New Zealand Game Outranking Fortnite And Candy Crush In The US

Dunedin studio Runaway Play launches new game, shoots straight to #1 in the US - outranking Fortnite and Candy Crush within 24 hours.

March 5, 2026 - Award-winning Dunedin game studio Runaway Play has launched its newest game, Hatch Dragons, to remarkable success - rocketing to #1 in Simulation games on the US Apple App Store within its first day, overtaking global juggernauts including Among Us, Fortnite, and Candy Crush.

Within 24 hours of launch, Hatch Dragons is:

• #1 in Simulation games on the US Apple App Store - above Among Us and other globally recognised games.
• #8 in Casual games in the US - ahead of Candy Crush Saga.
• Top 16 across all Top Free Games in the US - above Fortnite.

The achievement is a significant milestone for the New Zealand games industry, demonstrating that a small independent studio from the South Island can compete and win on the world stage against some of the most well-resourced games companies on the planet. Downloads are still increasing, positioning the game incredibly well for on-going success.

“I’m incredibly proud of our team” said Zoe Hobson, CEO of Runaway Play. “This success is the result of a huge amount of hard work, learning from other launches, passion and creativity. It’s awesome to see such a strong reception for the game internationally.”

Hatch Dragons is a cozy, collection-focused dragon game where players can discover dragons like they've never seen before. Completely different to incumbent dragon games, it replaces battle and combat with nurturing and care. Runaway Play is internationally recognised for creating deeply engaging, emotionally driven nurturing games.

Set in a mystical forest, inspired by Nordic folklore and the environment where key team members grew up, Hatch Dragons welcomes players to join Liv the Elf in lifting a lingering fog and summoning dragons back to their natural home. True to form, Runaway Play's brand value of "inspired by nature" is reflected in the core design of this game. Every dragon is inspired by the flora and fauna of the natural world, keeping players' imaginations alive as they distinguish what creature or plant is connected to each dragon they summon. Some shimmer with glittering scales, others are soft and furry, and some even bloom with flowers or mushrooms. From playful Cat Dragons to delicate Bluebell Dragons, every creature reflects Runaway Play's signature love of nature.

At its heart, Hatch Dragons is an engaging collection game, which players can play for days, weeks, months and years to come. Players collect elements and gems to summon dragon eggs, hatch them, and raise their dragons into bonded companions. As dragons grow, players uncover charming snippets of lore about each species, deepening their connection to the forest. Over time, players can collect hundreds of unique dragons, each contributing to the revival of the enchanted world.

"We've always been inspired by the natural world, and with Hatch Dragons we wanted to create something in the dragon/fantasy genre, while still being deeply connected to the natural world," said Emma Johansson, Creative Director at Runaway Play. "That's what makes this game unique. We've never seen dragons like this in a mobile game - I love the Sunbloom Dragon (inspired by a Marsh Marigold flower). Nature is full of so many amazing plants and creatures - we have a wealth of inspiration to pull from when designing the dragons. That makes this really exciting, not just for players, but for our team and our creativity!"

Hatch Dragons stands out with a clear identity through the creativity of the dragon designs, the beautiful hand-illustrated art style, genuine Nordic forest and folklore inspiration, and highly engaging collection gameplay. Following titles such as Pondlife and Honey Grove, the studio's latest release marks its first game collecting fantasy creatures, while still remaining true to its nature-inspired brand value.

As the global audience for cozy games continues to grow, Hatch Dragons is for a large, currently underserved demographic - one that wants to care for dragons instead of fight them. Hatch Dragons is available free-to-play on the App Store and Google Play, with optional in-app purchases.

About Runaway Play

Based in Ōtepoti/Dunedin, New Zealand, Runaway Play is known for creating games that inspire happiness and bring a touch of nature to the digital world. As advocates for diversity and ethical game design, Runaway Play's focus is on delivering high-quality, long-lasting experiences that bring light to players' lives.

© Scoop Media