Summer BBQ hangout with IGDA Kymenlaakso!

DATE: 25.6
TIME: 17-20
PLACE: Katariina Seaside park
WHAT: BBQ grilling and hangout
FOOD: Take with you your preferred grill food and drink
GAMES: Frisbee, Kubb, Volleyball, Cards - take with you, or hope that someone else does.

If weather isn't on our side, the inside location will be announced day before, keep an eye on our Discord for the quickest updates.

NOTE that all IGDA Kymenlaakso events follow the Finnish Game Industry Code of Conduct, by attending the event you agree to follow them.

Come hang out and enjoy the summer with IGDA Satakunta!

When: June 13th, 2pm to 4pm (or longer if people want to keep chatting!)
Where: Cafe Pori Jazz, Pori (Link to a map)
What: Chill hanging out!

Check the hub Discord server at the event time for details on which table we’re at! Join the Discord server through this link.

Note: No free coffee this time, as the venue doesn’t take reservations!

Join IGDA Lahti grill party on the 12th of June. IGDA Lahti will provide grilled sausages to the event.

You are also welcome to bring your own foods to grill.

The event will take place at Pikku Vesijärvi grilling spot next to Kioski Pikkuvesku (event address: Kariniemenpuistotie 12).

There's a parking area near the kiosk and the grill place.
If you have allergies, please inform them when you sign up.

NOTICE!
As this is an outdoor event and we can't control the weather, the venue place might change to indoors. We will be notifying all attendees with changes as soon as possible, if the need comes!

Reminder: IGDA Finland uses the Finnish Game Industry Code of Conduct:
Link

Where: Pikku Vesijärvi Grilling Spot (next to Kioski Pikkuvesku) Kariniemenpuistotie 12, 15110
When: On Friday, June 12th, 2026 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Sign up now:

Summer is here and we will bring it in with a classic!

It’s been awhile since we have had a regular hangout at Betony in Kouvola. So we are bringing it back with a nice summer outdoor seating - as long as the weather allows.

DATE: 11.6
TIME: 17-20
PLACE: Restaurant Betony in Kouvola
WHAT: Chill outdoor hangout for the good old times

If the weather is sad then we will sit inside.

NOTE that all IGDA Kymenlaakso events follow the Finnish Game Industry’s Code of Conduct. By attending the event, you agree to follow the Code of Conduct.

Get cozy & join us for an evening of games developed across Finland! ⭐

In this three-part series, you’ll get to showcase your game demo, learn about the different stages of demoing from industry professionals, play demos created across Finland, and potentially receive feedback to help take your game to the next level.

UPCOMING SESSIONS:

25th of May at 18:00
1st of June at 18:00
▸ 8th of June at 18:00: From Stuck to Shipped: How Pizza Playtest Keeps Indie Devs Moving by Ben Vehling

EVENINGS PROGRAM STRUCTURE:

[18:00] Opening words
[18:10] SPEAKER
[18:50] Break
[19:00] Demo and commentary
[19:20] Conclusion and reply from the devs
[19:30] Closing words

ABOUT BEN AND HIS TALK:

Ben is not only the Hub lead of our IGDA Ostrobothnia hub, but also one of the founders of GodotFest and the CEO of Tysk Games.

In his talk "From Stuck to Shipped: How Pizza Playtest Keeps Indie Devs Moving", Ben shares how they brought Pizza Playtest to Finland, what changed for the devs who took part, and why the combination of food, deadlines, and a low-pressure room might be the most practical tool a solo dev or small team can add to their process.

The event will be organized in IGDA Finland Digihubs Discord server. To join this event, you're required to grab a ticket and share your Discord username, so we can give you a role and access to the event's channels. This is so we know how many are coming, but also so we can ensure the safety of each participant.

[NOTE]
By attending this Session, including the Q&A, you acknowledge and agree that the session may be recorded and published IGDA Finland and DigiHub social media platforms, website etc. Any questions you ask during the session, as well as your displayed Discord ID, may appear in the recording. If you do not wish to be recorded or have your Discord ID shown, please refrain from participating in the live Q&A.

IGDA Finland is committed to keeping our community safe for everyone and has a zero-tolerance policy on harassment in any and all of its forms - please read our Code of Conduct.

Accessibility
We will try to make this event as accessible as possible and are trying to look for ways to make it better. If you want to share your knowledge on making our online streams more accessible, get in touch with us: emma.vantaa@igda.fi

If you can't make it to this, feel free to join and follow us on Discord or LinkedIn:
Discord: https://discord.gg/vEprJZ9XSz
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/igda-digihub

Digihub is an online hub formed and powered by people around Finland. Our hub is focused on creating content that can be enjoyed from the comfort of your home, no matter where you are. Like our fellow IGDA hubs, our events are 100% free to attend!

