Nordic Game Makers Shine in 2026

Sweden leads the charge with a thriving games hub, producing a series of blockbusters while maintaining established hits. Denmark contributes with notable studios launching or preparing to release hit games, while Finland's Supercell reports strong revenue despite challenges faced by some local companies. Norway and Iceland, though smaller, are home to significant players like Funcom and Fenris Creations.

The Nordic region remains a beacon for creativity in the European gaming industry. The upcoming report will detail which companies are excelling in this competitive environment. Despite facing the same challenges as the global market, the future looks bright for Nordic developers, with opportunities to explore at the Pocket Gamer Connects Nordics conference in Helsinki on October 20th and 21st, 2026.

Midjiwan’s The Battle of Polytopia, celebrating its 10th anniversary, has evolved into a cross-platform success with over 25 million downloads and an esports World Championship featuring a $10,000 prize pool. Toca Boca, owned by Spin Master, ranks as the top global publisher of children's games, generating approximately $133 million last year through its Toca Boca World platform.

Snowprint Studios has made a mark with titles like Warhammer 40,000: Tacticus, which has grossed $172 million since its launch in 2022. The studio was acquired by Modern Times Group in 2023 and focuses on midcore games that blend traditional and modern elements. Triband stands out for its comedic games, securing awards for titles like What The Clash? and What The Golf?, especially on Apple Arcade.

Rovio, the creator of Angry Birds, remains a major player with Angry Birds 2 grossing over $900 million. Following its acquisition by Sega for approximately $776 million in 2023, Rovio is pivoting with new titles and a third Angry Birds movie slated for release by the end of the year.