Critical Path Games

Critical Path Games is a co-located indie game studio based in Vancouver, Canada, founded in 2024 by former Phoenix Labs executives Jesse Houston (CEO) and Jeanne-Marie Owens (COO). The studio is on a mission to discover and build the next great video game genre, focusing on innovative multiplayer, cross-platform game experiences. Built around the values of Teamwork, Trust, and Collaboration, Critical Path operates as a small, passionate team that embraces the tight iteration loops of in-person development. The founders previously scaled Phoenix Labs — creators of Dauntless and Fae Farm — to over 350 employees across six countries before returning to their startup roots to pursue a more hands-on, creatively ambitious path.