Participants are required to sign up through Eventbrite to join this event:

May is past us which means that June is here! Summer is finally upon us with it’s hot and sunny days.

Join us in the last IGDA Tampere Meetup before our summer break to reminisce the spring and plan for the summer. How was your beginning of the year and what have you in store for the summer?

We will be joined by people from the Tampereen Freelance-näyttelijät ry, loosely translated as the Freelance Actors of Tampere! Lets see if we can mesh actors and game developers together to make something amazing, since they’ve been workshopping with the very same theme before the meetup!

Demo corner is also with us before the summer break! If you want to showcase what you’ve been working on, please fill in the form via the provided link. LINK

IGDA Tampere meetups follow the code of conduct established by IGDA Finland Ry. This code of conduct can be found HERE.

WHAT: IGDA Tampere June Meetup with Tampereen Freelance-näyttelijät ry!
WHERE: Bar Ihku Tampere, Hämeenkatu 23, 33100 Tampere
WHEN: Tuesday, June 2nd. Starting at 18:00!

Get cozy & join us for an evening of games developed across Finland! ⭐

In this three-part series, you’ll get to showcase your game demo, learn about the different stages of demoing from industry professionals, play demos created across Finland, and potentially receive feedback to help take your game to the next level.

The Event Pass gives you access to all the dates. 🎟️

UPCOMING SESSIONS:

25th of May at 18:00
▸ 1st of June at 18:00 Resource Management For New Teams by Pertti Hakala
8th of June at 18:00

EVENINGS PROGRAM STRUCTURE:

[18:00] Opening words
[18:10] SPEAKER
[18:50] Break
[19:00] Demo and commentary
[19:20] Conclusion and reply from the devs
[19:30] Closing words

ABOUT PERTTI AND HIS TALK:

By day, Pertti is a Gameplay Capturer, and by night, the Co-Founder & CEO of a small game development studio Conifer Digital, creators of Versebound.

In Pertti's talk "Resource Management For New Teams", he will be going through how to plan, organize and execute a commercial game project with limited resources and skills.

The event will be organized in IGDA Finland Digihubs Discord server. To join this event, you're required to grab a ticket and share your Discord username, so we can give you a role and access to the event's channels. This is so we know how many are coming, but also so we can ensure the safety of each participant.

[NOTE]
By attending this Session, including the Q&A, you acknowledge and agree that the session may be recorded and published IGDA Finland and DigiHub social media platforms, website etc. Any questions you ask during the session, as well as your displayed Discord ID, may appear in the recording. If you do not wish to be recorded or have your Discord ID shown, please refrain from participating in the live Q&A.

IGDA Finland is committed to keeping our community safe for everyone and has a zero-tolerance policy on harassment in any and all of its forms - please read our Code of Conduct.

Accessibility
We will try to make this event as accessible as possible and are trying to look for ways to make it better. If you want to share your knowledge on making our online streams more accessible, get in touch with us: emma.vantaa@igda.fi

If you can't make it to this, feel free to join and follow us on Discord or LinkedIn:
Discord: https://discord.gg/vEprJZ9XSz
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/igda-digihub

Digihub is an online hub formed and powered by people around Finland. Our hub is focused on creating content that can be enjoyed from the comfort of your home, no matter where you are. Like our fellow IGDA hubs, our events are 100% free to attend!

Participants are required to sign up through Eventbrite to join this event:

Happy soon summer everyone!
Join IGDA Kymenlaakso in welcoming the summer in Kotka!

DATE: Thursday 28.5
TIME: 17 to 20
WHERE: Kotka in Isopuisto's Popov corner
WHAT: As long as the weather allows there will be picnicing, games, chats and vibes.
FOOD: Bring your own preferred snack and drinks, so that you have something to consume.

See you there!
(If weather isn't on our side, the inside location will be announced day before. Please keep an eye on our Discord to get the quickest updates.)

Next Monthly meetup with demo night event is on Thursday the 28th of May! Join us at the Startup Factory from 5pm onwards.

Come hang out and try the newest wip projects from local game devs. Feel free to bring your laptop if you want to show off your own game or prototype. If you’d like to do a presentation or run a longer playtest, just reach out to one of the mods or volunteers and let's see what we can do together!

Demo night
Thursday 28.5.
From 17:00 to 21:00
Startup Factory / Yliopistonranta 10, 65200 Vaasa

Get cozy & join us for an evening of games developed across Finland! ⭐

In this three-part series, you’ll get to showcase your game demo, learn about the different stages of demoing from industry professionals, play demos created across Finland, and potentially receive feedback to help take your game to the next level.

