Master of Social Sciences in Game Studies

Creating a playful future

Master's Programme in Game Studies provides an in-depth view of the fundamental character of games and play.

Expanding from entertainment to other areas of life, games have grown into a form of culture and human interaction that is a crucial part of our social life and current media landscape.

The program is particularly targeted at training experts on games and play. We approach games and play from the interconnected perspectives of games, game players, the production of games, and games in cultures. These four perspectives open up to the following four areas: analyzing the meaning and form of games and play; understanding the people who play games and the game cultures they create; addressing questions relating to the creation and development of games, and making sense of the societal and cultural framing of games.

The program will give you the academic skills needed to analyze, observe, and understand the developments in this field of study while also encouraging a more pragmatic involvement and hands-on attitude as an expert in games and play.

Graduates typically combine the skills and knowledge derived from this program with previous studies and proficiencies that enable them to work in various professional roles, in research, the public sector, as well as in industry. The possible jobs of graduates include researchers, industry professionals, critics, and specialists working with the interpretation, evaluation, and implementation of games and related fields, such as social media.

The program is founded on the long history of education and research conducted at Tampere University’s Game Research Lab. At Tampere University, this internationally acclaimed research group coordinates the Centre of Excellence in Game Culture Studies funded by the Academy of Finland from 2018-2025.