January has culminated in the biggest gamejam, Global Game Jam 2026 and its Finnish version, the Finnish Game Jam!

Did you partake in the jam and made something cool? Come show it to everyone at IGDA Finland Tampere Hub’s February meetup and FGJ Play Party! We have limited space for the jam games, so please fill in the sign up form via this link: https://forms.gle/yyrU1sVpza6rcFeP9

We will gather up at the Tribe Tampere space, on the 5th floor of Platform6. The space is reserved for from 18:00 until 22:00 so there will be plenty of time for fun and games! This event is not sponsored by anybody, so feel free to bring your own drinks and snacks.

All IGDA Finland Tampere Hub events adhere to the IGDA Finland code of conduct. YOu can familiarize yourself with the code here

WHAT: IGDA Tampere February Meetup & FGJ2026 Play Party!
WHERE: At the Tribe Tampere space, 5th floor of Platform6!
WHEN: Tuesday, February 3rd starting at 18:00!

Get ready for Global Game Jam with us and FGJ!

Join us for the first Kotka meetup of the year at Street Food Factory on 29.1. at 17:00! Kuutti Partola from the Finnish Game Jam will be there to speak about jam preparations and how to get the most out of jams. This is great because FGJ Kymenlaakso starts the following day! We hope to see you there!

• Date: January 29

• Time: 17:00

• Place: Street Food Factory (Runeberginkatu 1, 48200 Kotka)

Welcome to this years first IGDA Turku meetup.

To kick off the year, we are happy to welcome Marjo Sutinen from Lightbeam Consulting, who will give a talk on Grant Funding Opportunities for Game Companies.

This lecture gives an overview of the main grant options available to game companies in Finland. We will look at instruments such as Business Finland’s funding programs, Kopiosto’s support for creative projects, EU programs such as Creative Europe MEDIA, ELY's company development grant. The focus is on what kinds of companies and stages each scheme fits, what preconditions are typically required, and how to approach the application process. Participants will gain a clearer view of the funding landscape and practical insights into how grants can support game development and growth.

Where: Saaristobaari Club side

When: 13.1.2026

Doors open at 18:00

Program stats at 18:30

IGDA Helsinki Presents:
January Meetup with Fingersoft
13.01.2026

We are kicking off 2026 with an exciting panel from Fingersoft exploring Hill Climb Racing 2: Growth Through LiveOps 🗻🏁 Gear up for a stimulating talk and a fresh creative year ahead. It's time to connect, collaborate and level up in 2026 - mark your calendar and don't miss out! 📅🎉

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

WHAT:
IGDA Helsinki January Meetup

WHEN:
Tuesday 13.01.
Doors open at 17:00
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 have teamed up with Fingersoft to start 2026 with an insightful panel: Hill Climb Racing 2: Growth Through LiveOps! With moderator David Branco (Community Manager at Fingersoft) and panelists Pertti Lepistö (HCR2 Producer) and Antti Kallunki (HCR2 Senior LiveOps Manager).

In this panel, the Fingersoft team dives into what LiveOps really means in practice and how it has driven the long-term growth of Hill Climb Racing 2. The discussion covers how player data, key metrics, intuition, and community feedback shape LiveOps decisions, along with lessons learned from both successes and mistakes over the years.

🕹️ Wanna showcase your game at our Demo Corner and get some valuable feedback? Sign up using this link. 
Deadline for signups is January 10th 23:59. Note, you will need to submit a 10 - 30s gameplay video!

💬 At Chat Corner, we're excited to host an AMA session with Niina Luostarinen from 19:00 - 20:00. Niina has worked in games since 2014, moving from Concept art to being a Content design lead and in recent years diving into Game UX. For more information, see below!

Chat Corner AMA
At Chat Corner, we're excited to host an AMA session with Niina Luostarinen from 19:00 - 20:00. Niina has worked in games since 2014, moving from Concept art to being a Content design lead and in recent years diving into Game UX. She has a master's in service innovation and design, has studied employee experience development (HR), leadership and management, and likes to self-educate herself in a variety of matters from game design to history. Niina is now releasing her own course Fundamentals of Games UX with Emma Varjo in early 2026.