If you're interested in demoing your game at the event, please sign up through the
link below before the end of 22nd of May: https://forms.gle/NAtoeuzktTmqTHdAA

The Event Pass gives you access to all the dates. 🎟️

UPCOMING SESSIONS:

▸ 25th of May at 18:00
✨👤 Our first upcoming speaker is amazing Natasha Skult from MiTale! 👤✨
1st of June at 18:00
8th of June at 18:00

ABOUT NATASHA AND HER TALK:

Natasha is the CEO & Creative Director of MiTale Ltd. and a passionate supporter of indie developers and the games industry through initiatives like W Love Games.

In her talk, “When is your project ready to Demo?”, Natasha will share practical advice on turning an early concept into a strong public demo. She’ll cover how to know when your game is demo-ready, what players actually need from a first build, common mistakes teams make, and how to use community feedback without losing your vision.

EVENINGS PROGRAM STRUCTURE:

[18:00] Quick intro
[18:05] When is your project ready to Demo by Natasha Skult
[18:30] Open chat & trailer showcase
[18:40] First demo commentary with the devs
[19:00] Conclusion
[19:10] Open chat, trailer showcase & filling feedback forms
[19:20] Second demo commentary with the devs
[19:40] Conclusion
[19:50] Open chat, trailer showcase & filling feedback forms
[20:00] Closing words

The event will be organized in IGDA Finland Digihubs Discord server. To join this event, you're required to grab a ticket and share your Discord username, so we can give you a role and access to the event's channels. This is so we know how many are coming, but also so we can ensure the safety of each participant.

IGDA Finland is committed to keeping our community safe for everyone and has a zero-tolerance policy on harassment in any and all of its forms - please read our Code of Conduct.

Accessibility
We will try to make this event as accessible as possible and are trying to look for ways to make it better. We are looking to get captions to work during the stream but will update this part as we know better. If you want to share your knowledge on making our online streams more accessible, get in touch with us: emma.vantaa@igda.fi

If you can't make it to this, feel free to join and follow us on Discord or LinkedIn:
Discord: https://discord.gg/vEprJZ9XSz
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/igda-digihub

Digihub is an online hub formed and powered by people around Finland. Our hub is focused on creating content that can be enjoyed from the comfort of your home, no matter where you are. Like our fellow IGDA hubs, our events are 100% free to attend!

Participants are required to sign up through Eventbrite to join this event:

If you want to be among the first to know, join our Discord Channel:
https://discord.com/invite/vEprJZ9XSz

Join us for The Finnish Game Awards 2026 Watch Party on 21.5 18:00-21:00 at StartHub! Stream starts at 19:00.

Finnish Game Awards 2026: https://neogames.fi/the-best-finnish-games-in-the-world-will-be-awarded-at-the-finnish-game-awards-2026-gala-in-may/

Details where StartHub is: https://www.starthub.fi/en/contact/

The Finnish Game Awards 2026 gala will honor the best Finnish games of the last year and celebrate the Finnish games industry. The nominees for Finnish Game of the Year 2025 are Amistech Games (My Winter Car), Channel37 (The Last Caretaker), Cornfox & Brothers (Oceanhorn: Chronos Dungeon), Hanki Games (Sledders), Kimmo Factor (Sektori), MiTale (Willow Guard), Next Games (Puzzled), Notovia & Dreamloop Games (I’m on Observation Duty 8), and Zaibatsu (Squishmallows Match). Short game descriptions and links can be found at the end of the release.

WHAT:
The Finnish Game Awards 2025 Watch Party

WHEN:
Thursday 21th May, 18:00-21:00

WHERE:
StartHub, Mukkulankatu 19, 15210 Lahti

IGDA Finland is committed to keeping our community safe for everyone and has a zero-tolerance policy on harassment in any and all of its forms - please read our Code of Conduct.
If you have questions contact: wawethewaras (Mika Savolainen) in IGDA Lahti Discord (https://discord.gg/328zTZfy9z) or email lahti@igda.fi.

IGDA Helsinki Presents:
May Meetup with Housemarque
12.05.2026

🎉 Spring is here and so is the last IGDA Helsinki Meetup before summer!!

We are super excited for our May Meetup with Housemarque! It’s a super special event with not one but two amazing talks! Come learn about being a Technical Narrative Designer and changes in one job title, and come find out more about the Production of SAROS. Save Tuesday May 12th in your calendars and bring your best summer vibes while we celebrate together one last time before the Summer! ☀️

After May we’ll take a break for June & July and will be back again in August.

📣 Note: No pre-registration is required to join our Meetup.

