7 reasons to build your games career in Helsinki
Internationally recognised studios. English-speaking colleagues. A connected community. A city sized just right. That’s Helsinki’s pull for games professionals, in a nutshell. From mobile upstarts to indie teams to studios surfing the PC wave, Helsinki’s games industry has got you covered.
Looking for a reason to level up with a change of scene? Here are seven to get you started.
1. Helsinki punches way above its weight
Finland’s games industry has some serious global clout. Think Rovio, Remedy, Supercell, Sulake, Small Giant Games, Housemarque and Next Games, for starters.
Most of these heavy hitters call Helsinki home – with Rovio and Remedy the exceptions, in neighbouring Espoo.
The industry’s roots go back to the mid-90s, with Housemarque and Remedy emerging from the demoscene and giving the world Supreme Snowboarding and Max Payne. Sulake’s Habbo Hotel followed, before mobile really took off. In 2009, Rovio created Angry Birds, and after that Supercell’s Clash of Clans and Clash Royale became monster hits generating billions in revenue.
And it’s not just the big names. Small studios hit big, too. Try Channel37, which won Finnish Game of the Year 2025 for The Last Caretaker.
Stat unlock: In 2024, Finland had a record 270 active game studios, employing 4,300 people and generating €2.85 billion annually. The capital region is home to most of this workforce.
2. The industry’s got room. And you’ve got what it needs.
Knowledge and technical skills aren’t in short supply here, but no-one’s resting on their laurels either. Nope. This is a restless, R&D-driven industry, always chasing the next challenge, the next experience, the next big thing.
Restless industries need reinforcements, and Finnish studios aren’t shy about saying so. A few years back, user acquisition specialists were the hot ticket. Nowadays, AI developers are among the most wanted skills. Demand shifts fast here.
Some skills for games jobs in Helsinki never go out of fashion: production and business know-how, marketing. Current openings also span fields such as data science, live ops, game design and UX.
Stat unlock: Finland Game Talent Fair was held for the first time in 2026, directly matching job seekers with companies for one-on-one interviews.
3. You’ll say ‘kiitos’ for speaking English
Great job, great growth prospects. But how about the Finnish language? The good – no, great – news: English is frequently the working language at studios here.
Picture a group of Finns chatting away in Finnish. The moment someone who doesn’t speak the language joins, the conversation switches instantly to English. It’s just how it goes here.
Curious linguists needn’t despair, though. You’ll still work alongside Finnish colleagues and get a chance to practise your suomi chops. That’s a route into local friendships and networks. So, yeah, English gets you in the door – but not stuck inside an expat bubble.
Stat unlock: In 2024, around 35 per cent of employees at Finnish studios were foreign citizens.
4. No micromanaging. Or cheat codes either.
Finnish working culture mirrors society: flat hierarchies, real agency, punctual people ready to work at their own initiative. Small talk is dialled down. Meetings skip the unnecessary fluff, too.
Bosses go by their first names and there’s rarely much distance between you and the decision. Usually, you’ll be the one making it. That same freedom extends to your working schedule. Flexibility isn’t a perk here. It’s frequently a given.
And don’t be surprised if you’re invited to a sauna with colleagues. Team bonding, Helsinki style.
Stat unlock: In the games industry specifically, around 24 per cent of employees do remote work in Helsinki and beyond.
5. There’s no network lag here
Helsinki’s games industry runs on people. Not just products. Everyone knows everyone, which makes it easier for newcomers to find their feet – and their people.
The workplace is just the start. Networking events in Helsinki fill up the calendar fast. IGDA Finland runs monthly meetups, Game UX Helsinki and game jams top up the calendar, and Assembly plus the wider Helsinki tech scene add another layer of mingling.
None of this is compulsory, mind. But it’s there if you want it.
Stat unlock: IGDA Finland’s monthly meetups in Helsinki average around 500 attendees.
6. You can level up professionally
Decades of games development in Helsinki means decades of experience baked into daily work. The veterans here have deep industry knowledge, deep connections and a way of navigating the global games industry that’s hard to fake.
The best part? None of it is hoarded. Insight moves freely between studios, and rivals cheer each other’s wins.
Growth comes through co-development – an established business model here. Studios partner with one another and publishers, so your skills can shape projects well beyond your own employer.
Thinking about your own studio? Suomen Pelinkehittäjät (the Finnish Game Developer Studios Association) and Neogames are good places to start.
And this being Finland, there are always more ways to embrace lifelong learning, study in Helsinki and upskill.
Stat unlock: Hive Helsinki, a tuition-free coding school founded by Supercell, has sent 400+ graduates into 200+ companies in Finland, including Supercell and Redhill Games.
7. The world’s happiest landing
You’ve heard that Finland tops the World Happiness Report. Happy? Finns? Okay, not everyone here is sporting a Cheshire grin. Think security and trust over belly laughs. Strong social support and low corruption do the heavy lifting.
Living in Helsinki means family life matters and Finland’s work-life balance isn’t a slogan. It’s lived. Really. Add nature on your doorstep, a city that’s easy to navigate without a car and five weeks of paid annual leave.
Moving to Helsinki for a games job is made easier as well. Many companies help with relocation and onboarding, but if not, don’t worry – nobody expects you to crack Finland’s bureaucracy solo.
International House Helsinki gives a leg-up with the admin. One roof. Many key authorities and services. And also programmes and networks for newcomers and partners building a life here. Schools and childcare run through the public system (some private options too). And, yes, all this is manageable in English.
Stat unlock: Finland provides 320 working days of parental allowance, normally split between parents.