2026
A creative day where game culture meets crafts!
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When? Saturday, March 21, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Where? Kristinehamns Folkhögskola
The Game Craft Festival is a full-day festival where game culture meets craft. The festival is completely free of charge and primarily aimed at participants aged 15–35. We welcome both beginners and experienced creators.
The festival takes place at Kristinehamns folkhögskola, a public high school with a strong focus on game culture and game development. By hosting the event in an environment where creativity and games are at the heart of education, we also want to highlight possible educational pathways and inspire more people to explore future studies and career opportunities within the games industry.
Take part in creative workshops, meet knowledgeable instructors, and dive deeper into different techniques, materials, and creative processes. Further down the page, you can read more about each workshop and the instructors. Book your spot today!
The event will be held in Swedish, but non-Swedish speakers are welcome to participate. Some workshop leaders may be able to assist in English, and we will do our best to make everyone feel included.
workshops
During Game Craft Festival Värmland, you will have the opportunity to take part in inspiring workshops and meet knowledgeable and experienced instructors. We will offer workshops in pewter casting of board game miniatures and small objects, cosplay, and card game design.
You register to participate in one workshop that runs throughout the day (10:00 AM–4:00 PM), with breaks for lunch and fika.
The festival begins at 9:30 AM with a joint introduction and concludes with a small shared exhibition (4:00–4:30 PM), where you will have the opportunity to showcase what you have created during the day and see what others have made.
pewter casting with Joel
Discover the art of pewter casting
Would you like to try pewter casting? In this inspiring workshop, you will learn the basics of pewter casting and get hands-on experience with sand casting. Joel Landberg, an experienced game developer, 3D artist, and founder of Irrbloss Miniatures, will guide you through the entire process, from creating a sand mold to the finished cast. Joel will also share insights into his creative process and how he works across the boundaries between the digital and physical worlds.
About Joel
Joel has been working in game development since 2006, when he began at Tarsier Studios in Karlshamn. He has worked as a 3D artist at several game studios and spent seven years as Art Director at Mirage Game Studios in Karlstad.
Today, he runs Formbruket, where he works as a consultant in game development, and creates sculpted and cast pewter miniatures under the brand Irrbloss Miniatures.
Create Cosplay with Izabella and Magnus
From Idea to Glowing Details
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Are you curious about cosplay but haven’t tried it yet, or are you perhaps a dedicated NärCon attendee looking to take your costumes to the next level? Either way, you are warmly invited to join this illuminating workshop!
Together with Izabella and Magnus from Okatima, we will explore how you can integrate lighting and simple electronics into your cosplay. With their guidance, you will get to try different techniques and materials, such as LEDs, conductive thread, soldering, and basic programming.
You will connect, shape, and design, while learning the fundamentals of how the electronics work and how to make your LEDs do exactly what you want them to do.
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About izabella
Izabella has been working with cosplay in various forms since 2018, when she began sewing costumes inspired by game characters. She has always been fascinated by bringing characters to life through creative expression. As a child, she loved painting and drawing comic strips, and through cosplay she was able to take the step from 2D into 3D.
Over the years, her interest has grown, and she has worked with everything from textiles and foam to 3D printing and resin casting. Continuously learning new techniques and developing her skills is a central driving force in her creative work.
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About magnus
Magnus connects his engagement in cosplay to a desire to highlight the broad range of knowledge and skills required to create a cosplay costume. These are competencies that are already in demand in today’s job market and are becoming increasingly relevant.
He also wants to show that electronics and programming are accessible and understandable, and not nearly as difficult as they are often made out to be.
Create Your Own Card Game – From Start to Finish
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Would you like to create your own card game and experience the design process from beginning to end?
Welcome to an inspiring and educational workshop where you will develop a playable card game in just one day. The focus is on finishing and having fun, good enough is the goal. Throughout the day, you will be supported by Cristoffer, Dennis, and Daniel, an experienced and inspiring team with broad expertise in game design and prototype development.
All materials are provided. You are also welcome to bring your own idea or a work in progress if you would like to continue developing something you have already started. Come as you are, whether you are a beginner or have experience in game design.
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Cristoffer
Cristoffer “Stoffe” Wiker has over 30 years of experience in games and advertising. Over the years, he has specialized in card games, systems design, balance, UI/UX, and art direction, and has also taught and lectured in game design.
The workshop focuses on rapid prototyping: quickly moving from an idea to a game that actually works on the table. Done is better than perfect.
daniel
Daniel Olai is a senior financial analyst and product owner with over ten years of experience in data-driven analysis and financial modeling. In his daily work, he transforms complex data into clear, decision-relevant insights.
He is also one of the creators behind the SAGA game competition. During the workshop, he contributes analytical thinking, structure, and precision to help you test and strengthen your game. Clarity beats guesswork.
dennis
Dennis Greger works with narrative design and story structure in games. With extensive experience in building worlds, characters, and thematic frameworks, he helps game ideas gain depth and direction.
During the workshop, he focuses on how to give your game a strong narrative core, from premise to player motivation. Story first. Always.
practical info
Kristinehamns Folkhögskola
The Game Craft Festival takes place at Kristinehamn Folkhögskola, a public high school with a strong focus on game culture and game development. The school offers programs such as Indie Game Developer, Game Artist, Game Programmer, Creative Writing, and Analog Game Culture. It is an inspiring environment for anyone curious about future studies within the field of games.
Getting here
Visiting address:
Strömsbergsgatan 15
681 32 Kristinehamn
Public transport
Kristinehamn Travel Center is approximately a 10–15 minute walk from the school. Plan your journey via Värmlandstrafik
Parking
Parking is available near the school and is free of charge.
Food & fika
Lunch and light refreshments will be provided during the day.
Important: Please inform us at the time of registration if you have any allergies or require special dietary options. Send an email to moa@thegreatjourney.se.
Toilets
Toilets are located near the rooms where the workshops take place.
Accessibility
An elevator is available in the building. Please let us know at the time of registration if you have any specific needs regarding the venue, workshop, parking, or food, and we will do our best to accommodate you.
contact
If you have any questions about the event, please contact Moa Johansson, Project Manager for Spelslöjdsfestivalen Värmland, at moa@thegreatjourney.se.
Organizers and partners
The Game Craft Festival is organized by The Great Journey in collaboration with Region Värmland, Kristinehamn Folk High School, Kristinehamn Municipality and Folkuniversitetet. Together, we aim to create an event where people interested in game culture and creative making can find inspiration, develop their skills, and connect with others.