WHAT:
IGDA Helsinki May Meetup with Housemarque

WHEN:
Tuesday 12.05.
Doors open at 17
Program starts at 17:45

WHERE:
Maxine, Kamppi shopping center, 6th floor (Elevators can be found on the E-floor, between Jungle Juice Bar and Rax). Note that Maxine is a 18+ venue, hence you must be 18+ years of age to attend.

PROGRAM:
What's in a Name? - Musings on becoming a 'Technical' Narrative Designer by Jana Stadeler
The first thing most people in this industry learn of each other is our job title - and changes to that title mark the major milestones of our career as much as game releases do. In this talk, Jana explores the shifts in identity that come with moving departments in the workplace, and the assumptions we often need to navigate in an industry that evolves to quickly to settle on definitions.

The Production of SAROS: A Journey through the Pipeline by Petteri Siponen
Taking a step back to look at the project’s development through a production and technical lens. A short summary of our recent wins, the hurdles we cleared, and the practical lessons learned during the build-up to our latest release.

🕹️ Wanna showcase your game at our Demo Corner and get some valuable feedback? Sign up here: https://forms.gle/hvXfPjcugaG4i1vG8
Deadline for signups is May 8th at 23:59. Note, you will need to submit a 10 - 30s gameplay video!

💬 Our Chat Corner will be open and ready for chatting! We’ll also have an AMA Session (19:00 - 20:00) with Tanja Saarentaus who works as a Publishing Producer at Remedy Entertainment. See more details of Tanja’s background further below!

What's in a Name? - Musings on becoming a 'Technical' Narrative Designer" by Jana Stadeler
The first thing most people in this industry learn of each other is our job title - and changes to that title mark the major milestones of our career as much as game releases do. In this talk, Jana explores the shifts in identity that come with moving departments in the workplace, and the assumptions we often need to navigate in an industry that evolves to quickly to settle on definitions.

The Production of SAROS: A Journey through the Pipeline by Petteri Siponen
Taking a step back to look at the project’s development through a production and technical lens. A short summary of our recent wins, the hurdles we cleared, and the practical lessons learned during the build-up to our latest release.

Chat Corner AMA at 19 - 20 with Tanja Saarentaus!
Tanja Saarentaus works as a Publishing Producer at Remedy Entertainment. After nearly 10 years in marketing, she decided to follow her passion and transition into the game industry and production. Tanja graduated with a degree in Game Design last year and before moving into a full-time role in the industry, she gained experience as a Production Trainee at both Metacore and Remedy Entertainment.

ACCESSIBILITY:
At IGDA Helsinki we strive for making our events accessible for everyone. We kindly ask all attendees to stay away from using strong perfumes or similar fragrances. The Meetups can be crowded at times, meaning that the sound volume can also become rather loud.

Maxine is wheelchair accessible. There's a few steps at the entrance, for that please ask security at the cloakroom for a ramp. Accessible toilet can be found at the back of the space.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding any type of accessibility of our Meetups, then please contact helsinki@igda.fi and we will do our best to assist you. We also have an accessibility contact present at the Meetup until 19:00. They can be found near the entrance and are ready to assist with any accessibility-related matters!

Reminder that IGDA Meetups use the THE FINNISH GAME INDUSTRY Code of Conduct! 

Vappu was last week, but this week its the IGDA Tampere May Meetup! We promise our meetup will be less snowy than the last weekend of April!

This time we are joined by the wonderful fellows from Boom Corp and Red Stage, so don’t miss this one!

Boom Corp is a studio behind the hit game Boom Slingers! Founded in 2020 and immediately awarded with the Rookie of the Year award, they have left a lasting mark in the local game development scene with their cheery attitude and the drive to make things fun!

Like the previous one, Red Stage has left a mark in the scene of Tampere. Founded in 2017, the team has created the one of a kind Sámi Mythology game Skábma, and many more. The newest brew Red Stage has been cooking is their next big hit: Endwell! Check out the steam page and remember to wishlist!

The Meetup takes place at our usual haunt in Bar IHKU Tampere. Doors open at 18:00(6pm) and the meetup lasts until 22:00(10pm).

Our Demo Corner of four spots is also open for the occasion! Please use this form to secure your demo spot.

At IGDA Finland meetups we follow the IGDA Finland Code of Conduct.

WHAT: IGDA Tampere May Meetup!
WHEN: May 5th! Starting at 18:00(6pm)!
WHERE: Bar IHKU Tampere, Hämeenkatu 23, 33100 Tampere!

Welcome to the IGDA Satakunta monthly meetup!

The meetup will be at Caffe Locale at Yrjönkatu 12, Pori, in the basement meeting space.

