Games As Art Festival 2026 was an event hosted at Tampere University’s Paidia and Näty Theater from 9 to 11 October 2026. The event was an opportunity for game makers to showcase their projects, either digital games or live-action role-playing games (larps), to a broader audience of artists, researchers, students, other game creators, and, of course, game enthusiasts. Visitors could attend creator talks, experience larps, and play games from independent developers. The event aimed to create a supportive environment where creators could bring their work directly to audiences. I was fortunate to get a volunteer position at the festival through an open call by Leland Masek, the organizer of the event.
My First Larp, and a New Perspective on Larp Design
I volunteered at the Games As Art Festival, specifically with the Larp as Art program on the festival’s opening day. Despite the cold and rainy October weather in Finland, many people still attended the event. Before the festival began at 5 pm, I helped unload props, move tables, prepare rooms, and do various setup tasks. Once people started coming, I guided visitors and kept communication between different teams. Walking through the venue, I was able to interact with both the production team and attendees, giving me valuable insight into how the festival was organized and experienced by participants.
Because I was volunteering at the Larp as Art program, I had the opportunity to participate in one of the larp sessions myself. Although I have spent many years playing digital games, this was my first time participating in live-action role-playing. One of the biggest surprises for me was discovering how much preparation, creativity, and attention to detail goes into creating a larp. Before the session began, the game’s creator gave a presentation explaining the inspiration behind the project and the message they hoped to communicate through the session. Hearing about the creative process was both insightful and inspiring. Seeing how the creators transformed their ideas into a meaningful and interactive experience gave me a new appreciation for the craft of larp design.
The Life of a Moth: An emotional moral question that hit close to home
One of the most memorable experiences was participating in The Life of a Moth, a larp that explored themes of self-identity, family relationships, and personal freedom. As a first-time player, it was especially powerful when the emotional ending made players choose between continuing to hurt the main character in order to keep the peace or allowing them to leave, knowing that they might lose the protagonist forever. The game’s setting and story reflected real human experiences of familial love, attachment, and letting go. After the game ended, everyone shared their own personal reflections and stories related to the themes of the game. It was emotional, with tears and many hugs exchanged among the participants. It was interesting to see how games can communicate complex human emotions through a shared experience.
The Game As Art Festival demonstrated how sharing creative work within a supportive community can inspire people to keep creating. By bringing together creators and audiences in an open environment, the festival encouraged experimentation, self-expression, and new ways of thinking about play. Games are not just for entertainment, but also an opportunity to send powerful messages and bring people together.
