Summary
FromAlan WaketoAngry Birdsto indie games likeNoita, Finland, despite being a humble-sized country, has made waves in the gaming world for some time now. Though the country is perhaps better known for the invention of nearly indestructible Nokia cellphones and its unbreakable love for sauna, it also has its fair share of creative minds and notable video game development studios.
While Finland hasn’t dominated the gaming world in the same way the United States or Japan has with incredible franchises likeRed Dead RedemptionorFinal Fantasy, there are certain games that have left a mark on the industry as a whole. And who knows—some may be surprised to know that their favorite titles were made in a country so smallthere are memes about whether or not Finland actually exists. These are just a few of the most notable games and franchises made by studios based in Finland, chosen due to their overall ratings and/or popularity.
Starting off with an indie title,Noitafrom Nolla Games, based in the capital city of Helsinki. For this charming, magic-packed roguelite, Nolla Games cited another Finnish classic as their source of inspiration:Liero.Noitaquickly rose in popularity thanks to its gameplay and dynamic environment (which is also procedurally generated). It also helped that roguelites experienced a big spike in popularity.
WhileNoitais definitely on the more challenging end of the spectrum due to perma-death, the immersive and surprisingly large world ready to be explored and traversed by the player has an addicting quality to it. Not to mention, playing around with the wandand spells adds a nice layer of freedom and creativity.
7Alan Wake Franchise
A Horror And Action-Adventure Series With A Unique Atmosphere
TheAlan Wakefranchise has done decently throughout the years, thanks to the vision of Remedy Entertainment. ThoughAlan Wakehas been in the limelight recently thanks to its sequel, Remedy Entertainment is no newcomer to the bigger scene, with titles likeQuantum BreakandControlunder its belt.
The second game in the franchise took the horror aspect of the game to the next level, with a far more surreal atmosphere and captivating story. The music has been especially praised by fans, even if some of the gameplay hasn’t been spotless and may feel somewhat repetitive at timesdue to an abundance of puzzles or walking. That said, the reviews sing praises of a fantastic survival horror story that needs to be experienced to be understood.
From one of the masterminds behindNoitacomesBaba Is You, a puzzle game that is sure toscratch that retro game itchfor any fans of the style and genre of old pixel games. LikeNoita,Baba Is Youis one of the indie success stories from Finnish developers, and despite its humble appearance, it packs a serious challenge and more than 200 levels of fun head-scratching.
Baba Is Youtakes a different approach to puzzles by allowing players to “rewrite” the rules of the game by manipulating their environment to come up with solutions. It’s easy to see why this formula garnered so much praise and emerged as the winner of the Nordic Game Jam in 2017, for which Hempuli specifically created it.
Angry Birdsisn’t 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 flinging birds into enemy pigs and their structures. Since then, these characters have become famous across numerous forms of media, from movies to series, to even books. There are evenAngry Birds-themed parks in Finland designed for children.
Given the massive scope of the franchise, it’s no surprisethat a big company like Sega eventually took an interest in Angry Birds and made its move in 2023. Time will tell what the next great step forAngry Birdswill be.
Two Finnish developers combined their forces to createBarotrauma, a co-op experience inside a submarine traversing the treacherous waters of the Europa moon. While single-player is possible as well, there’s nothing more thrilling than jumping intoBarotraumawith a group of friends,each player grabbing a specific jobto tend to while steering the vessel.
There’s a lot to love here, from its sci-fi simulation vibe to the horrors of the deep Europa seas and finally the chaos of running a very tight ship. With highly positive reviews on Steam, it’s no surprise Barotrauma makes it to this ranking with ease.
What could be more Finnish than a game about building one’s own summer car in the picturesque Finnish countryside? For those seeking to understand the heart of Finnish culture, this funkycar simulation gamethat doesn’t take itself too seriously is the perfect place to start. Amistech Games' indie title is still in Early Access but has been trending on social media and streams thanks to a unique, funny twist that has yet to be replicated in any other game.
Players can fully build their very own car in the simulation, drive it, crash, and even permanently die. And those likely to easily get bored with cars have nothing to worry about, as other vehicles and even the good old Finnish sauna experience with appropriate beverages make an appearance. What more could a car maniac ask from a game?
Despite how short some players feltControlwas, the story of Jesse was one of the highlight games of 2019. It definitely pushed the limits of what gameplay could look and feel like in a video game, withControlnot only looking fantastic graphics-wise but also featuring impressive gameplay.
The game is well-known for its innovation in terms of gunplay and movement, combining Jesse’s special powers with third-person shooter gameplay. Abilities, weapon gameplay and mobility all combined into one left many hungering for more, and markedControlas one of Remedy’s successes. Fortunately, as of February of 2024,Remedy also gained full rights to the franchise from 505 Games, so likely, there’s more to come in the future.
1Max Payne 1 & 2
Even Years After, Remedy’s Third-Person Shooter Stands The Test Of Time
Speaking of innovative, unique gameplay, long beforeControlstepped into the gaming world’s limelight,Max PayneandMay Payne 2made their entry as third-person shooters. Taking on the role of a hardboiled cop deadset on clearing his name in the firstMax Payne, players are thrust into a grim, urban setting with cinematic, slow-mo gunplay.
Remedy Entertainment only had its hand in the development of the first two titles in the franchise, before publisher Rockstar Games took over the reins. Though the two initial games are getting a bit old and require a fan patch to work these days, they were and still are nothing short of iconic in the third-person shooter realm. The good news isthat remakes are on the way for next-gen consoles and PC—made by Remedy itself.
