Publisher
Also said as Advance, Recoup, Publishing deal
A company that pays for or markets your game in return for a share of the money. Often they pay an advance, and you get no share of sales until your share has paid it back, which is called recouping.
You are selling a share of your game for money now and for work you might not be able to do yourself. Read what they will actually do, who owns the IP, and when the money stops. Terms vary widely, so ask a lawyer and other developers before you sign.
Say it
“We will take a $200k advance at 40%, but we keep the IP, the share drops once they have recouped twice over, and the contract lists exactly what marketing they will fund.”
Where you’ve seen it
Devolver Digital published Hotline Miami and Cult of the Lamb. Team Cherry self-published Hollow Knight. Both routes can work.
Not to be confused with investor
An investor buys part of your company. A publisher typically buys part of one game's revenue, and often does the marketing.