Publishing company Gogam and game designer Manu Kuhmonen (known for his channels as Vihervelho) have signed a publishing agreement for a new Finnish tabletop roleplaying game: Kantamaan seikkailut (Adventures in Kantamaa).
Targeted for a Ropecon 2027 release as a hardcover book, the creative team consists of lead designer Manu Kuhmonen (worldbuilding, maps, and design), game designer Petri Leinonen, illustrator Ronja Metso (@snaillesnaille), and layout designer Nuutti Karjalainen.
Nordic Year Zero Engine Meets Finnish Myth
Kantamaan seikkailut blends traditional adventure fantasy with deep roots in Finnish folklore. In the mythical realm of Kantamaa, the golden era of Kalevala has long ended, ancient gods have vanished, and the untamed wilderness has grown perilously dark. Rather than invulnerable heroes, players portray adventurers and survivors seeking their own path in an unforgiving land.
The game is built on Free League Publishing's acclaimed Year Zero Engine (YZE) under the Free Tabletop License, making it the first major Finnish-language tabletop RPG powered by the system.
”Gogam has focused on publishing accessible, high-quality Finnish tabletop roleplaying games. Manu's vision for Kantamaa captivated us immediately: we share the exact same perspective on handling folklore with modern adventure mechanics. Bringing the internationally renowned Year Zero Engine to the Finnish language on this scale is an exciting milestone,” says Gogam's Petri Leinonen.
From the Designer: Manu Kuhmonen
What inspired you to create Kantamaa and bring Finnish folklore to the tabletop in this way?
”Finland has an immense wealth of traditions and myths that offer fertile ground for imagination. Kantamaa originally started in my previous campaign run on the L&L system. From there, expanding it into a dedicated game felt completely natural.
The Kalevala has been explored quite extensively in Finnish culture, so while my world definitely draws from it, I wanted to approach it from a fresh perspective: traditional fantasy with a distinct Finnish flavor, giving Kantamaa an edge you don't encounter every day.”
What kind of experience do you hope players have at the table?
”I hope players feel the thrill of adventure and high tension—moments where decisions carry genuine weight and character survival is always on the line. I also hope the game provides newcomers with great 'aha!' moments and the confidence to try Game Mastering for the first time.”
Why choose the Year Zero Engine, and how does it feel to see this become an official book with Gogam?
”Forbidden Lands is one of my all-time favorite roleplaying games, and it's no secret that Kantamaan seikkailut draws inspiration from it. YZE games are easy to learn, yet mechanically rich and delightfully narrative-driven. As far as I know, the Year Zero Engine hasn't been translated into Finnish before, so I wanted to provide Finnish fans with a localized foundation for their own adventures as well.
Writing my own tabletop RPG has been a long-time dream that I never dared to assume would actually happen. It was fantastic that Gogam embraced the project with open arms. Collaborating with Petri has been very smooth since we've always shared the same vision. It is truly a dream come true to see this turn into a physical, tangible book!”
Follow the Development
Follow the project's progress and behind-the-scenes updates directly through the creators' channels:
- Manu Kuhmonen: YouTube Vihervelho, Instagram @vihervelho and TikTok @vihervelho
- Ronja Metso (illustrations): Instagram @snaillesnaille
- Publishing company Gogam: gogam.eu