When the topic of game developers is brought up, most peoples’ minds usually turn to the well-known American game developers such as Nintendo or Tencent.

However, there are lesser-known game developers who have created some of the most popular games we play every day. Many of these developers are popping up from Scandinavian countries such as Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Denmark.

Over the years, Scandinavia has carved out a top spot for itself as a top game developer, having produced a wide range of incredibly successful titles such as Candy Crush, Battlefield, Angry Birds, and Minecraft.

The region is well known for producing trendsetting games, and its best placed to leap ahead when it comes VR games, MMO games, as well as casino games. In this article, we’ll discuss Scandinavia’s contribution to the gaming industry.

Scandinavia’s Contribution to the Gaming Industry

As mentioned earlier, Scandinavia has carved out a top spot as a leading game developer, and we have the numbers to prove it. Currently, there are 288 game developing companies in Scandinavia.

These include Supercell, Paradox Interactive, and Embark Studios just to mention a few. Owing to the diversity and the growing number of game developers in this region, Scandinavia is home to every game genre known to man. In fact, it is estimated that one in every ten people in the world has played a Scandinavia-made game.

Casino Games and the Rise of Casinos in Scandinavia

Gambling activities in Scandinavia have been on the rise, thanks to the rise of online casinos and game developers in this niche.

Many countries in this region have legalized gambling and casino gaming, which explains why casino gaming in Scandinavia is on the rise.

Sweden takes the spotlight when it comes to gambling in Scandinavia—both online and in land-based casinos. Sweden is not just a gaming paradise, but also home to NetEnt, the largest casino slot games developer.

NetEnt has shaped the future of online gambling, with hit titles such as Gonzo’s Quest (available in VR), Guns ‘N Roses, Starburst, Mega Fortune among others. If you like playing at online casinos, we recommend Casumo for Swedish players.

Denmark is also not left behind, with 7 casinos located in 6 cities. The country has also legalized gambling and online casino gaming. Finland, which is also part of Scandinavia, offers some of the best gambling opportunities, with casinos in 8 cities.

However, not all Scandinavian countries welcome gambling with open arms. For example, Gambling in Norway is illegal, and the country has even passed laws that require banks to block any payments of funds to online gambling operators (save for two).

Scandinavia’s Role in the Top Games in the World Today

With successful titles in virtually all game genres, Scandinavia makes a strong case for being the best game development region in the world.

Sweden takes the front seat with incredibly successful titles such as Candy Crush, Minecraft, and the Battlefield series. All of these titles are very popular and have broken every record in the gaming universe, with some such as Candy Crush hitting a staggering 1 trillion gameplays.

Finland is not far behind either. This country has produced some fantastic titles such as Clash of Clans and Angry Birds. Take Clash of Clans, for example, this game took the world by storm, and was the top earner in 2015, raking in approximately $1.5 million per day.

Denmark and Norway are commercially smaller markets.

However, they are slowly making an impact in the game development field. For instance, Denmark is now home to Playdead, the developer of critically acclaimed cross-platform titles Limbo and Inside.

In a nutshell, Scandinavia is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to gaming and has produced more games than any other region in the world. Its contribution has marked a new milestone in the gaming industry and their accomplishments will be felt in many years to come.

Photo Credit: Stewart Cristan | Flickr