Helsinki: The Surprising Capital of Mobile Gaming

In the often snow-covered streets of Helsinki, something magical is happening. The Finnish capital is home to some of the world’s most ambitious and successful games makers, making it the capital of mobile gaming. Who would have thought?

Netflix certainly saw the potential when it chose to set up its first-ever internal gaming studio in the city. “Why Helsinki? It is home to some of the best game talent in the world,” the streaming giant said. And they’re not the only ones. The maker of Clash of Clans, Supercell, also calls Helsinki home.

So, how did Helsinki develop such a reputation? Well, in the 1980s and 1990s, Finland wasn’t considered one of the wealthiest countries in the world. But what it lacked in wealth, it made up for in creativity. The “demoscene” subculture emerged, and programmers created art presentations, music, and games that pushed the limits of technology at the time.

Enter Nokia. The telecommunications giant worked with young talent from the demoscene, which helped build the local gaming industry. And the rest, as they say, is history.

But it’s not just Nokia that put Helsinki on the gaming map. The Finnish games sector benefits from the right infrastructure, company governance, marketing, and technology support, which Reaktor provides to many of the 200 games studios in the city. The Finnish government is also supportive, providing grants for trying out new concepts and funding for proof of concepts.

Thirty percent of Helsinki’s developers have moved to the city from other countries, and companies and developers are attracted to Helsinki due to the city’s work-life balance, strong support system, and efficient work time. Plus, life is just easier in Helsinki, so why not?

All of this has resulted in the games studios in Helsinki making £2.8bn in 2022, and Supercell, recently acquired by Tencent, reportedly valued at £9.2bn. Stuart McGaw, the man in charge of the famous base building mobile game Clash of Clans, even moved from Scotland to Helsinki to work for the studio.

The success of Helsinki’s gaming industry is respected by the local people and considered important for the future of the country. And, who knows, other cities around the world might be able to replicate Helsinki’s success in building a gaming industry in a small place.

In the end, Helsinki’s success in gaming can be attributed to its tech heritage, government support, and talent acquisition. But it’s also the city’s culture of allowing people to try and fail, and then try again, that has been instrumental in the success of the Finnish gaming industry. So, to all you aspiring game developers out there, don’t be afraid to try, fail, and try again. Who knows? Maybe one day, you’ll be a part of Helsinki’s gaming legacy.