Games for Change

06/11/2026

The 2026 Games for Change Award Finalists are Here 💫

We’re thrilled to announce the finalists for the 2026 Games for Change Awards. Selected from 42 countries worldwide. More than just games, these titles embody how we’re reimagining play as an evolving space for experimentation, innovative solutions, and bridging global challenges.

From adventure narratives that explore familial loss and the reclamation of history to mini-games that emphasize accessibility and physical rehabilitation, this year’s finalists tackle real-world issues through innovative gameplay, mechanics, storytelling, and more.

🏆✨ Don’t miss the celebration! Join us on July 21 as the talented Anjali Bhimani and Osric Chau cohost our Awards Ceremony at .

Regular-priced tickets are available until July 5, 2026, with discounts offered for nonprofits, educators, and students. View the full G4C2026 Festival lineup and register here: https://bit.ly/3SAOBun 🎟️

06/10/2026

This past February, Games for Change and Roblox partnered to launch the Encouraging Positive Connection and Wellbeing Design Challenge. Developers worldwide were tasked with creating experiences that foster positive communities, improve mental health, or safeguard against online risks.

We’re proud to announce two challenge winners, who will share $25,000 in prize money, receive mentorship from the Roblox team, and showcase their games at the 2026 G4C Festival in NYC (July 21-22)!

👾 Gather-2-Gether (Developed by Justin Jacobson)

A cozy, cooperative experience designed to help modern families maintain strong parent-child relationships, even when physical togetherness isn’t possible.

👾 Island of Communion (Developed by Laís Migliori Chamarelli and Victor Gabriel Martins Seidel)
An adventure exploring how teamwork and genuine community can restore an island paradise disrupted by human greed.

Both winners beautifully capture the core mission of building deep connections and combating isolation through the power of play. Congratulations to our innovators!

Check out both games here 🎮:
Gather-2-Gether: https://bit.ly/4xmavBs
Island of Communion: https://bit.ly/4e08JP1

06/05/2026

Session spotlight! ⭐

Join Jesse Schell (CEO of Schell Games ) and Barbara Chamberlin (Innovative Media Research, NMSU) for their interactive workshop, “Five Steps to Making Great Transformational Games.” The session will introduce a simple framework to ensure your game includes the right content and activities to engage the right players.

They’ll also host a live “Game Design Improv,” where the audience can offer suggestions for potential educational games, and walk everyone through the 5 steps in real time. You don’t want to miss out!

Ready for more sessions like this one? Tickets are on sale now https://bit.ly/4910dMQ 🎟️

Follow along as we continue to highlight sessions to be held at G4C2026 this July, where we’ll celebrate this year’s theme, “Reimagining Play.”

06/04/2026

Session spotlight! ⭐

Join Sara DeWitt, Senior VP and General Manager of PBS KIDS, for her timely session, “When Non-Commercial Play Disappears: The Future of Educational Games for Kids.”
In a digital landscape increasingly dominated by ads and in-app purchases, PBS KIDS represents a research-backed alternative that prioritizes children's learning over monetization. However, this model is under threat. DeWitt will address the threat of public funding cuts, why ad-free play matters now more than ever, and share what the future holds for the next generation of educational games, all at G4C2026

Interested in this session? Tickets are on sale now https://bit.ly/4910dMQ 🎟️

Follow along as we continue to highlight sessions to be held at G4C2026 this July, where we’ll celebrate this year’s theme, “Reimagining Play.”

06/02/2026

Missed the livestream of the G4C Student Challenge Awards Ceremony? 🚨 Don't worry—you can still see the incredible winners from our 11th annual competition right here!

On May 28th, we honored youth ages 10–25 and highlighted the immense creativity happening across our community. Participants from around the world engaged deeply in game design, collaborating to build original games focused on this year’s global impact themes:
🚘 Own the Road (Supported by General Motors)
🍎 Outgrow Hunger (Powered by World Food Program USA)
🪸 All in for Nature: Reefs & Rainforests (Supported by Playing for the Planet)

We are excited to share our winners across the 10 award categories, celebrating everything from theme focus to character design. Thank you and congratulations to all the participants, educators, and parents who dedicated their time and energy to this challenge!

