Sweden is known for many things – its meatballs, its flat-pack furniture, and pop singers. It’s also widely regarded as offering high standards of living and ranked 4th in the world rankings of happiest countries, closely behind its Scandinavian neighbours of Finland and Denmark.
Proving that the Swedes may really have it all, their country is also one of the wealthiest. In nominal GDP terms, it is the 23rd largest in the world and 11th in Europe and it climbs higher up the ranks when considered on a per capita basis; sitting 14th highest in the world.
But while we may all know Sweden as a happy, wealthy nation that gave us IKEA, meatballs, and ABBA, it is much more. Many Swedes are also gamers. Current estimates suggest around half of the country’s 10.49 million people play games on a digital device like a computer, smartphone, or console.
The country also boasts a thriving gaming industry, generating around €2 billion a year and employing more than 8,000 people.
So with that in mind, you might be wondering which games are a hit amongst Swedes right now?
Red Dead Redemption II
The most popular video game category in Sweden, by quite a large margin, is “adventure”, with more than a third of all the country’s gamers listing it as one they enjoy.
Within this category, one of the most popular titles is Red Dead Redemption II. It might have been released back in 2018, but it remains a huge hit amongst players today thanks to its open-ended gameplay, exciting mechanics, and beautiful graphics.
Created by Rockstar Games, the makers of Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Redemption II is often described as “GTA on horseback” because of the similarities in concept between the two titles.
It is a sprawling action-adventure game set in a dying Wild West. You play as Arthur Morgan, a loyal outlaw in the Dutch van der Linde gang. The year is 1899, and the gang’s glory days are fading as lawmen crack down on their outlaw lifestyle.
Through missions, you rob banks, fight rival gangs, and navigate a complex narrative of loyalty and decline. The open world is vast and detailed, letting you explore towns, forests, mountains, and deserts. You can fish, hunt, gamble, and interact with a world full of life. Red Dead Redemption II is a critically acclaimed game praised for its immersive story, detailed world, and beautiful soundtrack.
Roulette
Online casino games are also incredibly popular in Sweden, thanks, in part, to the country’s innovative and forward-thinking approach to regulation. Swedes love all types of casino games, but one of the nation’s favourites is roulette.
Roulette’s origins are debated, but it likely emerged in 18th-century France. Combining elements of wheel and number games, it quickly gained popularity. The iconic wheel features numbered slots and one or two green “zero” pockets.
Players place bets on the table layout corresponding to the wheel. Bets can be on individual numbers, colours (red or black), odds/evens, or groups of numbers. The croupier spins the wheel and a ball in opposite directions. Where the ball lands determines the winning bet.
Thanks to online casinos, players have a choice between a range of different variants, including European roulette, American roulette, and High Roller Roulette. Each one follows the standard mechanics described above, but with small tweaks to the rules, odds, and limits.
This range of options allows casinos to cater to all types of player, without having to compromise on gameplay for any of them.
Minecraft
Minecraft is a block-building sandbox game that was first released way back in 2011. Despite its age, the game continues to be one of the most popular titles in Sweden and the rest of the world.
Its success is down to the near-infinite options it presents to players. As you play, you punch your way through a world made of cubes, gathering resources to craft tools, weapons, and shelter.
In Survival Mode, you also need to fight monsters who try to distract you from your quest to build whatever your mind can imagine.
Minecraft is available for almost every possible platform, including all consoles, PC, and mobile devices, a fact that has also helped it to become one of the most popular video games in Sweden.