Hub of the Finnish Game Industry
Neogames Finland is a member-based, non-profit game industry association established in 2003. Its mission is to accelerate, coordinate, and support the development of the Finnish game ecosystem. Neogames’ members represent all sectors of the game industry, including business, education, and research.
As an impartial umbrella organization, Neogames serves the shared interests of all industry stakeholders. Acting as the hub of the Finnish game industry, it is the primary source of information and contacts within the sector.
Neogames' services include, for example, organizing trade missions to international events, coordinating cross-industry development projects, collaborating with ministries and the political sector, hosting domestic networking events, and promoting media relations both nationally and internationally. Neogames also conducts various surveys and reports related to the Finnish game industry.
Neogames Finland represents Suomen Pelinkehittäjät ry in the European Games Developer Federation (EGDF), managing lobbying efforts at the EU level.
CONTACTS:
KooPee Hiltunen
Director
+358 40 532 4176
koopee@neogames.fi
Suvi Latva
Chief Business Advisor
+358 40 592 4018
suvi.latva@neogames.fi
J-P Kaleva
Chief Policy Advisor
+358 40 716 3640
jari-pekka.kaleva@neogames.fi
Elina Tyynelä
Climate and Sustainability Specialist, Project Coordinator
+358 40 842 8736
elina@neogames.fi
www.neogames.fi
Suomen Pelinkehittäjät ry (The Finnish Game Developer Studios Association) is a network representing game development companies in Finland. The association fosters collaboration between companies and advocates for the interests of the game development industry. It organizes events, shares industry information, and ensures that the concerns of game developers are considered in relevant decision-making processes.
Notable initiatives of Suomen Pelinkehittäjät ry include the Pelimetsä project, monthly breakfast events, and the annual Finnish Game Awards Gala.
Suomen Pelinkehittäjät ry is committed to promoting diversity and equality within the game industry, working closely with other industry networks. It has 78 members, including all major studios in Finland. The association is also a founding member of the European Games Developer Federation (EGDF), which represents game studios in 22 European countries.
CONTACTS:
Joni Lappalainen
Chair of the Board
joni.lappalainen@dreamloop.net
KooPee Hiltunen
Ombudsman
+358 40 532 4176
koopee@neogames.fi
www.pelinkehittajat.fi
www.pelimetsa.fi/
The local Finnish chapter of IGDA
As a part of the largest non-profit organisation for game creators in the world, IGDA Finland is there for anyone and everyone who wants to make games. We do this by supporting and promoting various Finnish game developers, from writers to artists, programmers to producers, and designers to testers, just to name a few. IGDA Finland assists developers from students to indies and promotes the Finnish Game Industry on both national and international levels. One of our most important roles is to build and maintain a thriving community. Our monthly Meetups are what IGDA Finland is best known for, and this is where people in the industry stay in touch with each other. These Meetups take place not only all over Finland but also online these days.
As always, anyone is more than welcome to join us and our events!
CONTACTS:
Kim Kupiainen
Chairperson of the Board
kim.kupiainen@igda.fi
www.igda.fi
Promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the games industry
We in Games Finland is a non-profit organisation working to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion within the Finnish Game Industry. Initially formed in 2011 as an unofficial network of over a thousand individuals, WiGFi founded an organisation in 2019 to take on a more official role within the industry.
The association is open to everyone who wants to improve the state of DEI in the industry. WiGFi organises workshops and networking events to support their members' careers, runs projects and gathers data related to DEI, and maintains a speakers list to promote more diverse representation at game industry events. For the general public, WiGFi shares knowledge about the game industry and participates in various actions, forums, and events that support diversity and inclusion more broadly.
CONTACTS:
Essi Jukkala
President
info@weingames.fi
www.weingames.fi
Supporting game development as a hobby
Finnish Game Jam is a non-profit organization founded to support game development as a hobby in Finland. The main objectives of FGJ are to run game jams, unify jam organizers and provide information on game development events. FGJ organizes multiple game jams and events, both online and offline - and even hybrids of these two! The annual main event, participation in the Global Game Jam, gathers around 1000 organizers and jammers throughout the country. The annual Finnish Game Jam Awards honors jam games, jammers and the supporters of the Finnish game jam scene.
