Images via Cilantro & Mazen Soliman

In today’s fast-paced digital world, passion projects often become the spark for innovation. For Egyptian software engineer Mazen Soliman, game development is more than just a hobby; it’s a way to merge design, coding, music, storytelling, and business into one creative vision. At just 27, Mazen has already built a solid career in tech, and now he’s turning his focus toward blending brands with gaming experiences.

12 Games for 12 Brands

Mazen’s ambitious project is to design 12 unique games for 12 different brands. He believes this approach serves as both an innovative marketing tool for companies and a valuable learning journey for himself. It also creates new ways for clients to engage with brands in fun, interactive formats.

Cilantro: The First Experiment

Cilantro, one of Egypt’s most popular café chains, became his first choice. Inspired by their strong branding and focus on digital transformation, Mazen created a mini-game that reflected their identity, down to the colours and mood. Through social media storytelling, he successfully reached the brand itself.

Early Start in Programming

Mazen’s journey with technology began at the age of 14, when he created his first website. Over the years, he worked in several companies as a software engineer, including the well-known startup Instabug. Today, he is part of the Italian company eDisplay, where he continues to hone his technical expertise.

The Shift to Game Development

Driven by his love for creativity, Mazen decided to start making games alongside his full-time job. For him, games bring together multiple passions: visual design, coding, music, and storytelling. They are not just a medium of entertainment, but a canvas for expressing new ideas.

Challenges and Rewards

The journey wasn’t without obstacles. Music creation proved especially difficult, as Mazen had no formal training. Yet the experience of learning, creating, and seeing his vision come alive has been both fulfilling and motivating for the road ahead.