Family friendly gaming with Outright Games

Nick Ricks, head of Games and Licensing at Outright Games, shares with Toy World readers the company’s expansive licensed games portfolio and stand-out properties, starting with the new Paw Patrol Rescue Wheels: Championship.

What is Outright Games and what does it bring to the wider gaming industry?

Outright Games is a global video games publisher dedicated to delivering high-quality family entertainment to audiences worldwide. We focus on creating interactive experiences with some of the world’s most beloved entertainment brands, ensuring gaming is both accessible and enjoyable for younger players and families alike. By championing safe, fun and engaging titles, we create opportunities for shared play across generations.

There’s a breadth of games within your portfolio. What are some of your standout properties?

We’re proud of our strong partnership with Paramount, which enables us to bring some of its most iconic family brands to life in the gaming space. Last year, we released Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed, a game that captured multi-generational appeal by connecting nostalgic parents with their kids.

Paw Patrol has been a standout success, with titles like Paw Patrol: Grand Prix and Paw Patrol Mighty Pups Save Adventure Bay becoming favourites for young players and their families worldwide. Most recently, we introduced Paw Patrol Rescue Wheels: Championship, expanding the franchise with an exciting new racing adventure that highlights the teamwork and fun at the heart of the brand. Our collaboration has also grown to include Dora: Rainforest Rescue, giving a new generation the chance to connect with a favourite character through immersive play.

These franchises resonate globally and embody the values of fun, teamwork and adventure, making them ideal for family-friendly gaming.

Paw Patrol Rescue Wheels: Championship has become a leading family-friendly title. What do you put its success down to?

Paw Patrol Rescue Wheels: Championship is the first monster truck racing game in the franchise, giving players the chance to race, drift and perform stunts across Adventure Bay, the Mountain and Foggy Bottom. It’s designed to be accessible for children as young as three, while offering the excitement and replayability that keeps older players and families coming back for more.

What sets Paw Patrol Rescue Wheels: Championship apart as a hit with families is how it blends enjoyment with meaningful play. Players can take on the roles of their favourite rescue pups, unlocking special abilities and teamwork-based challenges along the way. The game also supports local co-op and split screen, encouraging shared experiences that can strengthen family connections.

Beyond gameplay, it reflects the core values of the Paw Patrol brand – teamwork, problem solving and courage – helping kids to engage in imaginative, positive play in a safe environment.

With a strong focus on licensed games, how does Outright Games offer short-term and long-term support?

Our strategy is to create games that capture the immediate excitement of a property while also sustaining its lasting appeal. In the short term, we maximise impact during the launch period through marketing, influencer and press partnerships, and close collaboration with the licensor to align on strategy, development and any potential blockers.

Over the long term, we maintain engagement through ongoing partnerships, sequels, content drops and multiplatform support, ensuring relevance for both new and existing audiences. We work closely with licensors to build focus around anniversaries, new TV seasons or film releases to amplify these moments and extend the game’s reach.

This approach ensures our titles continue to add value to both licensors and players well beyond launch.