Vapriikki's Finnish Game Museum reopens on 10 October with 110 playable games

The renovated Finnish Game Museum at Vapriikki reopens to the public on Saturday, 10 October, the City of Tampere says. The reopening follows Tampere's hosting of the international Game On exhibition this summer.

Heidi Gottskalk, the museum's service director, says the overhaul began after listening to visitors and stakeholders. The aim was to refresh the exhibition without losing the museum’s distinctive character. The upgraded displays feature 110 Finnish games spanning digital titles, roleplaying, board and card games, live-action roleplay, driving simulators and miniature games. They trace a history from 19th-century board games up to releases from this year. Gottskalk notes that two support campaigns, in 2015 and again in 2026, drew dozens of game and technology companies and more than a thousand private backers, whose funding helped make the exhibits more playable.

Researcher Asla Heikkari points to new additions such as Unemployment Simulator 2018, which highlight genres that have flourished in Finland. Interviews about older games remain accessible in the museum’s new video room. The museum works closely with community groups, and long-time partners Pelikonepeijoonit have donated hundreds of machines and thousands of games to the collection.

Upcoming events include a game day on 12 October, a guided Senior Friday on 23 October and the museum’s 10th birthday during Museocon on 16 January 2027. A rotating mini-exhibition, Pelaaja–Haastaja, explores Finnish game journalism and is curated by veteran game writer Jukka O. Kauppinen.