Looking for your next job in the games industry? You should definitely check for openings at studios and publishers based in Hamburg, where you'll find high quality of life and a stable and professional games sector.

In this guide article, we provide you with information to help you get to know Hamburg and its games industry better and make an informed decision. It covers four aspects:

• The Hamburg games industry and job opportunities
• Mobility, infrastructure and safety in Hamburg
• Quality of living and social life in Hamburg
• Working and living standards in Hamburg and Germany overall
   

The Hamburg Games Industry

Hamburg has a strong and diverse ecosystem of games companies, game related services providers and tech companies. The local industry is renowned for its professionalism, with companies like InnoGames or Goodgame Studios being among the top five largest games companies in Germany by employee count. With over 200 games related companies and roughly 2,450 people working in the games sector, Hamburg is one of the strongest and continuously growing gaming hubs in Europe.

Many local companies are currently looking for new employees - ranging from junior to very senior positions in all relevant fields of the games industry. Thus, we recommend checking out the gaming-specific job websites Games Jobs Germany or Games-Career to see vacancies in the sector, or visit our company index for an overview of all games companies in Hamburg.

Also, there is a very active indie developer scene in the city and there’s plenty of opportunities to network and connect to other people from the games industry – for example at our very own Gamecity Treff or the quarterly Indie Treff meetups. On top of that, the city is home to more than 12 universities and educational institutions which are offering games-related programs if you want to level up your own skills.

        

Infrastructure, mobility, and safety

Germany is renowned for its reliable and convenient infrastructure and Hamburg is one of the best examples: The public transport system for instance consists of a multitude of subways, buses, carsharing, e-scooters and city bikes which all contribute to a fast and steady network. Additionally, public transport all over Germany is now available for just 49 euros per month. This also helps you finding the type of housing you prefer: Not only the city center but also residential districts and suburbs are well-connected and allow for a fast commute without a car. That is, if you even need to commute to your office that often, because many employers in Hamburg have flexible work from home options. 
 

Another advantage of the city is the supply with sustainable energy and clean tap water, which comes from regional sources, as well as fast internet connection.

When it comes to public security, Germany is considered one of the safest countries worldwide (for example, in the Safest Places to Travel 2023 ranking) – and Hamburg is no different with high levels of public safety, a well-developed hospital system and a low and steadily decreasing crime rate.

Hamburg’s safety and quality of life are also reflected by the number of families living here. With plenty of nurseries, playgrounds and a free public school and university system, Hamburg is a suitable place for anyone who wants to balance their work and family life. Furthermore, the city is home to several international schools.

       

Quality of living and social life in Hamburg

As one of the cities with the highest living standards worldwide (according to the European Cities & Regions of the Future Award 22/23), Hamburg has a lot to offer: more than 1,460 public parks and green spaces, a rich and diverse cultural landscape from high culture to being a heart of the German music scene as well as stunning architecture (including having more bridges than Venice) and a strong economy.

You do not need to speak German right away when you move to the city, as Hamburg with one of Europe’s biggest seaports has always been a very international place. It is now home to many international residents as well as companies with an international and English speaking working culture, especially in the gaming industry.

When you walk along the streets in any of the beautiful districts, you will most certainly always hear someone speaking English. With a large expat community, Hamburg offers many international festivals, workshops and numerous opportunities to meet other people. There’s plenty of groups and regular meetups of expats and locals that you’ll find online – so you are guaranteed to make friends quickly.

         

Working & living in Germany and Hamburg

Germany in general offers strong benefits like universal health care, on which you can find information here on the website of the Federal Ministry of Health. Patients in Germany can choose their doctors freely, which is another of the many advantages of living here.

All employees in Germany also profit from:

• by law, at least 20 days of paid vacation (and most companies offer significantly more with around 30 days)
• paid sick days
• state-financed parental allowance and child allowance
• unemployment and retirement insurance

Receiving access to these services is not complicated and information is available on the official website of The Federal Government.

To sum it up: Coming to Hamburg will not just give you access to a strong and growing games industry, but also provide you with some of the best living standards in the country. With a reliable infrastructure and social security, you will certainly find yourself in one of the safest environments to expand your career and improve your skills and experiences. For more general information on starting your new life in Hamburg, visit Hamburg’s official welcome center website.

If you are looking for contacts and want to get some first-hand impressions on the local gaming industry, we highly recommend joining the Gamecity Discord Server, which already has over 1,200 members from the local games industry and beyond.

       

► You have already made up your mind and are preparing your next steps? In this case we also have another guide which provides you with practical tips and steps to start your new life in Hamburg.

• Games Jobs Germany: A portal for vacancies in the German gaming industry.
• Games Career: Another portal for vacancies, but with more options on jobs, job requests and studies.
• Gamecity Company Index: Our comprehensive index on all gaming and gaming related companies in Hamburg.
• Hamburg Welcome Center: Information for Hamburg-newcomers by the city administration, your first point of contact to start a life here.
• Mobility (on Hamburg.com): An overview of Hamburg's public transport system and mobility plans for the future.
• Hamburg's quality of life: An account on the living standards and accomplishments of the city of Hamburg.
• Hamburg.com: Finding a doctor: A small guide for finding doctors and healthcare for individual needs.
• The German Health System: A brochure on the German health care system provided by the Ministry of Health.
• Make it in Germany: Information on salaries, taxes and social security in Germany, provided by the Federal Government.
• Gamecity Hamburg Discord server: Our community of game makers from Hamburg and beyond, with over 1.000 members.

Photo credit for the picture used at the top of the page: Mediaserver Hamburg