Studio
Making games for fun. What else are games for?
About us
Level Labs is an indie studio from Leipzig, founded in April 2024. Our process is radically iterative: we test early and often with real players, at our booth, on stream, in playtests and on our Discord. That way we find out fast what works.
Alongside our own games, we make graphics and video, games on commission or as co-productions, workshops and consulting for others.
Wanted
A publisher for DrillScape.
Arcade mining under pressure: pilot a rover, mine resources, upgrade and rescue planets. Well before the demo, DrillScape has passed 1,150 wishlists on Steam, and in June 2026 it was part of the Deutsche Indie Showcase, Summer Game Fest Edition. The demo comes out in the first quarter of 2027, funded by Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung. For the release we are looking for a publisher or partner.
Our story
2023: The idea
In May 2023 we start dreaming big and set our goals high. Reality slaps us a few times along the way. It doesn't stop us.
2024: Founded
On 22 April the idea becomes Level Labs GmbH, based in Leipzig. In August we show our first prototype at gamescom: MachineRe.
- April
- Level Labs GmbH founded
- August
- MachineRe at gamescom
MachineRe, our first prototype 2025: Learning and trying things
With the Press Start grant from Stiftung Digitale Spielekultur we learn a lot and start new projects. At game jams we build what has no room in everyday work, for example a board game about the behavioural biology of the dunnock.
- November
- GENial at the first ProLudens Jam
ProLudens Jam · November 2025 2026: DrillScape
In April the DrillScape proof of concept is playable in public for the first time, in the Indie Ground at CAGGTUS. The booth is hardly ever empty, publisher scouts approach us, and Philipp calls it “the best weekend in our studio's history”. Shortly after, Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung funds the demo.
- February
- ARD Game Jam, 28 hours streamed live
- April
- DrillScape at CAGGTUS
- April
- MDM funding for the demo
- June
- DrillScape in the Deutsche Indie Showcase, Summer Game Fest Edition
- June
- Demo announced, Steam playtest, 1,000 wishlists
- June
- 1st place at the game jam in Nairobi
- August
- gamescom, business area
CAGGTUS Leipzig · April 2026 2027: The demo
The DrillScape demo is set to come to Steam in the first quarter. After that, we want to be at as many festivals as possible.
The team
Philipp Illmer
Founder, CEO, Audio, Programming
Fell in love with game production during his studies. Brings marketing and sales experience, codes in C++ and C#, and enjoys pushing faders until it sounds right.
Jenny Funke
Founder, Creative Director, Game Director, Artist
Has a soft spot for atmospheric worlds, tells stories through environment art and knows her way around real-time simulation. Nobody has a better eye for composition.
Daniel Zuther
Founder, Executive Director, Programmer, Game Designer, Project Manager
Brings technology and design together and builds game mechanics that feel good. Founding member of ProLudens and a speaker at industry events such as “Press A To Learn” and “Trial & Error” in Leipzig.
Funding, partners and clients
These programmes got us going, and these are the partners and clients we work with. Thank you!
Funding
Partners & clients
Based in Leipzig
Our studio is based in Leipzig, right in the Central German games scene.
Level Labs GmbHRietschelstraße 2
04177 Leipzig
hello@levellabs.de
Let's build something together.
Tell us what it's about: a game, a workshop or graphics for your next launch. We'll get back to you within two working days.