The Story of KraiSoft

KraiSoft’s history began in the shareware PC era and grew through arcade shooters, action games, puzzle titles and modern web and mobile games. What started as a small independent game studio became a long-running catalogue of downloadable PC games, boxed releases, online titles and casual games designed for everyday play.

1998 — The beginning

KraiSoft Entertainment was founded in 1998, at a time when independent PC games were reaching players through shareware catalogues, downloadable demos and early online stores. The studio started with a small team focused on creating accessible, energetic PC games for an international audience.

Evgeniy (KraiSoft team member) is looking at the camera while a 3D editor is open on his PC

Vadim Khrulev, founder of KraiSoft, standing in the company's first office, with computers in front of him and a wall covered with game posters behind him

Denis (KraiSoft team member) is sitting next to his computer and smiling at the camera

The PC shareware years

In the early 2000s, KraiSoft focused on Windows games that were easy to download, quick to start and built around clear gameplay loops. This period included arcade and action projects such as Warkanoid, Atomaders and Astrobatics — games shaped by classic arcade design but built for PC players.

Arcade action and sci-fi shooters

KraiSoft’s early catalogue leaned strongly into arcade action: space shooters, brick-breaking games and fast-paced PC titles. Games such as Atomaders, Astrobatics and Alien Sky carried the spirit of classic arcade gameplay into the downloadable PC market.

Screenshot of Alien Sky showing a spaceship battling enemies on Level 3

Alien Sky beyond the PC screen

Alien Sky also left traces outside the downloadable PC market. Archive and resale listings describe a full-size, computer-based Alien Sky arcade cabinet with a flat-screen monitor and coin-door hardware, and a separate used-arcade catalogue lists an “Alien Sky 1-Player Upright” associated with Bug Eye Tech.

We treat these materials as part of the KraiSoft archive: a reminder that some early KraiSoft games travelled through unusual distribution paths, from downloadable PC releases to console digital platforms and arcade-style hardware.

Boxed releases and physical archive

Alongside online distribution, several KraiSoft games reached players through boxed editions, compilation CDs, magazine discs and publishing partners. These releases are now part of the company’s archive: CDs, covers, printed materials and localized editions from the pre-app-store era.

2004-2005 — From Windows to Xbox Live Arcade

After its Windows release, Alien Sky appeared on Xbox Live Arcade for the original Xbox in 2005. Atomaders also joined Xbox Live Arcade in the same period, connecting KraiSoft’s PC arcade-shooter roots with an early console digital distribution platform.

From action games to puzzles and everyday play

As the market changed, KraiSoft expanded from PC arcade and action games into puzzle, jigsaw, solitaire, sudoku and casual titles. This shift kept the same core idea: games should be easy to understand, comfortable to play and light enough to run well on everyday devices.

Modern KraiSoft

Today, KraiSoft continues to develop online, desktop and mobile games with a focus on clarity, performance and accessibility. The company’s current direction includes browser-friendly games, mobile puzzle titles and long-term interest in preserving selected classic KraiSoft games.

What comes next

KraiSoft’s future is built around two directions: creating new lightweight games for modern players and preserving the best parts of its classic catalogue. Some players still remember the older titles, and selected legacy games may be revisited when it makes technical and legal sense.