Gaming world turns its spotlight on Tunisia’s first all-female game studio
Sinister Scripts Studios heads to Gamescom 2025 with survival horror game debut Alienated.
Tunisia.- The global gaming world is about to meet a fresh new player from North Africa. Tunisia’s first female-led independent game studio, Sinister Scripts Studios, is stepping onto the global stage at Gamescom 2025, which is the world’s biggest video game trade fair held annually in Germany.
The studio is based in Tunis, the capital of Tunisia, and will present the game at the SwissGames pavilion, a showcase known for featuring innovative studios and international collaborations. It is a major milestone for African game development and a defining moment for women pushing boundaries in the industry.
Founded by Inès Barkaoui and Rihab Bejaoui, Sinister Scripts is drawing international attention as the duo prepares to unveil their debut project, a survival horror game titled Alienated, at Gamescom, taking place from August 19 to August 25.
Sinister Scripts is eagerly anticipating the event, which is the perfect spot to connect with the global gaming community. “Catch us at the SwissGames booth where we will be showing off Alienated, meeting players and connecting with amazing people from across the industry,” the Co-founders said in a press release.
The studio’s participation was made possible through international support programmes designed to elevate developers from emerging markets. This opportunity is more than a showcase, as it is a chance to connect with publishers, fans and potential investors on one of the industry’s largest platforms.
Breaking new ground with survival horror
Sinister Scripts is breaking new ground in more ways than one. Not only is it Tunisia’s first female-led studio, but it is also creating in a genre rarely explored by African developers. Alienated, powered by Unreal Engine, brings a fresh take on the survival horror experience, signaling that African studios can innovate across global genres, not just local themes.
The rise of Sinister Scripts echoes a larger movement across the continent. Studios like Cameroon’s Kiro’o Games and Ghana’s Leti Arts have already made waves internationally. Now Barkaoui and Bejaoui are proving that North Africa is part of that creative surge. With initiatives like Africa Games Week and GamesConnect Africa pushing regional talent into global spaces, momentum is building fast.
Africa’s gaming market is one of the fastest-growing in the world. But what sets it apart is not just its size; it is the stories, voices and visions behind the games. Sinister Scripts’ Gamescom debut is more than a reveal; it is a breakthrough for representation, a win for women in games and a sign that African developers are here to play and to stay.
