The best games made by development studios based in Finland

Key points

  • The Finnish games industry includes major titles such as Noita, Baba Is You and the Alan Wake franchise.
  • Noita from Nolla Games is a challenging and dynamic roguelite, popular for its creativity and gameplay.
  • Angry Birds, a worldwide phenomenon, has become a complete franchise with a great future.



From Alan Wake TO angry Birds to indie games like NoitaFinland, despite being a modest-sized country, has been making waves in the gaming world for some time now. While the country is perhaps best known for the invention of the nearly indestructible Nokia cell phones and its abiding love of the sauna, it also has its fair share of creative minds and major video game development studios.

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While Finland hasn't dominated the gaming world the same way the US or Japan has with incredible franchises Red Dead Redemption OR Final fantasythere are some games that have left a mark on the industry as a whole. And who knows, some might be surprised to learn that their favorite titles were made in a country so small that memes exist about whether or not Finland exists. These are just some of the top games and franchises made by Finland-based studios, chosen based on their overall ratings and/or popularity.



8 Noita

An excellent indie entry from Nolla Games

Noita

Systems

PC-1

Released
October 15, 2020

Developer(s).
Nolla Games

Starting with an independent title, Noita from Nolla Games, based in the capital Helsinki. For this fascinating and magical roguelite, Nolla Games cited another Finnish classic as a source of inspiration: Liero. Noita it quickly became popular due to its gameplay and dynamic environment (also procedurally generated). It also helped that roguelites have seen a big increase in popularity.

While Noita is definitely on the more challenging end of the spectrum due to the permadeath, the immersive and surprisingly large world ready for the player to explore and traverse has a compelling quality. Not to mention, playing with the wand and spells adds a nice level of freedom and creativity.


7 Alan Wake franchise

A horror and action-adventure series with a unique atmosphere

  • Alan Wake Alan Wake 2
    Released 2012-02-16 27-10-2023
    Platform(s). Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, PS5, PS4, Xbox 360, PC, Xbox One Xbox Series S, Xbox Series
    Developer(s). Entertainment remedy Entertainment remedy

THE Alan Wake the franchise has had a decent run over the years, thanks to the vision of Remedy Entertainment. Although Alan Wake has recently been in the limelight thanks to its sequel, Remedy Entertainment is no stranger to the bigger scene, with titles like Quantum disruption AND Check under his belt.


The second game in the series took the horror aspect of gaming to the next level, with a much more surreal atmosphere and compelling story. The music was particularly appreciated by fans, although some of the gameplay was not flawless and could feel a little repetitive at times due to the abundance of puzzles or walking. That said, reviews praise a fantastic survival horror story that must be experienced to be understood.

6 Baba is you

The rules are fluid in this adorable puzzle game

Baba is you

Systems

8-bit super grayscale logo PC-1

Released
March 13, 2019

Developer(s).
Hempuli

From one of the minds behind it Noita he arrives Baba is youa puzzle game that will surely satisfy the desire for retro games of all fans of the style and genre of old pixel games. As Noita, Baba is you is one of Finnish developers' indie success stories, and despite its humble appearance, it packs a serious challenge and over 200 levels of fun and brain-scratching fun.


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Baba is you takes a different approach to puzzles by allowing players to “rewrite” the rules of the game by manipulating the environment to find solutions. It's easy to see why this formula has garnered so much praise and emerged as the winner of the Nordic Game Jam in 2017, for which Hempuli created it specifically.

5 Angry Birds franchise

Finland's most recognizable gaming export

Released
December 11, 2009

Developer(s).
Rovio entertainment

angry Birds it's not just a specific game: it's a phenomenon. Over the years, it has grown into an entire franchise from its simple beginnings at Rovio Entertainment.


It all started with a mobile game in 2009. The premise of the original game was quite simple and involved throwing birds at enemy pigs and their structures. Since then, these characters have become popular across numerous forms of media, from films to series to books. They are there too angry Birds-theme parks in Finland designed for children.

Given the massive scope of the franchise, it's no surprise that a major company like Sega would eventually take an interest in Angry Birds and make its move in 2023. Time will tell what the next big step will be for angry Birds will be.

4 Barotrauma

Underwater chaos aboard a submarine with or without friends

Barotrauma

Systems

PC-1

Released
March 13, 2023

Developer
Undertow games, pretend fish games

Two Finnish developers have joined forces to create Barotraumaa cooperative experience inside a submarine traversing the treacherous waters of the moon Europa. While single player mode is also possible, there's nothing more exciting than diving into it Barotrauma with a group of friends, each player takes on a specific job to take care of while steering the ship.


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There's a lot to love here, from the sci-fi simulation atmosphere to the horrors of the deep seas of Europa and finally the chaos of steering a very narrow ship. With very positive reviews on Steam, it's no surprise that Barotrauma easily makes it to this ranking.

3 My summer car

A charming 90s summer take on car building and driving simulators

My summer car

Systems

PC-1

Released
October 24, 2016

Developer
Amitech Games

What could be more Finnish than a game about building your own summer car in the picturesque Finnish countryside? For those looking to understand the heart of Finnish culture, this original car simulation game that doesn't take itself too seriously is the perfect place to start. Amistech Games' indie title is still in Early Access, but it's been trending on social media and streams thanks to a unique and fun twist that hasn't yet been replicated in any other game.


Players can completely build their own car in the simulation, drive it, crash, and even die permanently. And those who get bored easily with the car have nothing to worry about, because other vehicles and even the good old Finnish sauna experience with suitable drinks make their appearance. What more could a car maniac ask for from a game?

2 Check

A feast for the eyes in the form of an innovative action-adventure

Despite how low some players felt Check era, Jesse's Story was one of the biggest games of 2019. It definitely pushed the boundaries of what gameplay could look and feel like in a video game, with Check not only does it look fantastic, but it also features impressive gameplay.


The game is known for its innovation in shooting and movement, combining Jesse's special powers with third-person shooter gameplay. Skill, weapon gameplay, and mobility combined into one left many hungry for more and scarred Check as one of Remedy's hits. Luckily, as of February 2024, Remedy also obtained all rights to the franchise from 505 Games, so there will likely be more to come.

1 Max Payne 1 and 2

Even years later, Remedy's third-person shooter stands the test of time

  • Max Payne Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
    Platform(s). PS2, Xbox (original), PC, iOS, Android, Nintendo Game Boy Advance PS2, Xbox (original), PC
    Released 23-07-2001 2003-10-14
    Developer(s). Entertainment remedy Rockstar Vienna, Remedy Entertainment


Talking about innovative and unique gameplay, much earlier Check has entered the limelight of the gaming world, Max Payne AND May Payne 2 they made their entrance as a third-person shooter. Taking on the role of a hardened cop, determined to clear his name in the former Max Payneplayers are thrown into a dark urban environment with cinematic slow-motion shootouts.

Remedy Entertainment only took part in the development of the first two titles in the series, before publisher Rockstar Games took the reins. While the initial two games are getting a little old and require a fan patch to work nowadays, they were and still are nothing short of iconic in the realm of third-person shooters. The good news is that remakes are on the way for next-generation consoles and PCs, made by Remedy themselves.

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