This newsletter shares the good news of the Finnish game industry once a month. The content is intended to be an interesting news roundup both for separate newsletter subscribers and for media representatives interested in games.
The Finnish game industry is experiencing an exceptionally diverse and ambitious phase, where new game releases, bold indie projects, major brand developments, and technological innovation progress side by side. January saw new PC games, VR simulations, and a special in-game event for a mobile title among other things. New industry players such as Coyote Time Publishing are strengthening opportunities for indie studios to break through internationally. The Angry Birds franchise continues to expand into new films, educational games, and new markets. My Winter Car, The Last Caretaker, and Hill Climb Racing are achieving impressive success worldwide. Supercell is investing in AI and a culture of creative failure. Altogether, these developments show that the Finnish game industry knows how to combine strong commercial success with creativity and a constant drive for renewal.
1. New Game Releases and Updates in January 2026
iFeral Games has released its strategic game Gem Miner TD. It offers roguelite-style replayability and inventive, thought-provoking gameplay in the spirit of tower defense games. The game is available for PC on Steam.
Goblin’s Die, backed by Supercell co-founder Mikko Kodisoja and published by Potion8, is a cooperative action RPG for 1–5 players where humor, improvisation, and chaotic antics come together for unpredictable fun. A PC demo of the game has been released on Steam.
Developed by Ataverti Studio, Probably Tuesday is a first-person shooter that began as a Max Payne mod and has evolved into a narrative-driven detective adventure with intriguing side characters. The PC game is currently in a testing phase on Steam.
Ultimate Dream, developed by Sky Trail, blends first-person shooting with adventure in a psychedelic game world. The dreamlike psychological PC experience is confirmed for release in May 2026.
Null Vector Studios will release its turn-based space strategy game Astro Protocol on February 9, 2026. In line with the 4X genre, the game features both tactical and strategic layers, yet a single playthrough is designed to wrap up in around an hour.
Developed by Mikseli studio, Mikseli: Genesis is an emotional, narrative-driven shooter set in a science-fiction world. Its core themes include family, survival, exploration, and life in space. A PC demo of the game was released in January on Steam.
Lohkare Games is preparing to bring its open-world game Last Drop to Steam Early Access during the first quarter. The game tells a survival story set in 1990s Finland and is based on real events, aiming for a realistic tone.
Hanki Games has introduced Steam Trading Cards to its snowmobiling game Sledders. The cards can be earned by playing and traded with other players. The card sets reflect in-game progression and unlock customization options.
Supercell’s Hay Day is currently running a neighborhood event that will continue until mid-February. Players who participate in the event will be rewarded with a unique maple tree. Supercell also plans to celebrate the achievements of the in-game event by planting real trees.
Bonus Stage has announced Lost Lures, a fishing simulation that emphasizes patience, learning, and observation. Rather than action, the focus is on thoughtful decision-making and understanding different situations.
VRKiwi will release hunting simulation Virtual Hunter by Korpi Games on PlayStation VR2 and Meta Quest platforms on March 25. Designed to be experienced with VR headsets, the game focuses on realism, featuring elements such as the use of senses, day-night cycles, and cooperative gameplay.
Black Smoke Studios is preparing to launch the unique puzzle game Trackastrophe this spring. The goal is to build a functional railway for an old train and send it on its journey, but challenges and obstacles within the map complicate the task.
Empires Not Vampires has launched a new blockchain called Paradise Chain, built on the Avalanche platform. It powers the game Paradise Tycoon, where players build islands, trade resources, craft items, and take part in a player-driven economy.
Icy North Games has released an early access version of its MMORPG Past Fate on Steam. The game is set in a medieval fantasy world where player freedom plays a central role.
Early Access launch date of Road to Vostok by Road to Vostok Ltd. is confirmed for April 7, 2026. Road to Vostok is a hardcore single-player survival game set in a post-apocalyptic border zone between Finland and Russia.
2. Coyote Time Publishing is a new finnish game publisher
Coyote Time Publishing has ambitious goal to elevate small indie studios to global recognition. Although the games industry is full of original ideas and emerging talent, many high-quality indie releases go unnoticed. For a game to succeed, it needs its own community, connections, influencers, and paid marketing. Coyote Time Publishing offers developers tailored support in finding the right target audience, as well as in publishing and marketing their games, ensuring they receive the attention they deserve. When needed, Coyote Time Publishing also supports self-publishing efforts by game studios, for which the team is currently developing suitable tools. Coyote Time Publishing’s first published titles come from Finnish game studios Horsefly Games and Platonic Partnership. The games are Voltage High Society and Orbital Overdrive.
3. Rovio develops the Angry Birds brand in many new ways
Rovio and SEGA are streamlining their brand management by incorporating Angry Birds into SEGA’s transmedia ecosystem. This further expands the brand into an increasingly multi-platform form of entertainment, enabling the development of Angry Birds both in games and beyond. One of these entertainment formats is The Angry Birds Movie 3, set to be released in December 2026. In addition, SKIDOS and Rovio have entered a partnership to create Angry Birds educational games for children. The games are available globally via the SKIDOS app and platform. Rovio also announced its return to China in collaboration with Kingsoft Shiyou. As a result, a special version of Angry Birds 2 as well as the future release Angry Birds Dream Blast will be launched for Chinese players to enjoy.
4. My Winter Car and The Last Caretaker have already sold well over half a million copies combined
My Winter Car by Amistech, a simulation game about Finnishness released in December, has been both a commercial and critical success. According to Gamalytic’s estimates, the game has already sold over 380,000 copies in just about a month, generating nearly 5 million dollars in revenue. Survival game The Last Caretaker by Channel37 is also selling well as it has sold more than 279,000 copies and earned over seven million dollars since its release in November.
5. Classic game Hill Climb Racing reaches the milestone of two billion downloads
The Hill Climb Racing series developed by Fingersoft has been one of Finland’s major success stories in mobile gaming. The first installment in the series was released back in 2012 and has continued its winning streak ever since. Fingersoft announced in January that the first Hill Climb Racing game has now been downloaded more than two billion times. The game is still played in huge numbers after 13 years its release and it continues to attract over four million daily players. The sequel, Hill Climb Racing 2, will celebrate its tenth anniversary later this year. The latest entry in the series, Hill Climb Racing 3, has also recently been soft-launched in Finland.
6. Supercell innovates in AI and discusses the significance of failure
Supercell has launched an AI innovation project that encourages game creators to think boldly, creatively, and beyond conventional boundaries. The goal of the innovation program is to help creators push the limits of gaming even further. The project runs for nine weeks, during which Supercell provides office space, tools, and other resources to support development. Applications are open until February 22, and the project begins on March 23. There are three locations: Helsinki for European participants, San Francisco for those with U.S. work authorization, and Tokyo for workers who pay taxes in Japan.
In addition, Supercell has published an interesting blog post on the importance of learning from mistakes. The article touches on passion, courage, risk-taking, and, of course, failure itself.