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! 

The year has changed, but game development continues!

Join us at our first meetup of the year 2026 at Bar Ihku! Do you have any special plans or enterprises to announce for the new year? You can do so at the open mic! Simply let one of our volunteers know, and we’ll set you up.

Starting on 2026 we will be conforming to the IGDA Finland code of conduct, which you can make yourself familiar with here.

The Tampere demo corner is also back from the holidays! If you have made something that you are itching to show, now’s your chance! We only have room for four demos, so remember to book your spot by filling in the form! You can find the sign up form here

WHAT: IGDA Tampere January Meetup!
WHEN: 6th of January, starting at 18:00(6pm)!
WHERE: Bar Ihku Tampere, at Hämeenkatu 23!

Come and join us for the IGDA Porvoo December Meetup Friday 19.12.2025

In collaborations with Finnish Game Jam Ry, IGDA Porvoo will be hosting the afterparty of International College Jam #6! We will be streaming LIVE from Porvoo Game Club!

The International College Jam was created as an initiative to boost the co-operation of Finnish & International game development academies, to help students improve their skills and meet new contacts. The jam will run from 15.12.2025 - 18.12.2025 where students from a dozen different schools come together to jam! Join in on the stream & watch party at Porvoo Game club 19th of December! :)

You can also demo your game / board game at the club during the stream & watch party!

Location: Porvoo Game Club (Aleksanterinkatu 22, 06100 Porvoo
Time: 17:00 - Late

The event itself can easily be visited by bus from either Helsinki or Kotka!

Registrations required (Discord & via Forms that is linked to the Discord Event): https://discord.gg/SJmpjGPUte?event=1446547097800278067

The event is FREE and K18 for all who are interested in the games business!

Follow IGDA Porvoo’s other channels: https://linktr.ee/igdaporvoo

Welcome to IGDA Turku Xmas Party / Game Awards by Hive!

Meet and connect with fellow developers, artists and industry professionals. Join us for an evening of celebration as we reflect on this year's achievements and anticipate what the next year holds!

We are having our annual secret Santa, so for those who wish to participate in "Secret Santa" bring your present along and our volunteers will take care of the rest

When:

16.12 from 18:00 at saaristobaari

Doors open at 18:00

Program stats at 18:30

Welcome to this year's

🎄IGDA Kymenlaakso X-mas Party!🎄

2025 is nearing it's end and IGDA Kymenlaakso is inviting you to come and celebrate all the things that has happened this year, together with friends and other game enthusiasts.

Date & Time: 13.12 at 17.00 to 22:00
Place: House of Rock in Kouvola
GRAB YOUR TICKET: Eventbrite

🚌 A bus will take people from Kotka to Kouvola and back ! The bus ticket can be aqcuired at the ticket sale on Eventbrite as an add-on. 🚌

The bus leaves Kotka at 16, and Karhula (Etäläinen Karjalantie 3) at 16:15, and later Kouvola at 22:30.

This year the party takes place in Kouvola at House of Rock, a place where you will have the opportunity to let loose and celebrate.🎉
There will be no shortage of yummy snacks and even a popcorn machine!! 🍿

At the event you’ll have a chance to show off videos of projects or games that you made, we will hand out rewards, have a friendly competition, and showcase what has happened in 2025. 🏆

If you also want to showcase a project you have work on this year, send us an email to show your interest: kymenlaakso@igda.fi , we will then show a video of your project at the event. 🎦🎮

We are looking forwards to celebrate and hang out and be jolly with you on Saturday the 13th of December in Kouvola.