This time we have a guest speaker, Aku Koskinen, who will be telling us about interactive ways to learn Blender!

Programme:
14.00: Doors open
14.30-15.00: “Interactive learning in Blender” - Aku Koskinen
15.00-17.00: Small talk and networking

Welcome to all interested in game development!

Time: 17:15-20:30
Date: 29.5
Place: Xamk Kouvola Campus, Building Paja, Room Fuel (lowest floor)

IGDA Kymenlaakso and Xamk are buddying together to help students and beginners find out how to stand out when pitching, showcasing and demoing a game, as well as how to refocus and motivate your team after an event like Demo Day, with the feedback received.

Xamk and IGDA Kymenlaakso have gathered a panel of game industry experts in pitching and demoing games. We have also pre-collected questions from students and game developers, to make sure that the relevant questions are being asked.

This event is not only for Xamk students, but it is aimed towards them - however if you are interested in the panelists and the topic, you are welcomed to join!

Reminder that IGDA Meetups use the THE FINNISH GAME INDUSTRY Code of Conduct and by attending the event you agree to follow them.

Next Monthly meetup with demo night event is on Thursday the 23th of April! Join us at the Startup Factory from 5pm onwards.

https://discord.gg/QPN8xbJU?event=1491778936391204904

Come hang out and try the newest wip projects from local game devs. Feel free to bring your laptop if you want to show off your own game or prototype. If you’d like to do a presentation or run a longer playtest, just reach out to one of the mods or volunteers and let's see what we can do together!

Demo night
Thursday 23.4.
From 17:00 to 21:00
Startup Factory / Yliopistonranta 10, 65200 Vaasa

Join us for our IGDA Kymenlaakso April meetup in Kotka! Meet us at Street Food Factory at 18:00 on the 16th of April.
Come and hangout with the Kymenlaakso gaming community! Learn from each other and share your current projects. Did you attend Xamk Game Jam and wanted to hang out more with others who attended? This is just the hang out for you.

Next board games event is on Thursday the 16th of April! Join us at the Startup Factory from 5pm onwards.

https://discord.gg/QPN8xbJU?event=1491778936391204904

You just need to bring yourself, we're bringing the games and a group of people who also like board games. You’re also welcome to bring your own games, or tell us your wish and we’ll try to make it happen.

Board games night
Thursday 16.4.
From 17:00 to 21:00
Startup Factory / Yliopistonranta 10, 65200 Vaasa

IGDA Helsinki Presents:
April Meetup with Nextcon and Game Makers of Finland
14.04.2026

Join us for a packed IGDA Helsinki Meetup this April sponsored by Nextcon and Game Makers of Finland! On stage we'll have an informative Finnish Game Industry QA panel. We'll also have an update on the IGDA Finland Grant 2026. At Chat Corner, we'll have an AMA session with Ari Arnbjörnsson, Senior Software Engineer for Developer Relations at Epic Games. Finally, the Finnish/Swedish language learning cafe, Café Lingua, is also making a return! 

Please see further below for more details on our sponsors, panel and panelists, language cafe and Chat Corner AMA! ⬇️

📣 Note: No pre-registration is required to join our Meetup.

WHAT:
IGDA Helsinki April Meetup with Nextcon and Game Makers of Finland

WHEN:
Tuesday 14.04.
Doors open at 17
Program starts at 17:45

WHERE:
Maxine, Kamppi shopping center, 6th floor (Elevators can be found on the E-floor, between Jungle Juice Bar and Rax). Note that Maxine is a 18+ venue, hence you must be 18+ years of age to attend.

PROGRAM:
🎤 Finnish Game Industry QA panel with panelists Senior QA Lead Karol Truchan, QA Lead Henry Lunabba and Senior QA Specialist Riku Salpakari.

📢 IGDA Finland Grant 2026 info session! The IGDA Finland Grant team will share more about this year's Grant and how you can apply.  

🕹️ Wanna showcase your game at our Demo Corner and get some valuable feedback? Sign up here: https://forms.gle/ZCDmR8TjVktrU9W97
Deadline for signups is April 11th at 23:59. Note, you will need to submit a 10 - 30s gameplay video!

💬 Our Chat Corner will be open and ready for chatting! Our AMA session at 19 - 20 is hosted by Ari Arnbjörnsson, Senior Software Engineer for Developer Relations at Epic Games.
Topics: Game Industry, Game Engines, Studio Workflows, Games' Performance (profiling & optimizing), Programming, Knowledge Sharing.