CONTACTS:
Jani Gröhn
President
jani.grohn@finnishgamejam.com
www.finnishgamejam.com
Labour union for game industry
Game Makers of Finland is the world's first labour union for people who work or study in the game industry. Our mission is to help create, develop, and implement the best practices in collaboration with industry professionals. Game Makers of Finland aims to promote the general well-being and growth of game companies while listening to the voices of employees.
CONTACTS:
Milla Pennanen
Special Advisor
milla@peliala.fi
+358 50 302 8179
www.peliala.fi
.png)
From developers to developers
W Love Games, founded in 2022, is a non-profit organization with global outreach through various programs and an annual conference in Helsinki, designed by developers for developers, that focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the gaming industry. "W" stands for women, but also for "we," as people who play and make games, we of all backgrounds and interests that games bring together, making all differences disappear. W Love Games has been the lead organizer of Finnish Games Week since 2024.
CONTACTS:
Natasha Skult
natasha@mitale.fi
www.wlovegames.org
www.finnishgamesweek.com
Espoo Game LAB (EGL) is part of the Game Hub for SMEs in the Capital Region project (2023-2026), led by the City of Espoo and co-funded by the European Union. The aim of EGL is to support the formation of new game companies, strengthen early-stage teams, and connect game development with other creative industries.
At its core, EGL offers a game development program that mirrors the operations of a real game studio. Participating teams receive mentoring, access to workspaces, peer support, and visibility opportunities. In addition to the LAB program, the space serves as a co-working environment for game and creative tech professionals.
The overarching project, Game Hub for SMEs in the Capital Region, aims to lower the threshold for entrepreneurship, support networking, and enable sustainable growth across the creative industries. While EGL focuses specifically on game development, the broader vision is to build a hub that fosters collaboration between game makers and professionals from other creative fields. The project aims to build long-term partnerships and strengthen Espoo's role as a city that actively supports creativity, game development, and innovation.
Since its launch, EGL has supported over 60 participants. From the first cohort alone, the programme has contributed to the formation of two game companies and two solo entrepreneurs. In addition, through collaboration with Business Espoo and mentoring provided during the project, at least five more companies have been established. Several teams continue to develop their games toward release, and the LAB community continues to grow.
CONTACTS:
Daniela Metsäranta
Project Manager
+358 40 6344414
daniela.metsaranta@espoo.fi
Jonne Taivassalo
Lab Master
+358 40 6344234
jonne.taivassalo@espoo.fi
https://www.espoo.fi/en/working-life/game-hub-smes-capital-region
Expa Game Business Co-operative (est. 2012) / IGDA Finland Jyväskylä Hub is one of most active game industry hubs in Finland. Digi & Game Center - Co-Development Ecosystem (est. 2020) is operated by Expa and it is the platform and home for 10+ companies, game industry education programs, projects and partnerships, events and community activities in Central Finland. Expa is also the only Unreal Authorized Training Center in Finland and the Northernmost in the World, providing high-demand Unreal Engine education in collaboration with Epic Games for game development, virtual productions, 3D modelling, training simulations, marketing, broadcasting, architecture and other various cross-industry needs.
Business Development Services of Jyväskylä brings together Jyväskylä’s success stories and development projects. They support new startups and provide information and services to help existing companies expand their business operations to Jyväskylä.
Jyväskylä offers game industry education pathways from upper secondary school (vocational college) to doctoral level studies. This includes international degree programs at Jamk University of Applied Sciences and University of Jyväskylä, and a vocational level Finnish degree within EduJyväskylä.
CONTACTS:
Sanna Laakso
+358 40 5478299
sanna.laakso@jyvaskyla.fi
https://elinkeinopalvelut.jyvaskyla.fi/yrityspalvelut
Valtteri Lahti
+358 40 5749006
valtteri.lahti@expa.fi
www.expa.fi
Xamk University of Applied Sciences is bolstering the games industry in the Kymenlaakso region through innovative R&D projects and world-class game development education. With the inauguration of a brand-new campus in downtown Kotka in 2024, Xamk is set to solidify its presence in the region, offering state-of-the-art facilities for both education and research.