While the official event ends at 10pm, the party at House of Rock will continue into the night, so if you want to party - you can.😎🎉

‼️Please remember that all IGDA Kymenlaakso events follow the game industry code of conduct which can be found here

Massive ✨THANK YOU✨ to our sponsors: Nitro Games, Game Makers of Finland and Finnish Game Jam for sponsoring and helping us making this event happen 💗🤗

art by Huong Tran

IGDA Lahti December Meetup - Demofest & Christmas Party

Do you have a demo of a game that you want to share with people and get some feedback? Join us in IGDA Lahti's December meetup where you can share your demo or try out other people's demos. Getting feedback early on your game is one of the best way to improve your game and see if you have a fun game or still needs some polishing.

After the demofest we will also have after party with sauna, food, soft drinks and opportunity for networking. You can bring your own drinks as well. Alcohol is not forbidden, but disruptive drinking is not allowed.

Event is organized by IGDA Lahti in Fellmannia-talo. Doors open at 16:00. Sauna is open from 20:00. Event closes at 23:00.

Event follows code of conduct of IGDA.

Sign up now: https://pretix.eu/igdalahti/december2025/

WHERE:

Fellmannia-talo, Kirkkokatu 27, 15140 Lahti

WHEN:

Friday 12th December, 16:00-23:00

IGDA Helsinki Presents:
Xmas Party with Supercell!
09.12.2025

With dark nights and twinkling lights it’s the perfect time to enjoy a pre-holiday pause. Come connect, unwind and soak up the festive magic with us! 🧑‍🎄✨

We’ll warm up the winter evening with a quick icebreaker, followed by the Helsinki Meetup program and of course our cozy Demo Corner.

So join us for a fun, festive night full of seasonal cheer - a relaxed breather before the holidays! Don’t forget to save the date, more details coming soon~ ❄️

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

WHAT:
IGDA Helsinki Xmas Party with Supercell

WHEN:
Tuesday 09.12.
Doors open at 17:00
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:
Interactive opening segment followed by the Helsinki Meetup program.
Demo corner will be open.

🕹️ Wanna showcase your game at our Demo Corner and get some valuable feedback? Sign up here: https://forms.gle/F3pJs2wjshvxfwyM7
Deadline for signups is December 6th at 23:59. Only three Demo places available.
Note, you will need to submit a 10 - 30s gameplay video!

💬 Our Chat Corner will be open and ready for chatting!

Supercell is a games company from Helsinki, Finland, with offices also in San Francisco, Seoul, Shanghai, and London. Their mission is to create great games that as many people as possible play for years and that are remembered forever. ✨

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! 

The time has come to hold our traditional Xmas Meetup! This of course means jolly warmth and lots of glögg and gingerbread cookies, but also something more!

Lets gather up on Tuesday 2nd of December to have some early Christmas feeling with fellow game developers and other friends from the field. Our meetup this time will be sponsored by our very good friends at 10tons, the oldest game studio in Tampere!

Bar Iku has will graciously provide non alcoholic glögg and gingerbread for our event. Our sponsor 10tons wanted to bring somethig more to the meetup, more info about what it will be TBA!

Of course the demo corner will be there for you to showcase what you’ve been cooking. If you’d like to secure a spot, please fill in the Demo Corner signup form here. We only have room for four demos, so act fast!

So in a nutshell:
WHAT: IGDA Tampere Xmas Meetup with 10tons!
WHERE: Bar Ihku Tampere, Hämeenkatu 23 Tampere
WHEN: Tuesday 2nd of December, starting at 18:00

IGDA Lahti November Meetup - Lauri from Utu Studios

Say hello to Lauri Taavila from Utu Studios again. Utu Studios recently released their game My Card Is Better Than Your Card! to early access and it has been received amazingly well with over 500 reviews at Very Positive! Lauri will tell how the launch has gone and experiences of releasing game on Steam.

Utu Studios homepage: https://utustudios.com/press/
My Card Is Better Than Your Card! Steam page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3617620/My_Card_Is_Better_Than_Your_Card/

Event is organized by IGDA Lahti in Fellmanni-talo. Doors open at 17:30 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 Savolainen) in IGDA Lahti Discord (https://discord.gg/328zTZfy9z)

Sign up now: https://pretix.eu/igdalahti/november2025/

WHERE:
Fellmanni-talo, Kirkkokatu 27, 15140 Lahti
WHEN:
Friday 28th November, 17:30-20:00

Welcome to IGDA Finland Turku Hub November meetup!

