RESONIKS' Employee Stories - Meet Niko Matikainen

THE HAGUE, 11 MARCH 2025. For this employee story, meet Niko Matikainen, one of our Full-stack Developers. From aspiring game developer to VR innovator, Niko’s journey into software development has been anything but ordinary. Whether he’s coding new systems from scratch, refining strategies in Magic: The Gathering, or optimising his hobbies with elaborate Excel spreadsheets, Niko brings both creativity and precision to everything he does. Here’s a look at his story and what makes RESONIKS the right fit for him.

A Bit About Me

I originally set out to become a game programmer and graduated from TAMK’s game programming course. But as anyone in the industry knows, breaking into game studios is tough. Instead, I found myself developing VR software in Unity for industrial clients for a few years, which eventually led me to RESONIKS, and I haven’t looked back since!

When I’m not coding, you’ll probably find me deep into gaming, strategizing over Magic: The Gathering, or creating unnecessarily complex Excel spreadsheets to optimize my other hobbies (yes, really).

Why do you enjoy being part of the RESONIKS team?

The level of trust in this team is something special. Everyone is accountable for their own work. There’s no unnecessary micromanagement, just confidence that we’ll get things done. Plus, our opinions actually matter. If I suggest a change or challenge an idea, it’s taken seriously rather than just being dismissed for the sake of sticking to a vision.

What was the moment you knew you’d made the right decision to work here?

When I realized that my first task at RESONIKS was actually important. A lot of companies give new hires low-stakes, “warm-up” tasks, but here, I was immediately trusted with something that truly mattered. That level of responsibility was both surprising and motivating.

What’s the most exciting part of your job?

Building new things from scratch. There's nothing better than creating a fresh system instead of patching up old features.

When do you come up with your best ideas?

During my short walk home from the office. Walking bores me, so my brain naturally starts solving problems just to stay entertained.

Book or Podcast Recommendation

I’m a big fan of Critical Role, a Dungeons & Dragons campaign podcast. If you enjoy great storytelling, talented voice actors, and epic adventures in a tabletop world, it’s definitely worth a listen!