Lumen Arcade, Manchester
Aurora Reels
We rebuilt their flagship reel game from scratch with smoother pacing and a redesigned bonus stage. Average session length jumped from 6.1 to 8.7 minutes within the first month.
+42% session length
Borough-based gaming studio
We build reels worth chasing.
CrystalReelVault crafts reel-based arcade games, live tournament platforms, and immersive worlds for studios and operators across the UK. Based in Borough, shipping worldwide.
120+
Titles shipped
9 yrs
In Borough, London
4.9/5
Client rating
Who we are
A small studio with a serious reel obsession
Founded above a print workshop on Redcross Way in 2017, CrystalReelVault is a 14-person studio of designers, mathematicians, and engineers. We prototype fast, tune our reel maths obsessively, and ship games that feel as good on a phone as they do on a cabinet. Every title that leaves the Vault is playtested down the road at the Borough Market arcade nights.
Meet the crew
PA
Priya Anand
Studio Director
Ex-arcade designer who tunes every reel curve by hand.
MW
Marcus Webb
Lead Game Engineer
Builds the 60fps engine that powers every Vault title.
SR
Sofia Reyes
Art Director
Defines the warm, hand-painted look our players love.
TF
Tom Fletcher
Maths & Economy Lead
Designs fair, transparent reel maths and payout curves.
HO
Hana Okafor
Sound Designer
Composes the satisfying clicks, chimes, and win stings.
DC
Daniel Cross
QA & Compliance
Keeps every release certified and bug-free for launch.
How it works
From idea to live game in five honest steps
No black boxes. We share builds weekly, hand over the source, and keep you in the loop from first sketch to launch night.
- 01
Discovery & maths workshop
A two-week paid sprint where we pin down theme, target RTP, volatility, and platform. You leave with a playable greybox prototype. From £4,800.
- 02
Art direction & reel design
We paint the world, design the symbols, and animate every reel state. Includes three art rounds and a full motion style guide.
- 03
Engine build & tuning
Our 60fps TypeScript engine is wired to your maths model. We tune feel, pacing, and feedback until each spin lands right.
- 04
Certification & QA
Full device matrix testing plus independent maths verification, so you launch certified and compliant in regulated UK markets.
- 05
Launch & live ops
We ship, monitor the first 72 hours together, and hand over clean source. Optional live-ops retainer from £1,900/month.
The vault
A look inside our recent worlds
Tap any frame to view it larger. A small sample of reels, symbols, and environments shipped over the last year.
Case studies
Numbers from games we shipped
Real outcomes from three recent partnerships. Slide through to see how each title performed after launch.
Harbour Gaming, Bristol
Tidal Vault
A full cascading-reel title delivered start to finish in eleven weeks, certified for UK release. Launched on time for their summer campaign with zero critical bugs.
11-week delivery
Northgate Leisure, Leeds
Ember Run
A high-volatility title tuned for cabinet and mobile. Players rated it 4.9 out of 5 across 2,300 reviews, and it became their top-grossing machine within six weeks.
4.9★ player rating
Kind words
What partners say after launch
We only take on a handful of projects a year, so every relationship matters. Here is what a few of them had to say.
"The Vault tuned our reel maths better than anyone we'd worked with. The bonus stage they designed is still our most-played feature two years on."
Eleanor M.
Lumen Arcade, Manchester
"Eleven weeks from kickoff to a certified, live game. They shared weekly builds and never went quiet. Genuinely rare in this industry."
Rajan P.
Harbour Gaming, Bristol
"Ember Run became our top cabinet within six weeks. The feel of every spin is just right, and the source they handed over was spotless."
Claire D.
Northgate Leisure, Leeds
Questions
Things partners ask before we start
Reels are our specialism, but we also build tournament platforms, leaderboards, and arcade companion apps. If a project leans heavily on real-time multiplayer or 3D, we'll tell you honestly whether we're the right studio for it.
A complete reel title typically runs between £38,000 and £95,000 depending on art complexity, maths design, and platform count. We always begin with a fixed-price discovery sprint from £4,800 so you can budget the full project with confidence.
Yes. Every game ships with independent maths verification and full device-matrix QA. We work with established UK test houses and have launched titles in regulated markets without a failed certification to date.
Always. On final delivery you receive the complete, documented source and all assets with full ownership transferred to you. We never lock clients into proprietary engines or hidden licensing.
We'd love that. Our studio sits on Redcross Way, two minutes from Borough Market. Drop us a line to arrange a visit, ideally on a Thursday so you can join our weekly arcade playtest night.
Get in touch
Tell us about your game
Send a few lines about your idea, timeline, and budget. We reply to every serious enquiry within two working days.
Phone
+44 20 7732 6954Email
[email protected]Studio
58 Redcross Way, Borough, London SE1 1HA
Hours
Mon–Fri, 9:30–18:00 GMT