After Halloween party, we are having Soihtu DTx, that's going to give us following presentation:

Making games beyond entertainment: How can a video game help treating serious mental health problems where conventional treatments fail?

Come and hear out what it takes to make games as medicine, what challenges and opportunities it provides. Also, the beer is on us.

Soihtu DTx exists to help people living with depression to improve their mental well-being and life quality by offering a clinically-proven, ground-breaking, game-based digital intervention.

Date: 25.11

Where: Saaristobaari, Aurakatu 14, 20100 Turku

Doors open at 18:00

Program starts at 18:30

Let's celebrate the spirit of Kajaani's game industry and our accomplishments from the past year! Also, we shall toast to our local IGDA chapter, as IGDA Kajaani Hub turns 10 years old!

Event: Kajaani Game Awards 2025
Date: November 21, 2025
Time: 18:00-24:00 (Doors open at 17:45)
Location: Kansanpirtti (Linnankatu 2, Kajaani)

The program:

🏆Awards Ceremony: Giving the well-deserved praise to games, teams, and individuals of 2025, you have cast your votes!

🎉Gala Atmosphere: Enjoy a glamorous evening with fellow developers, industry professionals, and friends, all while celebrating the achievements and highlights of the year.

🥂Networking & Celebrations: Connect with peers, make new friends and celebrate the success of the Kajaani game community. We offer the bubbly welcome toast, glögi and something little sweet to eat. You're also welcome to bring your own refreshments to the venue.

🎩Dress Code: Wear clothes. You can wear fancy clothes or a fancy hat! However, this is not mandatory, you can if you want, it is an award ceremony after all!

💌RSVP: To help us prepare for this wonderful event, please reserve your spot by registering on Eventbrite. The registration is free!
👉Link: https://tinyurl.com/KajaaniGameAwards2025

Let’s make the Kajaani Game Awards a night to remember! We look forward to celebrating with you and toasting to the incredible achievements of our industry.

Also, don't forget to cast your vote! YOU choose who wins this year. Scan the QR or click the link to make your choice.
🎫Voting Forms: https://forms.gle/jG8VtmChZFVN4MjE6

With festive regards, IGDA Kajaani

Come and join us for the IGDA Porvoo November Meetup Thursday 20.11.2025

In the venue there are dozens of board & card games that are waiting to be played.
Some beverages and snacks are available!

The event itself can easily be visited by bus from either Helsinki or Kotka!

Program: Boardgames, Networking, Game Demos & Finnish Game Jam discussion!
Location: Porvoo Game Club (Aleksanterinkatu 22, 06100 Porvoo) -> Accurate location with images can be found here: https://porvoogameclub.fi/#location
Time: 17:00 - Late

The event is FREE for all who are interested!

Please tell us if you’re attending by registering via Discord Event! https://discord.com/invite/aHcv8Ewzq7

Follow IGDA Porvoo hub social medias: https://linktr.ee/igdaporvoo

IGDA Helsinki Presents:
November Meetup with
Next Games, A Neftlix Game Studio
11.11.2025

Come join us for the IGDA Helsinki November Meetup and listen in to an exciting fireside chat about “Landing Your Dream Games Job In Today's Market” with John Nylund and Licia Prehn from Next Games, A Netflix Game Studio. More info on the program further below. See you at Maxine! 👋

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

WHAT:
IGDA Helsinki November Meetup

WHEN:
Tuesday 11.11.
Doors open at 17:00
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:
Fireside chat - Landing Your Dream Games Job In Today's Market 

In this fireside chat, Recruiter John Nylund and Diversity, Inclusion and HR Specialist Licia Prehn from Next Games, A Netflix Games Studio will share tips for both those new to the game industry, and those who've recently found themselves without work, on how to land their dream job in the current Finnish market.