🗣️ We are also trialing Let’s speak in Finnish/Swedish - Café Lingua 
Interested in practicing and improving your Finnish or Swedish language skills by chatting with native-speaking game industry professionals? Join Café Lingua at the April Meetup in Maxine between 17-17.45.

✨ Meetup Partner highlight ✨

Nextcon Finland is a Helsinki-based, technology-agnostic consulting company specializing in quality assurance and project management. They are aiming to become a reliable partner for the Finnish game industry, especially for indie and AA studios.
This work is driven by their consultants with game industry experience who want to raise awareness of the importance of quality assurance in game development. As part of this effort, Nextcon has helped establish the Finnish Game Industry QA Meetup Group and supported students through mentoring and lectures. 
More information about Nextcon can be found from the company website or by contacting them directly: https://www.nextcon.fi/en/contact/

Game Makers of Finland (Peliala ry) is a game industry specialized Finnish trade union. They are part of a larger ensemble with The Union of Professional Engineers in Finland (Insinööriliitto) & Association of IT Sector Employees (Tietoala ry).
Their mission and vision is to be a positive force within the industry through advocacy and supporting their members as well as everyone else in the industry. They help and advice their members throughout their careers in matters related to job search, salaries and employment.
The unifying factor of GMoF members, regardless of educational background, is the gaming industry. The union provides all it's members with comprehensive services and benefits.

🎤 Panel Topic: QA in the Finnish Games Industry 
This panel brings together QA professionals from across the Finnish games industry to unpack the evolving role of quality assurance in modern game development. The discussion will explore what QA really means beyond testing, who truly owns quality across a team, and how YOU can build strong quality practices.

Panelists

💬 Chat Corner Ask Me Anything - session with Ari Arnbjörnsson, 19:00 - 20:00
Ari Arnbjörnsson is a Senior Software Engineer for Developer Relations at Epic Games. He has over 18 years of games industry experience working on titles such as Angry Birds and Housemarque’s BAFTA-winning Returnal for PlayStation 5 as a lead programmer.

🗣️ Let's speak Finnish/Swedish! Cafe Lingua in the next Helsinki Hub meeting for the game industry professionals.

In some near or not-so-near future, are you aiming to participate in language tests to gain Finnish citizenship? Would you like to improve your skills in the language by chatting in Finnish or Swedish with someone who is native in those languages? IGDA Finland and Neogames are piloting Cafe Lingua to support this. In Cafe Lingua, you can speak Finnish or Swedish with the volunteers, with the everyday life topics that can be part of the YKI tests.

Cafe Lingua takes place between 17-17.45 in Maxine. There's a sofa area reserved for this, with Finnish and Swedish flags on the table.

What you need with you? Just you, and your willingness to speak Finnish or Swedish. Ideas for topics etc. are available at the table.

Are you a Finnish or Swedish speaker, and interested to join? You can join Cafe Lingua to chat in your native language! We have recruited volunteers to join, but it never hurts to have more hands on deck. All you need with you is your willingness to speak Finnish and Swedish with someone, who is learning the language.

ACCESSIBILITY:
At IGDA Helsinki we strive for making our events accessible for everyone. We kindly ask all attendees to stay away from using strong perfumes or similar fragrances. The Meetups can be crowded at times, meaning that the sound volume can also become rather loud.

Maxine is wheelchair accessible. There's a few steps at the entrance, for that please ask security at the cloakroom for a ramp. Accessible toilet can be found at the back of the space.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding any type of accessibility of our Meetups, then please contact helsinki@igda.fi and we will do our best to assist you. We also have an accessibility contact present at the Meetup until 19:00. They can be found near the entrance and are ready to assist with any accessibility-related matters!

Reminder that IGDA Meetups use the THE FINNISH GAME INDUSTRY Code of Conduct! 

Its time for IGDA Tampere April meetup, this time as a Demo Event!

We will gather up at the Tribe space on the 5th floor of Platform6, where we will have room for up to eight teams to show their games. We are especially looking forward to having the recent Bit1 games to visit us!

Please fill in the sign up form to secure a spot! The form can be found here
Act fast, since we only have eight spots!

We do not have a sponsor this time, so feel free to bring your own drinks and snacks. In other words the event is BYOB!

WHAT: IGDA Tampere April Meetup Demo Event!
WHEN: Tuesday 7th of April! Starting at 18:00!
WHERE: 5th floor of Platform6, Åkerlundinkatu 8!

Welcome to International Day 2026!

On the 26th of March we will gather in Kohoa Synergiakeskus, or online via Teams, between 17 to 20:30, to learn more about the Game Industry.

This time we are getting to know how to start your own game studio!

