About MapleArcade

The MapleArcade team at their office in Toronto

Our Story

MapleArcade began in 2020 as a passion project by four friends who met at a Toronto game jam. Sarah, Michael, Aisha, and Jean-Philippe shared a love for indie games but felt frustrated by how many charming titles went unnoticed amidst the noise of big-budget releases.

What started as a simple Discord channel quickly grew into a thriving community. They began writing mini-reviews of their favorite hidden gems and creating detailed guides to help fellow gamers discover the joy in these smaller titles.

By early 2021, their following had grown enough to launch a proper website. The name "MapleArcade" was chosen to represent both their Canadian roots and their focus on games that capture the nostalgic joy of arcade gaming—experiences that are accessible, delightful, and bring people together.

Today, MapleArcade has evolved into Canada's premier destination for thoughtful coverage of indie and mid-sized games, with a special focus on titles that prioritize creativity, inclusivity, and pure fun over competitive pressure. Our community has grown beyond Toronto to include members across Canada and beyond, all united by a love for games that spark joy and imagination.

The founding team at the first MapleArcade meetup

Our Mission & Values

Our Mission

At MapleArcade, we're on a mission to create a welcoming space that celebrates games focused on creativity, storytelling, and accessible fun. We aim to spotlight the titles and creators that bring joy to gaming while building a community where players of all backgrounds and skill levels feel at home.

Inclusivity

We believe gaming is for everyone. We actively work to highlight games with diverse characters, accessible design, and stories that resonate with a wide range of players.

Community

Games are better when shared. We foster meaningful connections between players, developers, and our team through events, forums, and collaborative content.

Joyful Discovery

We believe in the magic of finding that perfect game you might have otherwise missed. Our curation focuses on surfacing delightful experiences that bring genuine joy.

Canadian Creativity

While we cover games from around the world, we take special pride in showcasing Canadian developers and the unique perspectives they bring to the gaming landscape.

Meet Our Team

The passionate folks who make MapleArcade possible. We're a diverse group united by our love for games and our belief in their power to bring people together.

Sarah Chen

Co-Founder & Content Director

With a background in game journalism and narrative design, Sarah leads our content strategy and editorial team. She's passionate about story-driven games and has a particular fondness for cozy farming sims and visual novels.

Favorite Game: Spiritfarer

Michael Odjig

Co-Founder & Technical Director

An Anishinaabe game developer from Northern Ontario, Michael handles our website development and technical reviews. He's an advocate for indigenous representation in gaming and runs our annual Native Game Jam.

Favorite Game: Celeste

Aisha Mbowe

Co-Founder & Community Manager

Previously a community manager for several major studios, Aisha oversees our Discord, events, and outreach programs. She's dedicated to making our community safe and welcoming for gamers from all backgrounds.

Favorite Game: Unpacking

Jean-Philippe Mercier

Co-Founder & Partnerships Director

A Montréal native with a background in game publishing, JP manages our relationships with developers and publishers. His connections in the Québec game scene have helped us spotlight countless French-Canadian indies.

Favorite Game: Night in the Woods

Our Achievements

In just a few short years, MapleArcade has grown from a small passion project to a respected voice in the Canadian gaming community. Here are some highlights of what we've accomplished together.

🏆

Community Growth

From a Discord server with 50 members to a thriving community of over 5,000 gamers across our platform, newsletter, and social channels.

🎮

Developer Support

Our spotlight features have helped over 120 independent Canadian developers reach new audiences and build sustainable communities around their games.

🍁

Canadian Gaming Award

Named "Best Gaming Community" at the 2022 Canadian Game Awards for our work fostering a positive environment for players and developers alike.

📚

Education Outreach

Partnered with 15 schools across Canada to introduce game development programs focused on creativity and storytelling rather than competition.

🌈

Diversity Initiative

Launched a mentorship program that has connected over 50 aspiring developers from underrepresented groups with established Canadian game creators.

🎪

Maple Arcade Festival

Established an annual indie game celebration in Toronto that showcases cozy, narrative, and unique gaming experiences from across Canada.

Community Voices

What our community members and partner developers have to say about MapleArcade.

"MapleArcade's thoughtful coverage of our game was a turning point for our small studio. Their detailed guides and character spotlights helped players discover the depth in our game that other reviews missed. More importantly, the community they've built is genuinely kind and supportive—exactly the kind of players we made our game for."

Elena Winters

Lead Developer, Snowbound Studios

"As a parent looking for games I could play with my kids that weren't just mindless or competitive, MapleArcade has been an invaluable resource. Their age recommendations are spot-on, and their guides make it easy for me to help my children when they get stuck without taking over. We've discovered so many wonderful family gaming moments thanks to their recommendations."

Omar Patel

Parent & Community Member since 2021

"I was ready to give up on gaming after feeling excluded from more competitive communities. MapleArcade showed me there's a whole world of games focused on creativity, storytelling, and just plain fun. Their Discord has become my daily hangout, and I've made real friends through their local meetups. It's more than a website—it's a home for gamers like me."

Gabrielle Lavoie

Community Member since 2020

Our Journey in Pictures

Our first official MapleArcade meetup in Toronto

Our booth at the Montreal Independent Games Festival

School outreach program in rural Ontario

Join Our Community

Whether you're a player looking for your next favorite game, a developer seeking a friendly audience, or simply someone who believes games should bring joy—there's a place for you at MapleArcade.

Become a Member Contact Us