Small indie studios are struggling to get funding and here is a company attempting to fix the problem: Finndie Forge! Hear from Toni Tilsala and Ville Muhonen about how they plan to support indie developers and help people build teams. They are gonna tell about their next huge event were developers can get feedback for their games and testers can earn prices by finding bugs!

Sign up now: Register Link

About Finndie Forge:
Early-stage game developers in Finland struggle to access funding, team building, professional support, and publishing opportunities, despite the strong educational pipeline. We provide a community-driven platform and funding for Finnish indie game developers. Guiding them from brilliant ideas to published products. We will create and support new gaming companies in Finland and help the whole industry to evolve and prosper.

Website: https://finndieforge.fi/

Event is organised by IGDA Lahti in Fellmanni-talo. Doors open at 17:00 and presentation starts at 18:00. After presentation there is time to do networking. Event closes about 20:00.

You can also present your demos or ask for feedback on your game projects after presentation. If you want to ask for more details contact: wawethewaras (Mika Happonen) in IGDA Lahti Discord (https://discord.gg/328zTZfy9z)

Reminder: IGDA events uses the Finnish Game Industry Code of Conduct!

WHERE:
Fellmanni-talo, Kirkkokatu 27, 15140 Lahti
WHEN:
Friday 11th September, 17:00-20:00

🚅 You can easily arrive at our event by train from Helsinki in 1h or from Kouvola in 30 min.
🚶 Around 1km/15min walk from the train station.

Event follows code of conduct of IGDA Finland!

Fellmanni-talo is wheelchair accessible! 
The event will be happening on the second floor, but the building has an elevator, and accessible toilets can be found on the same floor. Our volunteers will be opening the doors to get in, and on the inside, there is a button to open the door. 

For more information, you can contact us at lahti@igda.fi, but we are easiest to contact through our Discord.

Hublead: wawethewaras (Mika Happonen)

Sign up to let us know you’re coming: Register Link

Sign up here to speak at IGDA Lahti! We’ll let you know when a slot opens.

Please note that, unfortunately, as a community-supported, non-profit event, IGDA Finland Lahti Hub cannot guarantee covering speakers’ expenses.

IGDA Helsinki Presents:
September Meetup
feat. Game Designers of Finland
08.09.2026

Update to what was previously communicated: There will be no mandatory security and cloakroom fee after all! Next Games, A Netflix Game Studio stepped in and enabled us to keep the event free and thus more accessible. Big Thank you to Next Games, A Netflix Game Studio! 💛

Brave the first days of Autumn at our next IGDA Helsinki September meetup! We’re collaborating with the amazing Game Designers of Finland and learning all about "friendslop" games. 🎮 Please scroll further below for more information on the talks and our speakers. ⬇️

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

WHAT:
IGDA Helsinki September Meetup with Game Designers of Finland

WHEN:
Tuesday 08.09.
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:
Introduction to the Game Designers of Finland by Collin Foss - Game Designers of Finland started in 2020 as a way to bring game designers in Finland together and build a stronger community around the craft. They've grown to close to 900 members and have organized around 20+ events so far. And now they want to hear from YOU!

In Slop We Trust by Tanja Saarentaus & Ali Irdiren - In this talk, Ali and Tanja explore friendslop games: what they are and why they have become so darn popular. They examine what makes the genre so distinctive and how its design, social interaction, and shared chaotic experiences contribute to its appeal and overall fun factor. Are friendslop games really slop, or are they actually far from it?

🕹️ Wanna showcase your game at our Demo Corner and get some valuable feedback? Sign up here: https://forms.gle/GuR9UWjwGc518GTC9
Deadline for signups is September 4th at 23:59. Note, you will need to submit a 10 - 30s gameplay video!

💬 Our Chat Corner will be open and ready for chatting! AMA Session: Begüm Doğan from the IGDA Finland Grant team and the Marketing Witch from Hexen Marketing will be hosting the AMA and weaving marketing magic for indie game developers.

PROGRAM
🎤 Game Designers of Finland Introduction by Collin Foss
Game Designers of Finland started in 2020 as a way to bring game designers in Finland together and build a stronger community around the craft. They've grown to close to 900 members and have organized around 20+ events so far. Over the years GDoF have had a pretty broad mix: industry talks, workshops, mentoring, design discussions and social events, with events hosted together with companies like Remedy and Supercell, sessions with experienced people from the Finnish games industry, and hands-on events like a board game design workshop supported by Game Makers of Finland. Their events are practical and useful, while also just giving designers a good reason to get together and meet each other. Going into 2026, GDoF want to figure out how they can have more of an impact, especially with how much the industry is changing. They're interested in doing more around mentoring, peer support, hands-on design, playtesting and supporting solo or independent creators, but they also really want to hear from YOU about what would actually be useful and where GDoF will head into the future!

🗣️ Collin Foss is a Creative Director at Nitro Games with 15+ years of experience across game design, product, and design leadership. He started his career at Digital Chocolate and later spent five years at Rovio, working across both new and live games. More recently, his focus has expanded from mobile free-to-play into PC and console, including work on PAYDAY 3 with Starbreeze, leading Nitro’s Netflix project, and currently directing the development of a popular PC game for mobile F2P. Originally from the U.S. and based in Finland for the past 16 years, Collin is the founder of Game Designers of Finland. Outside of work, he’s a strategy game fan, occasional solo developer, father to a four-year-old and a now 10 week old puppy.