The schedule for the event:

17:00 Doors Open

17:30 Marko Kaltiokumpu
Expert in regional development and vitality from the City of Kouvola

18:45 Lauri Taavila
Game Programmer from the indie game company Utu Studios from Lahti

19:45 Networking and Games until closing

• Marko will talk about how to pitch to investors, most common mistakes companies make in the beginning and what investors are looking for.

• Lauri will talk about how Utu Studios managed to kick-start their studio and their best tips and tricks to survive and succeed in the competitive games industry.

The event is organised together with our friends Patteri ES, who are bringing the business to the room, giving you the opportunity to network and talk to business minded people who love games. Maybe this is where you'll find the right partner to start your company with!

If you are coming from Kotka, Mikkeli or Savonlinna, Patteri ES have generously offered to help with train tickets for the ones who want to be present on-site. Please see the event information on Luma for more information.
If you want to get a place on-site at this event, sign-up quickly! As there is limited space in Kohoa.
If you join online - don't worry, there's plenty of space and the link to the Teams call will be posted in our Discord channel.

ACCESSIBILITY:
We kindly ask all attendees to stay away from using strong perfumes or similar fragrances.
Kohoa Synergiakeskus is wheelchair accessible and the accessible toilet is located next to the cafeteria.

Reminder that IGDA Meetups use the THE FINNISH GAME INDUSTRY Code of Conduct!

Next board games event is TOMORROW on Thursday the 26th of March! Join us at the Startup Factory from 5pm onwards.

https://discord.com/events/542422082202632252/1482790305068486770

You just need to bring yourself, we're bringing the games and a group of people who also like board games. You’re also welcome to bring your own games, or tell us your wish and we’ll try to make it happen.

Board games night
Thursday 26.3.
From 17:00 to 21:00
Startup Factory / Yliopistonranta 10, 65200 Vaasa

This time, we dive into Odysseus – First Light, an ambitious Finnish sci-fi larp project by Ellarion Tales.

24.3.2026 at Saaristobaari (Club side)
18.00 Doors open
18.30 Program Starts

Odysseus is a large-scale Finnish sci-fi larp, originally run in 2019 and remastered in 2024. Set aboard a fully immersive spaceship environment, it combines live-action roleplay, worldbuilding, and character-driven storytelling in a story of survival, hope, and sacrifice.

During the evening, Antti Kumpulainen (Production, Narrative Design, Logistics) will open up what makes Odysseus such a unique production, how a large-scale larp of this kind is created, and what the next chapter of the project looks like. From design and storytelling to production scale, logistics, and community-building, the session offers a fascinating look into one of Finland’s most ambitious immersive game projects.

We will also hear about the practical realities of running a project like this: funding, people, spaces, construction, lessons learned from past events, and how player characters and choices can lead to very different experiences within the same larp.

The talk will also touch on the project’s ongoing crowdfunding campaign and ways to get involved.
https://www.indiegogo.com/en/projects/ellarion-tales/odysseus-first-light#/section/project-story

Whether you are interested in larps, immersive experiences, narrative design, or large-scale game production, this meetup is a great chance to learn more and join the discussion.

Learn more:
website: https://ellariontales.com/
Discord: https://discord.gg/7dBjnNVb4s
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EllarionTales
Instagram: https://instagram.com/ellariontales
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/ellariontales.bsky.social

IGDA Helsinki Presents:
March Meetup with MiTale and Dreamloop Games
17.03.2026

Note: This month IGDA Helsinki’s March Meetup is one week later than usual!

Escape the grey and slush with MiTale and Dreamloop Games. Join the seminar and explore the Indie Game Business in 2026!

We’ll also: 
💡 Have an update on our IGDA Finland Grant.
💬 Trial a pilot session for Café Lingua, a Finnish and Swedish speaking Cafe (17-17:45).
🪐 Introduce Ellarion Tales at the AMA session. Come talk Sci-fi, live-action role-playing games (LARP) and immersive events.

Please see further below for more details on our program, language cafe and Chat Corner AMA!

📣 Note: No pre-registration is required to join our Meetup.

WHAT:
IGDA Helsinki March Meetup with MiTale and Dreamloop Games

WHEN:
Tuesday 17.03.
Doors open at 17
Program starts at 17:45

WHERE:
Maxine, Kamppi shopping center, 6th floor (Elevators can be found on the E-floor, between Jungle Juice Bar and Rax). Note that Maxine is a 18+ venue, hence you must be 18+ years of age to attend.

PROGRAM:
We’re joined by MiTale and Dreamloop Games as they give an action-packed seminar on Indie Game Business in 2026! In this talk Natasha Skult (CEO at MiTale) and Joni Lappalainen (CEO of Dreamloop Games) will present their strategies in publishing, co-development partnerships and transmedia strategies that can elevate your indie success.

