Welcome to Estonian GameDev!
Industry Overview, 2024
Intro to the industry
The video game development industry significantly contributes to the global economy, generating billions in revenue annually and creating many job opportunities. Its impact stretches beyond game sales, hardware sales, ingame purchases, esports, streaming, and various other industries. As gaming continues to evolve, its influence on pop culture, tech innovation, and even education grows, making it one of the fastest-rising sectors worldwide. GameDev also drives advancements in AI, VR, and immersive storytelling, fuelling a vast array of new job markets and creative possibilities.
In the midst of this global rise, the Estonian game development scene stands out by offering a unique blend of creativity, innovation, and a strong, community-driven spirit. Though still small, the Estonian scene punches well above its weight. Estonia’s game creators thrive in an environment that promotes experimentation, collaboration, and bold creativity. Whether through cross-industry partnerships, incubators, or game jams, the Estonian community fosters collaborative rather than competitive innovation.
Estonia has already gained global recognition for its thriving IT startup scene, and it proudly holds the title of the world’s highest number of unicorn IT startups per capita. Companies like Skype, Wise, and Bolt have transformed Estonia into a tech leader, showcasing how small ideas can scale to worldwide success. The Estonian game development industry is following this blueprint, with the ambition not just to replicate this success but to surpass it.
With a strong foundation in digital infrastructure, government support, and a wealth of tech talent, Estonia has everything in place to become a central hub for game development. Our ultimate goal is to establish Estonia as a key player in the European gaming industry, creating world-class games and establishing a lively ecosystem where developers can thrive, innovate, and shape the future of gaming.
Industry size comparison
Estonia
Latvia
Lithuania
Finland
Sweden
When comparing the size of Estonia’s game development industry to its neighboring countries, there are a few key points to consider:
Finland: Finland is home to one of Europe’s most successful game development industries, with household names like Rovio (Angry Birds) and Supercell (Clash of Clans, Clash Royale). The Finnish gaming industry is worth billions of euros annually and supports thousands of jobs. Finland has a wellestablished ecosystem with over 200 game studios, a significant esports presence, and strong global export power. Finland’s gaming industry is a powerhouse that dwarfs Estonia’s in terms of size and revenue, but the two countries share a focus on technical innovation and startup culture.
Latvia: Latvia’s game development scene is also relatively small but growing. There are an estimated 30-40 studios, similar in size to Estonia, though Latvia lacks some of the same tech infrastructure and startup culture that propels Estonia forward. The Latvian gaming industry is heavily indie-focused, with a few titles breaking into international markets, but it remains in the early stages of growth.
Lithuania: Lithuania has a slightly larger game development scene than Estonia, with around 50-60 studios. The Lithuanian government has actively supported the game industry through various initiatives, including grants and tax incentives. The country has seen some success on the international stage, with indie and mid-sized studios producing games for global audiences. Lithuania’s gaming industry is still developing but shows potential for scaling and innovation.
Sweden: Sweden is a game development giant both regionally and globally. Home to major game studios like Mojang (Minecraft), Paradox Interactive (Crusader Kings, Stellaris), DICE (Battlefield series), and King (Candy Crush Saga), Sweden’s gaming industry generates billions in revenue annually. With over 400 game studios, Sweden has an ecosystem fostering indie developers and large-scale AAA productions. Swedish studios have made a massive global impact, and the country is considered one of the top gaming hubs in the world. The industry is highly supported by both private and public investments, contributing to thousands of jobs. Sweden’s success far exceeds that of Estonia and Finland regarding global reach and revenue.
Estonia is positioned as an up-and-comer in this competitive space. While its industry is far smaller than giants like Sweden and Finland, Estonia’s wellestablished startup culture, digital infrastructure, and innovative talent offer a strong foundation for future growth.
GameDev Estonia
- In 2024, we became members of the European Games Developer Federation (EGDF).
- We are acknowledged by Enterprise Estonia and the Ministry of Culture.
- We have signed cooperation agreement with Latvian and Lithuanian developers associations.
- We managed to organise with Enterprise Estonia trade missions to GDC, PAX, DevGamm and Gamescom.
- We brought to Estonia The Game Development World Championship award show.
- We organise constant flow of GameJams in different cities across the country. (Tallinn, Pärnu, Jõhvi, average of 60 participants)
- For the last two years we organise monthly GameDev meet-ups. (more than 20 organised, 1000+ people attended)
- 40 studios are members of association, all of the other studios participate in our activities.
Our Members
Promoting the Industry
+ EEVR Association, which brings together developers and companies. Several members are actively producing video games and contributing to the broader gaming ecosystem in Estonia.
+ EdTech Estonia, which supports several educational game startups that focus on using gamification and interactive content to enhance learning experiences. These startups are developing innovative educational tools and games to make learning more engaging and compelling, targeting children and adults.
+ Tartu Science Park offers incubation programs that help game development startups grow by providing mentoring, business advice, and strategic guidance. These programs cover everything from early-stage development to scaling, helping game dev studios build sustainable businesses.
+ Music Estonia works with organisations like GameDev Estonia or IGDA Estonia to host events, workshops, and panels, bridging the gap between music and game development. These events help composers understand the specific needs of game soundtracks and allow developers to find talent within the local music scene.