🕹️ Wanna showcase your game at our Demo Corner and get some valuable feedback? Sign up using this link. 
Deadline for signups is November 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!

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.

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

Are you using or considering using AI tools in your game development process? Are you aware of the legal side of those tools? If not, this is a great talk for you!

Joeli will dive into the licensing challenges that arise when integrating AI into game development. This session will explore the various licenses associated with AI tools and their outputs, from proprietary to open source, and discuss the crucial legal considerations developers need to be aware of.

The event is organized by IGDA Lahti in Fellmanni-talo. Doors open at 17:30 and the presentation starts at 18:00. After the presentation, there is time to do networking. The event closes around 20:00.

You can also present your demos or ask for feedback on your game projects after the presentation.

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

WHERE:
Fellmanni-talo, Kirkkokatu 27, 15140 Lahti
WHEN:
Friday 7th of November, 17:30-20:00

🚅 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 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.

Xamk Game Track invites you for the fourth time to explore the potential of game technology!

This year’s event focuses on three key themes: Development – Design – Business.
Four inspiring sections will bring you fresh innovations for each area.

Top business experts will share their keys to success.
In the showroom, you’ll discover bold ideas from emerging game developers that can take your business to the next level.
The design section ensures your products attract and engage customers.

• Time: 09:00

• Location: XAMK Kotka Campus / Salakuljettajantie 4, 48100 Kotka

If you can’t make it in person, don’t worry, the event will also be streamed online!

Join us for the Afterparty!

Join us at Easy Peasy Kotka for a night of celebration and fun after the main event. Get ready to mingle with fellow games industry veterans and upcoming talent. Let’s make unforgettable memories and connections together. Don’t miss out on this epic night!

• Time: 7.11. from 17:00 to 22:00

• Location: Easy Peasy Kotka (Kotkankatu 7 C, 48100 Kotka)

The tickets to the afterparty are free, but there is only a limited amount! Get your free tickets here:

November has come and winter is slowly creeping in… So it is time to huddle up with fellow gamedev peeps over at IGDA Tampere November Meetup!

This time our meetup will be sponsored by Tampere’s very own Dreamloop Games! But that is not all, since we will be also joined by Redstage and Yle, among others! So be ready for fantastic talks about how games and the film industry can benefit each other.

We will gather up traditionally in Bar IHKU Tampere, at Hämeenkatu 23. Doors will open at 18:00 (6pm) and our evening of wonderful discussions will continue until 22:00 (10pm). Afterwards you can stay and enjoy some karaoke, or head on for other sidequests.

Demo corner is here again with four spots open for demoing! Please fill in the following form to secure your spot: https://forms.gle/cNeDeC9yeyB9FSqe6

To summarize:
WHAT: IGDA Tampere November Meetup!
WHERE: At Bar IHKU Tampere, Hämeenkatu 23!
WHEN: Tuesday November 4th, starting at 18:00!

Welcome to IGDA Finland Turku Hub October meetup!

As it is tradition, our October meetup is a Halloween Party, hosted at HIVE-Turku Game Hub with the following program:

Demo Corner and networking
Karaoke?!
Board Games
Award for Best Costume

Date: 31.10.2025
Time: 16.00 Doors open with Demo Corner, 18.00 party starts
Place: Turku Game Hub. Itäinen Pitkäkatu 4 A, 3rd floor,, 20520 Turku

Sign up for the Demo Corner here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeTiJxRAMGS5y8oJEwBoTL-ahBTw0eTbunqrRW2LKkVHTXa9w/viewform

It’s that time again! The next IDGA meetup in Kotka is just around the corner! Good vibes, great food and games… Sounds like something you shouldn’t miss huh?

WHEN?

On October 16, we’re meeting up for our next meetup in Kotka (this time starting an hour earlier than usual).

WHERE?

This time we’re gathering at the Street Food Factory in Runeberginkatu 1. There is going to be burgers, loaded fries, board games, billiards and everything a gamers heart might desire.