🕹️ Wanna showcase your indie game at our Demo Corner and get some valuable feedback? Sign up here: https://forms.gle/Fx6pnSC5mJ4SP9U66
Deadline for signups is EOD March 14th.
Note, you will need to submit a 10 - 30s gameplay video!

💬 Our Chat Corner will be open and ready for chatting! We also have the exciting Ellarion Tales joining us for the AMA session! They are a storytelling studio that creates live-action role-playing games (larps) and other immersive experiences. 

🗣️This month we are trialing Let’s speak in Finnish/Swedish - Café Lingua
Interested in practicing and improving your Finnish or Swedish language skills by chatting with native-speaking game industry professionals? Join Café Lingua at the March Meetup in Maxine between 17-17.45.

TL;DR:
- IGDA Helsinki March Meetup with MiTale and Dreamloop Games
- Tuesday 17.03.
- Doors open at 17, program starts at 17:45
- MiTale and Dreamloop Games: Indie Game Business in 2026
- Café Lingua from 17-17:45
- Demo Corner and Chat Corner are Open! Ellarion Tales at Chat Corner AMA.

🎤 Topic: Indie Game Business in 2026
Indies will save the industry! In this talk Natasha Skult (CEO at MiTale) and Joni Lappalainen (CEO of Dreamloop Games) will present their strategies in publishing, co-development partnerships and transmedia strategies that can elevate your indie success.

Natasha Skult is the CEO & Creative Director of MiTale, an independent game and software development company from Finland, focusing on narrative-driven games. She is an active member of the Finnish and international games industry as Chair-Emeritus of IGDA and Lead Organizer of W Love Games and Finnish Games Week. She is also active in academic research and finishing her doctoral degree teaching courses in game design and game (digital) art production at University of Turku in Finland and Ashesi University in Ghana. 

Joni Lappalainen is the CEO of Dreamloop Games and an instrumental contributor to Finland’s gaming scene. Joni serves as the President of both the Tampere Game Hub and Finnish Game Developers' Association, the Chairperson of the Board at Platform6, the co-founder of Tampere Startup Hub, and Finnish Game Incubator.

💬 Chat Corner Ask Me Anything - session

Ellarion Tales is a storytelling studio that creates live-action role-playing games (larps) and other immersive experiences. Their team brings together expertise from theatre, TV production, game design, and event production to craft large-scale narrative events. Their flagship project, Odysseus – First Light, is a Finnish-style sci-fi larp for 104 players about a band of survivors battling against an overwhelming enemy in the aftermath of a devastating attack on a human colony in a distant star system. The game blends social drama and space adventure, with hectic clockwork design, prewritten characters intertwining with overarching main story, and a fully immersive 360° setting.

AMA topics:

• What is Larp?

• Gamedesign for Larps

• Clockwork design

• Production of immersive live game events

• Crowdfunding

🗣️ Let's speak Finnish/Swedish! Cafe Lingua in the next Helsinki Hub meeting for the game industry professionals.

In some near or not-so-near future, are you aiming to participate in language tests to gain Finnish citizenship? Would you like to improve your skills in the language by chatting in Finnish or Swedish with someone who is native in those languages? IGDA Finland and Neogames are piloting Cafe Lingua to support this. In Cafe Lingua, you can speak Finnish or Swedish with the volunteers, with the everyday life topics that can be part of the YKI tests.

Cafe Lingua takes place between 17-17.45 in Maxine. There's a sofa area reserved for this, with Finnish and Swedish flags on the table.

What you need with you? Just you, and your willingness to speak Finnish or Swedish. Ideas for topics etc. are available at the table.

Are you a Finnish or Swedish speaker, and interested to join? You can join Cafe Lingua to chat in your native language! We have recruited volunteers to join, but it never hurts to have more hands on deck. All you need with you is your willingness to speak Finnish and Swedish with someone, who is learning the language.

ACCESSIBILITY:
At IGDA Helsinki we strive for making our events accessible for everyone. We kindly ask all attendees to stay away from using strong perfumes or similar fragrances. The Meetups can be crowded at times, meaning that the sound volume can also become rather loud.

Maxine is wheelchair accessible. There's a few steps at the entrance, for that please ask security at the cloakroom for a ramp. Accessible toilet can be found at the back of the space.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding any type of accessibility of our Meetups, then please contact helsinki@igda.fi and we will do our best to assist you. We also have an accessibility contact present at the Meetup until 19:00. They can be found near the entrance and are ready to assist with any accessibility-related matters!

Reminder that IGDA Meetups use the THE FINNISH GAME INDUSTRY Code of Conduct!