GameDev Education
Even though Estonia has a relatively small game development market, a wide selection of official educational entities provides different curricula related to game development careers. However, only a few specialised paths
are available for dedicated game development education.
+ Estonian Entrepreneurship University of Applied Sciences offers a Game Design and Development bachelor’s program. This curriculum covers the essential aspects of designing and developing video games, preparing students for various roles in the industry, including design, programming, and production.
+ Tallinn University provides a master’s program in Digital Learning Games.This advanced curriculum offers game design, game studies, asset creation, game development, and project management courses. It aims to bridge the gap between learning technologies and entertainment, thus enhancing both educational and game development skills.
+ University of Tartu: While it doesn’t offer a specific game development degree, the University of Tartu features a computer graphics and virtual reality laboratory that provides various relevant courses, including Computer Game Development and Design, Game Engines, and advanced graphics programming. These courses offer a strong foundation in the technical aspects of game development.
+ Estonian Academy of Arts offers courses related to game development and new media. Their programs emphasise interdisciplinary approaches, combining art, design, and technology. EKA allows students to explore interactive media, virtual environments, and digital storytelling, which are crucial skills for modern game development. The academy’s focus on creativity and experimentation helps support a new generation of game developers and digital media artists in Estonia. In addition to these academic programs, TalTech (Tallinn University of Technology) organises events related to the video game industry, such as the TalTech Gamecamp, the most significant game development hackathon in Estonia. These events provide valuable hands-on experience and networking opportunities for aspiring game developers.
GameDev Incubators
+ GameDev Estonia HUB
GameDev Estonia runs a game-specific incubator program to support emerging developers in the country. The incubator provides mentorship, workshops, networking opportunities, and even help with funding or finding
publishers. It’s tailored specifically to the needs of game developers, making it
a prime choice for local talent. Here is more info about the HUB.
+ Tehnopol Startup Incubator
Tehnopol is one of Estonia’s most prominent incubators. While not exclusive to game development, it offers fantastic resources for tech startups, including game studios. Tehnopol has experience helping game developers by providing access to business mentors, investment opportunities, and even office spaces in its tech city near Tallinn.
+ Tartu Science Park
Tartu Science Park offers incubation programs for various tech and creative industries, including gaming. They support startups with business development, mentoring, and connections to the larger tech ecosystem. Tartu has been a growing hub for game development, and this incubator is wellsuited for new studios looking for support outside Tallinn.
+ Creative Industries Incubator (Tallinn)
This Tallinn-based incubator is dedicated to supporting creative entrepreneurs, including game developers. The Creative Industries Incubator provides office spaces, mentorship, and business development services for startups. Game devs who mix gaming with design, media, or arts will find this incubator a great place to grow their business, collaborate with other creatives, and access the city’s creative sector.
+ Game Camps
Game Camps is a cross-border initiative for game developers in Estonia, Latvia, Finland, and Sweden. It’s not a permanent incubator but a series of workshops and mentorship programs focusing on turning game ideas into commercially viable products. Game Camps provide international networking opportunities and valuable insights from experienced mentors in the NordicBaltic region.
GameDev Funding
Estonia offers a variety of funding opportunities for game development, including local and international sources. Below are the key funding opportunities available for the game development industry in Estonia:
+ European Union Projects: Estonian game developers have experience with various EU funding projects, such as Creative Europe, which provides grants for developing original video games and supports transnational collaborations.
+ Enterprise Estonia offers several funding programs to support innovation and international growth. This includes grants for product development, export support, and startup support for new game studios. Enterprise Estonia also provides mentorship programs to help startups become investment-ready.
+ The Cultural Endowment of Estonia is a valuable resource for creatives, including game developers. They offer funding for projects that contribute to Estonian culture, and this can include video games that promote cultural storytelling or artistic elements.
+ The Estonian Film Institute has recently extended its support to interactive digital storytelling, which includes video games. This funding is aimed at projects that blend cinematic storytelling with interactive experiences.
+ Private Investment Funds: There is growing interest from private investors and venture capital firms in the game development sector. Estonian game studios can access funding from local venture capital firms like Superangel and Tera Ventures, which have previously invested in technology and creative industries.
+ Gamedev Fund is an early-stage investment fund aiming to help talented teams in shipping their games by providing knowledge, contacts, and funds. We invest in premium indie games for PC/consoles with a playable demo on hand. gamedevfund.vc
+ Startup Estonia is an organisation dedicated to growing the startup
ecosystem in the country, including game development. They provide access to various funding opportunities, such as startup grants, tax incentives, and matchmaking events with investors.
+ Nordic Game Program: Estonian game developers can apply for grants from the Nordic Game Program, which funds innovative game projects in the Nordic and Baltic regions. This funding aims to strengthen collaboration between neighboring countries and support creative content development.
+ Public and Private Sector Support: Estonia’s public and private sectors are growing interested in game development. Government bodies and private investors increasingly recognise the gaming industry’s economic potential, leading to more funding initiatives.
+ Extensive Network of Partners: Estonian game developers also benefit from an extensive network of game development studios, publishers, investment funds, and platform holders. These relationships help studios access funding opportunities and publishing deals.