Sebastian Nußbaum

I am Vice President Creative at Berlin-based Wooga, where I’ve been shaping hit games since 2009 – including genre-defining titles like Pearl’s Peril and June’s Journey. In my role, I set the company’s creative vision, decide when and where to launch new products, and build and guide teams from concept through prototyping to production to live ops – always balancing creative ambition with business impact. I aim to empower teams and create an environment where individuals thrive with real ownership.

Before joining Wooga, I worked as a Creative Director, Creative Manager, Designer, and Producer for award-winning studios and agencies, starting my career in 2000 as a level designer for the Game Boy Color.
For a complete career overview, please visit my LinkedIn profile.

Beyond gaming, I am passionate about music production under the alias mabafu—a genre-hopping journey from dub to Latin to ska, depending on where life takes me. My passion sparked during childhood travels with my mom, digging up ragga muffin tapes in the Caribbean. By ’99, I was spinning records at parties and playing bass with Dialektik Optimal.

Since then, it’s been all about the offbeat: producing, writing melodies, and jamming live with incredible guests. Albums drop every few years—when the stars (and my schedule) align.

I also create indie and board games under the alias Bombini, such as Goldspace.

I studied Media Art & Design at Bauhaus University Weimar.

Biggest financially success:

  • 2017-today: June’s Journey (mobile game): Number one hidden object game worldwide. Over $1.5B lifetime revenue.
  • 2013-2020: Pearl’s Peril (mobile game): Inventing episodic storytelling in the casual games market.
  • 2008: Schnuffel: Platin Single, Gold Album, Merchandise, Radio plays, Games

Awards & Nominations:

  • 2021- 2025: Leading employer Germany 2025. Exclusively awarded to the country’s top 1% (fifth year in a row)
  • 2022: Switchcraft being finalist in best user experience category of Webby Awards
  • 2022: Leading employer Germany 2022. Exclusively awarded to the country’s top 1% (second year in a row)
  • 2021: Best Pick Up & Play in the @GooglePlay Best Of 2021 Awards for Switchcraft
  • 2021: Leading employer Germany 2021. Exclusively awarded to the country’s top 1%
  • 2018: Pearl’s Peril nominated at Mobile Games Awards as Finalist (Best Game Management & Live Ops)
  • 2017: June’s Journey won ‘Best Web Game of 2017’ on Facebook
  • 2015: Best ranked talk @ F2P Summit at GDC 2015 SF, USA
  • 2015: Tabby Awards 2015, Agent Alice is “Best iPad game” in category “Adventure”
  • 2014: Pearl’s Peril nominated at Develop Awards 2014 as Finalist
  • 2008: Platin Single (Schnuffel – Kuschel Song)

Talks & lectures:

Games which left behind a lasting good impression on me:

Top5 digital games:

Top board games:

All time digital game favorites:

No brainers i like:

  • Civilization Series (PC + Amiga 500):
  • Command & Conquer Series (PC): The reason i bought a PC and started playing multiplayer
  • Cyberpunk 2077
  • Deus Ex Series (PC): Amazing freedom of choice with a super deep game world and story
  • Division 2: Very nice worldbuilding and shooting mechanic.
  • Dishonored Series (PC): Has a really unique game world and reminded my of the first Deus Ex.
  • Fallout Series (PC): I love the setting, artwork and freedom of choice in these games.
  • Grand Theft Auto Series (PC + Nintendo DS): Just a great game series.
  • Halflife Series (PC): Just a great game series.
  • Wichter 3: Reminded me a lot of “Das Schwarze Auge: Schicksalsklinge” but is also just a great game.