🎤 In Slop We Trust by Tanja Saarentaus and Ali Irdiren
In this talk, Ali and Tanja explore friendslop games: what they are and why they have become so darn popular. They examine what makes the genre so distinctive and how its design, social interaction, and shared chaotic experiences contribute to its appeal and overall fun factor. Are friendslop games really slop, or are they actually far from it?

🗣️ Tanja Saarentaus is a Development Coordinator in publishing at Remedy Entertainment. She has nearly a decade of experience in marketing, in addition to her work in publishing and production. She has worked on games including Merge Mansion, FBC: Firebreak, and CONTROL Resonant. She is also a long-time volunteer with IGDA Helsinki and Game Designers of Finland.

🗣️ Ali Irdiren is a Game Designer at Rovio Entertainment, where he designs “Beyond F2P” Angry Birds experiences for partner platforms. His indie work spans multiple genres and themes like Isop0dyssey, Crowing Around & Purrbots Unleashed. He’s active in the game jam scene with mehu jam and bad jam. Ali has been volunteering with IGDA, Game Designers of Finland and Finnish Game Jam.

For more information on Game Designers of Finland, check out their website!

TL;DR:
- IGDA Helsinki September Meetup with Game Designers of Finland
- Tuesday 08.09.
- Doors open at 17, program starts at 17:45
- Demo Corner and Chat Corner are Open!

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! 

Better a bit late than never… Its time to kickstart the Fall/Winter season of IGDA Tampere meetups with our September Meetup!

How has the summer treated you? Has the Finnish summer given you new ideas and renewed your enthusiasm for the autumn? Come share your summer memories with your fellow game development enthusiasts! We will gather up at the usual spot in Bar IHKU Tampere, found in Hämeenkatu 24!

As a new thing this meetup we’re again taking influence from Helsinki and make our own version of the popular chat corner! If you want to sit down and have a conversation, theres a place for it!

Our demo corner also returns with new vigor! If you have cooked up something during summer, please sign up using the form and come show it! The demo corner sign up form can be found here

WHAT: IGDA Tampere September Meetup!
WHERE: Bar IHKU Tampere, Hämeenkatu 23, Tampere!
WHEN: Tuesday 1st of September, Starting at 18:00(6pm)!

Join IGDA Lahti grill party on the 7th of August.

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 Ank­ku­rin Ran­ta­puis­ton BBQ spot. (event address: Ruoriniemenkatu 6, 15140 Lahti).

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!

Where:

Ank­ku­rin Ran­ta­puis­to Grilling Spot

Ruoriniemenkatu 6, 15140 Lahti

When:

On Friday, August 7th, 2026 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Important notice! Location of the event has change to "Ank­ku­rin Ran­ta­puis­ton BBQ spot" (Ankkuri's beachpark)

Join IGDA Lahti grill party on the 10th of July.

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 Ank­ku­rin Ran­ta­puis­ton BBQ spot. (event address: Ruoriniemenkatu 6, 15140 Lahti). 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!

Where: Ank­ku­rin Ran­ta­puis­to Grilling Spot

Ruoriniemenkatu 6, 15140 Lahti
When: On Friday, July 10th, 2026 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Come hang out and enjoy the summer for the second time in a row, with IGDA Satakunta!

When: July 4th, 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.

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.

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! 

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.

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.

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! 

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!

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! 

IGDA Lahti is not only about video games! Join us for evening of new card and board games!

Games to try out:

- "Kalewala, The Tale of Sampo" -board game by Annukka Repo (Art) + Sami Styrman (Publisher) SamsaGames

- "Defenders of Kaiju Island" - board game by Jussi Kenkkilä

- "Pirate Fight" -card game by Otto Schmitz

Event is organized by IGDA Lahti in Fellmanni-talo. Doors open at 17:00. Event closes about 21:00.

Sign up to let us know you’re coming: REGISTER LINK

WHERE:
Fellmanni-talo, Kirkkokatu 27, 15140 Lahti
WHEN:
Saturday 7th March, 17:00-21:00

🚅 You can easily arrive at our event by train from Helsinki in 1h or from Kouvola in 30 min.
🚶 Around 1km/15min walk from the train station.

Event follows code of conduct of IGDA Finland!

Fellmanni-talo is wheelchair accessible! 
The event will be happening on the second floor, but the building has an elevator, and accessible toilets can be found on the same floor. Our volunteers will be opening the doors to get in, and on the inside, there is a button to open the door. 

For more information, you can contact us at lahti@igda.fi, but we are easiest to contact through our Discord.

Hublead: wawethewaras (Mika Savolainen)

Sign up to let us know you’re coming: REGISTER LINK

Sign up here to speak at IGDA Lahti! We’ll let you know when a slot opens.

Please note that, unfortunately, as a community-supported, non-profit event, IGDA Finland Lahti Hub cannot guarantee covering speakers’ expenses.

Join us for our IGDA February meetup in Kotka! It will take place on 19.2 at 18:00.
Hangout with friends old and new, and play some board games. A time to relax and enjoy the game industry community.