The full recording is available now on the G4C Learn YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/3QgXvfR

05/29/2026

Session Highlight 💫

We’re excited to welcome public media producers Angelina Shi and Jacob Schwitzer to our speaker lineup. Their session, “Powwow Bound: Creating Through Community Collaboration,“ will explore how fostering collaboration can build authentic storytelling for underrepresented groups. Using their 3D adventure game, Powwow Bound: A Menominee Homecoming, they will share best practices for community outreach, key development challenges, and lessons learned from digitally recreating the historic Menominee Woodland Bowl. 🕹️✨

Stay tuned as we spotlight upcoming sessions at G4C2026, dedicated to this year’s theme: 'Reimagining Play.' Tickets for G4C2026 are on sale now: https://bit.ly/4910dMQ 🎟️

05/29/2026

Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month! 🧡💫

We’re celebrating by spotlighting innovative games featuring AAPI characters, crafted by AAPI creators and AAPI-led studios. From a tropical open-world adventure inspired by New Caledonia to mysteries exploring the darkest secrets of the solar system, these titles deliver truly immersive narratives.

Check out the slides to learn more about each game and where to play. Join us in supporting AAPI creators and their amazing games—this month and always! 🎮✨

05/28/2026

✨ TODAY'S THE DAY ✨

Join us today at 4 PM ET on our Twitch channel as we celebrate our 11th Annual G4C Student Challenge Awards Ceremony, hosted by award-winning actress Anjali Bhimani, as we honor this year’s youth game developers from around the world.

For months, participants harnessed their creativity to champion social causes, dive into game design, and collaborate on original games tackling this year's impact themes.

🚘 Own the Road (Supported by General Motors)
🍎 Outgrow Hunger (Powered by World Food Program USA)
🪸 All in for Nature: Reefs & Rainforests (Supported by Playing for the Planet)

Join us for the Awards Ceremony to celebrate the dedication of these future leaders and discover the power of play!

🔗Watch live at 4 PM on our Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/games_for_change

05/26/2026

Our 11th Annual G4C Student Challenge Awards Ceremony, hosted by award-winning actress Anjali Bhimani is just TWO DAYS away! 🏆✨

Join us as we celebrate participants of our Student Challenge from all around the world. Each student worked hard to create games that champion social issues while developing their game design skills. 🎮

We're truly proud of all the hard work that students, educators, and their communities put into this year's Student Challenge.

Tune in on May 28 at 4 PM ET for the Awards Ceremony to celebrate the dedication of these future leaders and discover the power of play! 👾

🔗RSVP for the 2026 Student Challenge Awards Ceremony here: https://bit.ly/4t5ToAM

We’re just ONE WEEK away from the 11th Annual G4C Student Challenge Awards Ceremony hosted by award-winning actress Anjali Bhimani as we honor this year’s youth game developers on May 28 at 4 PM ET! 🏆✨

During the Student Challenge, participants from around the world harnessed their creativity to champion social causes, engage deeply in game design, and collaborate to design original games focused on this year’s impact themes.

🚘 Own the Road (Supported by General Motors)
🍎 Outgrow Hunger (Powered by World Food Program USA)
🪸 All in for Nature: Reefs & Rainforests (Supported by Playing for the Planet)

Join us for the Awards Ceremony to celebrate the dedication of these future leaders and discover the power of play!

🔗RSVP for the 2026 Student Challenge Awards Ceremony here: https://bit.ly/4t5ToRi

05/21/2026

We’re just ONE WEEK away from the 11th Annual G4C Student Challenge Awards Ceremony hosted by award-winning actress Anjali Bhimani as we honor this year’s youth game developers on May 28 at 4 PM ET! 🏆✨

During the Student Challenge, participants from around the world harnessed their creativity to champion social causes, engage deeply in game design, and collaborate to design original games focused on this year’s impact themes.

🚘 Own the Road (Supported by General Motors)
🍎 Outgrow Hunger (Powered by World Food Program USA)
🪸 All in for Nature: Reefs & Rainforests (Supported by Playing for the Planet)

Join us for the Awards Ceremony to celebrate the dedication of these future leaders and discover the power of play!

🔗RSVP for the 2026 Student Challenge Awards Ceremony here: https://bit.ly/4t5ToRi