Golemancer Among 12 Norwegian Games Backed in NFI’s 18.6 Million NOK Funding Round

A major funding round for Norwegian game development, with Golemancer among the projects moving forward

Norwegian game development has received a major early boost in 2026, with Norsk filminstitutt awarding 18,636,410 NOK across 12 projects in its first game funding round of the year. Among the selected titles is Golemancer from Megapop AS, which secured 2,300,000 NOK in development support according to the official NFI announcement.

That makes this more than a single project update. For Norwegian studios, this is one of the clearest snapshots so far this year of where momentum is building. If you have followed our earlier coverage of Oslo-based Ananki Game Studio, you already know the local scene is producing a wide range of ambitious projects. NFI stated that 39 applications were submitted in this round, with support spread across a broad mix of projects, established teams, and newer productions. In a growing scene where more studios are fighting for attention and funding, that level of support matters.

In comments shared with Fix Gaming Channel, Megapop Games CEO Jørgen Tharaldsen said the support is extremely important for the studio. He explained that a great deal of work goes into each application long before anything is submitted, with the team reviewing multiple ideas, weighing both creative and commercial potential, and choosing the concept that gives them the strongest path forward.

He also described the application process itself as demanding, from long preparation and internal evaluation to the pressure of finally delivering the pitch and waiting for a decision. In a market where more strong Norwegian projects are now competing for attention, the funding gives Megapop more room to push ahead with confidence.

Golemancer, one of the 12 Norwegian game projects backed in NFI’s first 2026 funding round.

Tharaldsen said this current phase is focused on concept validation. Over the next year, Megapop plans to build out the game’s systems, gameplay, and world while moving gradually toward closed testing. The aim is to bring player feedback into development early enough to help shape the project while it is still evolving.

NFI’s own description of Golemancer adds more context to where the project is heading. The institute describes it as a strategy game in which players create and lead golems into increasingly dangerous battles, with each run forcing new choices and consequences. Over time, everything builds toward the long-term goal of awakening a sleeping golem god.

Tharaldsen said Megapop still wants to be careful about revealing too much right now, especially with Life Below also on the studio’s near-term horizon. Even so, he described Golemancer as a hybrid strategy game built around the idea of creating life and sending it into battle, with the team aiming to make something that feels fresh, modern, and inventive within the genre.

The wider NFI announcement also underlines why this funding round matters beyond a single title. It highlights a broad spread of Norwegian projects moving forward at the same time, helping strengthen the country’s output across multiple genres and teams. NFI also noted that three producers from its Up3 talent programme for women game developers received support in this round, including Lise Hagen Lie on Golemancer.

For Norwegian game studios, that makes this a genuinely important moment. It is not just another routine grant update. It is a visible sign that the local industry is still building, still expanding, and still producing projects worth backing. With Golemancer now among the funded titles, Megapop has been given a stronger platform to push its next strategy project toward the next stage.

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