Weekly News 9/26

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This week’s news from the Finnish Game Industry is packed with various topics and an exceptional wave of studio activity. The Story of Hill Climb Racing – 13 Years of Neckflips had its premiere screening in Oulu last Friday, where Neogames’ Elina Tyynelä was present in the front row. The documentary is now available to watch on YouTube. Business Finland’s Creative Immersive Experiences programme is organising a Funding Clinic in March. Game education remains active with the Summer Days of Game Educators in June and new teams joining Game Catalyst. On the studio front, major updates arrive first as Cities: Skylines 2 and Gladio Mori roll out significant patches. New trailers follow for titles such as Frostrail, Second Stone: The Legend of the Hidden World, Drivers of the Apocalypse and Last Drop, alongside continued international recognition for Sektori. Looking ahead, more games are approaching release: THYSIASTERY by Dirga Games launches on Steam on 9 March 2026, and Part Time Monkey introduces its latest creation WARENA, coming to Steam. Steam Next Fest showcases a strong selection of Finnish demos, underlining the breadth of current development from tactical shooters to mythology-inspired adventures. New Finnish game releases continue as Nightsoil launches on Steam.

Lastly, an important note for job seekers: the Finland Game Talent Fair debuts in Helsinki on 23 April.

Stay updated on what’s happening in the Finnish game industry by following the Play Finland Facebook group, and help us stay informed by posting your Finnish game industry news there! Follow Neogames Finland also on LinkedIn.

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📣Neogames Dones & News

Elina Tyynelä from Neogames Finland visited Oulu and participated in Fingersoft‘s documentary screening of The Story of Hill Climb Racing – 13 Years of Neckflips

📰 Game Industry News, thoughts & discussions

Summer Days of Game Education, 10 June 2026
Ashar Quadir is conducting a short anonymous survey for his bachelor’s thesis on expatriate employees’ experiences of leadership and work engagement in the Finnish game industry and invites expatriates working in Finland to participate.
Vantaa-based composer Hideyuki Shima offers combined music and Japanese localisation services for studios planning a Japan release, recently supporting Ritual Party and international media projects involving YLE and Square Enix.
Business Finland’s Creative Immersive Experiences program and Neogames invite game industry companies and research organisations to participate in a funding clinic 25th of March.
Bonus Stage introduction: Finland’s biggest video game publisher.
The Game Catalyst has 6 new teams in, totaling to 13.
Tuomas Roininen asks; If you are or your friend are in Jyväskylä and wants to join monthly Expa Board games events just join freely every month
Tomi Toikka; Finland’s current YEL system has effectively harmed game industry startups and entrepreneurs’ ability to survive during the early stages of a studio. If you are a Finnish resident, Tomi asks you to sign the citizens’ initiative that moves toward fixing this problem.

