According to statistics, around 40% of the global population play online video games. Yet, for that 40%, one in 10 people play a Swedish video games. As a small Nordic country, Sweden is one of the most unsuspecting of countries to be ruling the video gaming market. While the likes of Avicci and Zara Larson have created a reputation for Sweden on the music front, the video gaming sector is one that has slipped under the radar. 

One of the reasons for this is that Sweden is a powerhouse for a booming and productive workforce and world class higher education. With a highly innovative creative sector and an abundance of fresh talent, Sweden has managed to produce some of the best game producing talent yet. 

Below, we will take a look at some of the best Swedish games on the market today. 

  1. Minecraft 

Developed by Markus Persson, Minecraft is one the highest selling video games of all time, falling shortly behind Tetris. It has become popular due to the simplicity of the game in which players can explore a foreign world, building up anything they desire from collecting simple material blocks.

The game allows users to transport themselves away from the stress of modern life and live in a simpler world where the only thing you really have to worry about are creepers in the night. Players can collect natural resources in order to build a home and tools, while learning to survive on natural resources.

Alternatively, players can also use developer mode to create advanced structures without being limited by the confines of survival mode. Not only is it a game, but players also compete to build the best worlds and structures and there is even a whole merchandise range. 

To date, around 107 million copies have been sold since 2011 and continues to be popular with a variety of spin off games. 

  1. Live Casinos

Online casinos have really taken off as a technology that continues to be enhanced. Today, players across the globe can even access a Swedish live casino from the comfort of their house. Online casinos offer a range of benefits when compared to brick and mortar venues, embracing the live casino-like atmosphere through different technologies.

Online casinos tend to offer some of the best deals including new player sign up bonuses, free spins, and even mini games. What is more, as technology has developed, features like virtual reality are bridging the gap between the physical and virtual worlds, making online gaming more enjoyable. 

  1. Candy Crush

Candy Crush was developed by Stockholm based developer- King, in which he recently celebrated the trillionth version of the game being plates. While Candy Crush is free, the addictive algorithm of the puzzle game means that players cannot get enough of the fruit-based game.

While the mobile version is free, once players are hooked, they can pay for a booster to enhance the game. Speaking of profits, Candy Crush was bought for $5.9 billion in 2021 by Activision Blizzard. To this day, the game remains highly popular and has inspired a new generation of puzzle games. 

  1. Mirror’s Edge

Mirror’s edge is a dystopian adventure game, developed in the Swedish capital, featuring a unique first-person perspective. This game not only won the Swedish game of the year award in 2009, but one of its main soundtracks was even in the Swedish singles charts. 

Even more surprisingly, there is currently a television series being made that is based off of the game. It is one to keep an eye on, that is for sure.

Why is Sweden such a hot spot for game development?

While home computers were not a popular thing until the 90’s, Sweden’s population was about a decade ahead of this with many households having their own computer in the early 80’s. This was supported by a government and union initiative where workers could lease computer equipment from their employer and buy it at a more affordable rate. 

As a result, the Swedish population are generally more computer literate than some of their global counterparts, explaining the reason why some the world’s top gaming developer talent comes from the country. 

What is to come?

There is no doubt that it is an exciting time for the global gaming market and particularly in Sweden. As technology develops and things like virtual technology and enhanced audio and graphics are incorporated into games, there is no telling what innovative masterpieces are to come.

While mobile gaming continues to be one of the most popular streams for online gaming, there is no doubt that we will see a lot of Swedish games in the app store in the months ahead.