Initiated in 2020, Xamk Game Studios functions as a hub for the game industry in Kymenlaakso. It bridges the gap between students, entrepreneurs, industry veterans, local IGDA hub participants, and other stakeholders interested in game technology and business.
Our dedicated staff continually provide mentorship, networking opportunities, and technical assistance to game startups and developers, catering to both experienced professionals and ambitious students alike. In its regional development activities, Xamk places significant emphasis on fostering the digital economy and business development, offering comprehensive support for local companies in their product and business development, networking, funding, and trade missions.
CONTACTS:
Jani Ruotsalainen
Lecturer
+358 50 534 1105
jani.ruotsalainen@xamk.fi
www.xamk.fi/en
Oulu serves as the hub of the northern game industry and is home to numerous game companies with a combined turnover of nearly €30 million. The city is a powerhouse of game development expertise, evident in both successful independent companies and studios that have attracted international investments to the region. Oulu's well-rounded expertise encompasses studios focusing on mobile, PC and VR development. The local industry is supported by active community and education, with Pelifarmi and Oulu Game Industry Pre-Incubator providing extra boost for both.
CONTACTS:
Anne Ryynänen
+358 40 708 0632
anne.r.ryynanen@businessoulu.com
www.businessoulu.com
https://oulu.com/ictoulu/topic/gaming/
Tampere Game Hub serves as the regional nexus for game developers in Tampere, uniting game companies, educational institutes, regional start-up hubs, associations, mentors, and investors. Notably, the Tampere Game Hub hosts the Finnish Game Incubator programme, which aids budding game teams in establishing studios across Finland. Working closely with Business Tampere and the City of Tampere, the Tampere Game Hub is committed to nurturing the local game development scene.
In terms of headcount, the Tampere region boasts the second-largest game cluster in Finland, home to over 30 established companies and several start-ups, employing well over 200 industry professionals. Academically, the Game Research Lab at Tampere University enjoys a reputation as one of Europe's most esteemed game research units. Additionally, schools in the Tampere region offer game development-oriented degree programmes at both secondary and undergraduate levels.
CONTACTS:
Joni Lappalainen
+358442848805
tamperegamehub@gmail.com
Turku is proud to be home to nearly 20 established game companies, including Bugbyte, FakeFish, Flatfish Games, MiTale, Rockodile Games, stillalive, and Tower Pop Games.
The city has a strong educational foundation for game development, with two higher education institutes offering programming-focused degrees that produce 50–60 graduates annually. Active game development is nurtured at Turku Game Lab, while research on Futuristic Interactive Technologies is carried out at Turku UAS.
The vibrant game developer community is further supported by the local IGDA Turku chapter and the international organization W Love Games. The growth of Turku as a game industry hub is consistently backed by The Hive – Turku Game Hub and Turku Science Park, both working to make Turku an even more attractive location for game companies.
CONTACTS:
Viljami Heikkilä
+358 40 9315094
hive@turkugamehub.com – The Hive
heiggs@hotmail.com – Personal
Michael Lindholm
+358 40 5020089
michael.lindholm@turkubusinessregion.com
#Gamecity Kajaani is a three-year project, funded by the city of Kajaani and committed to nurturing the growth of new game companies within the region. The project, which kicked off on January 2, 2023, is designed to forge a pathway for game development students to transition into entrepreneurship, establish an accelerator space for start-ups, and enhance the local gaming community, positioning Kajaani as a powerhouse city for game developers.
The project unfolds in three phases, initially focusing on fostering entrepreneurship, then progressing to support company growth, and ultimately integrating its activities sustainably within Kajaani's game development ecosystem. The steering committee consists of representatives from the city, Kajaani University of Applied Sciences, IGDA Kajaani, and local game companies. Through its endeavours, #Gamecity Kajaani aspires to create a game business hub in Kajaani, thus ensuring continued success for the city's gaming industry.
CONTACTS:
Joonas Pylvinen
+358 40 485 9436
Joonas.Pylvinen@kamk.fi