🎮News from and about Finnish Game Studios

Publisher Black Smoke Studios announces that Home Sheep Home: Farmageddon Party Edition received a brand-new online multiplayer update, available now, on Steam.
New Frostrail gameplay trailer for this upcoming open-world survival FPS from FakeFish
Drivers of the Apocalypse (by Dinosaurs Are Better) – Alpha Gameplay Trailer. Released exclusively on IGN.
THYSIASTERY by Dirga Games Releases on Steam at March 9, 2026!
Skyward Entertainment offers a deeper look at Second Stone: The Legend of the Hidden World in a new trailer for its upcoming story-driven adventure game, combining platforming with fast-paced RPG combat.
Kimmo Lahtinen developed the indie shooter Sektori largely on his own, earning recognition in international media as one of last year’s best games, and hopes that game developers in Finland would be valued in the same way as other artists. (Paywall & in Finnish)
The Story of Hill Climb Racing – 13 Years of Neckflips Chronicles the Rise of a Cult Mobile Game from Oulu. The Documentary Now Available on YouTube
Cities: Skylines 2′s new developer celebrates the occasion with a debut patch all about death
Gladio Mori has launched a major update featuring a Roman-inspired mosaic UI overhaul alongside new gear, including the Lucerne Hammer and Full Cuirass, now available on Steam.
Last Drop by Lohkare Games Reveals New Teaser Trailer for Its 1994 Finland Set Open World; Last Drop
Part Time Monkey introduces its latest creation WARENA, a PvP Card Battler, coming for Steam!
Steam Next Fest features a strong showing of Finnish game demos, offering players a chance to try upcoming titles and spotlighting the breadth of creative work from Finnish developers. (article in Finnish)
- Sea of Tranquility – A first-person sci-fi adventure set on a space station, combining exploration and puzzle-solving in open space.
- Commie Block – A management simulation where players run a communist administration and optimise production systems.
- Among the Trolls – A first-person survival adventure set in the Finnish forest, drawing on Nordic mythology.
- Wardrum – A turn-based roguelite blending tactical combat with rhythm-based mechanics.
- Raanaa – The Shaman Girl – A 3D platformer inspired by Sámi mythology.
- Ogre Chambers 2222 – A fast-paced bullet hell roguelike set aboard a spaceship.
- Mysteries of Old Tokyo – A 1990s CD-ROM-inspired puzzle adventure exploring Tokyo’s history.
- Spori – A psychological horror game uncovering the mystery of a missing brother.
- Echoes of Myth – A top-down action roguelite featuring relic collection and combat in a fractured world.
- Trucker 2056 – A narrative-driven trading RPG set in a dystopian future Finland.
- Burglin’ Gnomes – An online co-op game where mischievous gnomes break into homes while avoiding dangers.
- Remnants of Yore – A cosy roguelite combining cat magic and merchant mechanics.
- Kick and Hide – An asymmetric multiplayer game pitting a hunter robot against fleeing players in chaotic rounds.
- Panic Files: Buried Sanity – A horror game set in collapsing mine tunnels, where you evade deadly creatures and survive hallucinations to escape.
- Star and Serpent Solitaire – A Klondike solitaire variant played with a 56-card tarot deck, unlocking Major Arcana and revealing a prophecy.
- Ultimate Dream – A realistic tactical FPS set in a psychedelic world, blending lethal close-quarters combat with a surreal narrative.
- Goblin’s Die – A quirky fantasy game where you rise from goblin worker to goblin lord through raiding, mining and base-building.
- Orbital Overdrive – A roguelite twin-stick arena shooter set in planetary orbit, battling escalating enemy waves.
- Versus One – An asymmetric combat game where a VR-controlled giant villain faces off against a PC hero with unique abilities.
- Hellrifters – A tactical survival roguelite where you assemble a four-hero squad to battle demonic hordes in destructible arenas.

😍 NEW Finnish games released & soft launched

Nightsoil released by Minuscule Mayhem on Steam

💰 Funding

Business Finland’s Creative Immersive Experiences program and Neogames invite game industry companies and research organisations to participate in a funding clinic 25th of March.
Epic MegaGrants submission window opens at January 12 (ends on March 20, 2026 (closes 11:59 PM ET))
Supercell calls on companies to reach for potential partnerships on new website

📝 Jobs & Recruitment

Finland Game Talent Fair debuts in Helsinki on April 23
Check tips and links from Neogames webpage

👉 Upcoming Events

See also following calendars:
The Game Industry Events calendar (mostly relevant for Finnish Game industry)
Game Conference Guide Calendar (more international (powered by EGDF and Slovakian games association)
Game Industry Biz

This week’s roundup highlights news from the past week in the Finnish Game Industry. In the future, this bulletin is again posted every Friday afternoon. You can find past weekly roundups from Weekly roundup section.

News are gathered from various industry sources and the Play Finland group posts during the week. Post your Finnish Game Industry related news to the group to get a chance to be included in the weekly roundup!

Best Regards,
Neogames Finland