Game Grannies Are Coming (and the World Just Got a Little Better)
There’s a Bug in the System
This idea was born from a small frustration with the Finnish government’s recent decisions. You see, in Finland, working has become oddly difficult. The state seems more willing to pay people to stay home than to let them do meaningful work, especially if that work happens to be part-time.
A large and growing body of research shows that any activation (eg. part-time work) during unemployment increases the likelihood of finding full-time work later and helps prevent long-term unemployment.
During the autumn of 2025, we at School of Gaming have seen too many people forced to say no to their dream job because of government decisions. Part-time work simply no longer makes sense when the benefits system punishes you the moment you dare to work even a few hours a week.
And when you ask KELA (the Finnish social insurance institution) how much you’re allowed to earn before losing your benefits, the answer depends on who you ask. The truth is, even they don’t really know.
For companies like School of Gaming, this creates a situation where many talented game educators are forced to choose. Not based on what they love to do, but on what the system allows them to do.
And that’s just wrong. If this system were a video game, it would have a bug that makes the game unplayable.
A Lightbulb Moment in Lauttasaari
One day, at the School of Gaming office in Lauttasaari, we were talking about this issue as we sipped our coffee. Someone casually said:
“Well, at least they don’t take away pensions yet if a granny or grandpa decides to work a bit, right?”
💡 And that’s when the lightbulb went off.
If part-time work is made impossible for younger and working-age people, maybe the solution lies with those for whom working doesn’t cut benefits, but instead adds joy, meaning and connection to life.
Enter the Game Grannies and Game Grandpas
A member of our team with a teaching background mentioned how many Finnish schools have invited retired citizens to classrooms to bring calm and a sense of safety. So why not bring that same magic into the gaming world?
In School of Gaming’s Minecraft clubs, kids build, explore, and solve problems together while learning valuable digital citizenship skills through play. How wonderful would it be if a Game Granny or Game Grandpa could also be part of that world?
No need to be a gaming wizard. All it takes is curiosity, patience and a willingness to learn.
As we thought about it, we became more and more convinced that intergenerational gaming could be one of the best forms of digital education out there.
Where children can teach a Game Granny how to build a portal to the Nether, she can, in turn, teach them how to build friendship and teamwork.
Game Grannies and Grandpas Wanted – Right Now
Our Princi-Pal shared these thoughts on LinkedIn, and that’s how we met AgeIn. A Finnish company building a service that connects senior citizens with meaningful opportunities to contribute and stay active in society.
One thing led to another, and now we’re launching a nationwide recruitment campaign together, inviting everyone aged 65 and up to join us in creating a new kind of gaming culture.
It doesn’t matter whether you live in Rovaniemi or Raisio, our Minecraft clubs take place both online and live across Finland.
The goal is to create moments of connection where everyone learns from one another, across generations. Safely, guided and, above all, together.
“Intergenerational gaming will be empowering for both sides. Game Grannies and Game Grandpas bring stability, presence and wisdom to our clubs. And in return, they gain joy, meaning and new digital skills,” reflects School of Gaming’s Princi-Pal, Mikko Perälä.
Do You Know a Potential Game Granny or Grandpa?
If you know someone who would be the perfect senior game educator, tell them about us! We’re hosting an online info session on November 25th.
Game Grannies and Game Grandpas Recruitment Campaign
📅 Recruitment campaign runs between 3rd and 25th of November
💻 Info Session: Tuesday, November 25th, 9:00–10:30 AM (online)
📍 Anywhere in Finland – all online
🔗 More info and registration
In collaboration with AgeIn and School of Gaming - Building together a world where no one is left out of the game.