arab audiences: what they enjoy and how to create games that appeal to them," he said.
Instagram quickly became a pivotal tool in that learning process. Rather than relying on expensive paid advertising campaigns to acquire users, Mohanad began creating engaging videos of himself playing his own games, complete with light-hearted commentary and a quick title reveal at the end. "Social media, particularly Instagram, opened up a valuable way for me to reach new players without paying for advertising to attract them," he explained.
This grassroots strategy proved immensely effective, allowing him to cultivate a dedicated Instagram community of approximately 50,000 followers, with individual video clips frequently achieving over a million views.
Even now, his interactive approach to community building directly shapes the games he creates. Mohanad regularly utilizes Instagram Stories to poll followers on their design preferences, showcasing prospective game concepts and leveraging their feedback to refine gameplay features before committing significant development resources.
How Fathal Syria turns local culture into gameplay
Even as expanding to international players becomes a primary focus of his long-term growth plan, Mohanad remains deeply committed to producing titles explicitly tailored for Arabic-speaking audiences.
One of his flagship projects, Fathal Syria, is creatively centered around iconic references to Syrian television shows and popular culture. The game draws upon shared cultural memories and nostalgic tropes that resonate powerfully with local players, instilling it with a distinct regional identity.
"From what I have seen, there are very few games designed specifically for Syrian audiences," Mohanad said. He firmly believes there is substantial enthusiasm for content reflecting local heritage, even though monetizing that regional interest presents unique economic hurdles.
"In my experience, the revenue I earn per player within Syria is low. I believe this is one reason developers hesitate to create games specifically for this market, despite the interest from players," he explained.
Despite these financial challenges, he remains resolute in his commitment to expanding Fathal Syria. "Nevertheless, I enjoy making games for this audience, and I will continue developing Fathal Syria. For me, the enjoyment of creating that experience matters too, not just the financial return."
To maintain ongoing engagement, the game features nightly live competitions consisting of 12 challenging levels. Thousands of users participate every evening, competing for prizes awarded to the fastest problem solvers. For a solo developer, this structured live-ops model offers a proven mechanism for retaining active users long after their initial download.
Monetising mobile games without frustrating players
In-game advertising has played a fundamental role in transforming Mohanad's passion project into a profitable, sustainable business. Altogether, his game portfolio has generated more than $52,000 in estimated Google AdMob revenue since 2021. Crucially, his monetization philosophy prioritizes user experience above short-term gains.
"For me, the most important thing is to make sure ads do not frustrate players or interrupt them at important moments during gameplay," he said. Instead of inserting disruptive pop-ups during active gameplay sessions, Mohanad thoughtfully schedules ad placements during natural breaks, such as level transitions or menu screens.
Rewarded video ads serve as another key component of his ad framework. Players can opt to view an ad in exchange for tangible in-game advantages, such as hints, extra lives, or virtual currency.
"Players can choose to watch an ad in exchange for something useful within the game, such as help with a challenge or in-game currency they can use to get past certain levels," he explained. "My goal is to generate revenue without letting advertising get in the way of enjoying the game."
Selling Zain's Hero Story for $11,800
A major highlight of Mohanad's journey occurred in 2025, when he successfully sold his title Zain's Hero Story to an international buyer for $11,800 via the online marketplace AppWill.
At the time, the game was experiencing rapid user growth and climbing app store charts. This heightened visibility attracted several publisher partnerships and buyout inquiries, leading Mohanad to evaluate an outright sale. He selected AppWill, a trusted mobile brokerage platform, to facilitate the listing and connect him with prospective investors.
"They listed the game on their website, and around 24 hours after the listing went live, they told me there was an interested buyer who wanted to arrange a video call to look at the code and ask questions about the game," he recalled.
For Mohanad, this transaction dramatically altered his perspective on asset monetization in indie game development. "The biggest lesson was that a game's value is not limited to the advertising revenue it generates. The game itself is a valuable business asset that can be sold."
The challenges of building a game development business in Syria
Despite substantial operational progress, managing an independent studio from Syria still presents unique logistics and infrastructure challenges.
Mohanad notes that regional internet stability and hardware accessibility have improved compared to his early years. His financial growth has allowed him to acquire high-end development gear, maintain servers, and license tools necessary for running live games.
However, international banking and payment processing remain major obstacles. "I still cannot rely on receiving my revenue from international platforms directly in Syria," he explained.
Maintaining UAE residency and making regular trips abroad remain essential for handling commercial transactions, even as he conducts day-to-day development in Syria. He pointed to Mastercard's recent service expansions in Syria as a positive step, though he emphasized that infrastructural and banking constraints still restrict local developers.
These persistent constraints heavily influence his future expansion goals. Mohanad aspires to transition from a solo developer to establishing a full-scale game studio in Syria, hiring local talent to collaborate on larger projects.
"For me, that is what financial sustainability means: being able to support myself while continuing to build new projects," he said.
His vision is to create technical employment opportunities for local talent and build a team capable of competing globally. Yet, he stresses that ongoing issues surrounding economic sanctions and global banking access must be resolved before such expansion becomes realistic.
What comes next for Mohanad Games?
Mohanad is actively working on a new multilingual puzzle title designed for global audiences. Following his positive experience selling Zain's Hero Story, he remains open to selling the upcoming game if an attractive offer emerges.
"I see a game sale as a way to raise capital that can be reinvested in developing new, larger games, rather than simply the end of a project," he explained.
Looking broader, he feels enthusiastic about Syria's gaming ecosystem, noting that the country possesses immense creative talent ready to enter the global market once platform access and payment solutions normalize. "I see Syria as being at a turning point," Mohanad said.
He asserts that easing financial restrictions so developers can receive payouts from platforms like Google and Meta would be transformative, alongside restoring seamless access to Apple's App Store.
Additionally, he sees artificial intelligence as a major efficiency driver across the Arab gaming space, enabling indie developers to streamline production pipelines and experiment with complex mechanics.
He encourages up-and-coming creators to stay adaptable and avoid locking themselves into a single game engine or rigid workflow. "The games industry is changing quickly, and it is important to keep learning and trying new tools and technologies to keep pace," he said.
Continuous learning and adaptability have defined Mohanad's path: from self-studying Java and releasing early apps to building an engaged community and closing international acquisition deals.
His journey provides a practical roadmap for indie developers in Syria: local culture fosters deep engagement, social media offers cost-effective user acquisition, and diversified monetization unlocks long-term sustainability.
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