The 2026 Games for Change Awards take place on July 21, and Games for Change has announced the finalists for all of the awards that are being given out.
The finalists this year come from a pool of 42 countries and “spotlight some of the most inventive games and immersive media projects using the medium for social impact, from powerful narrative experiences to standout work in learning, health and wellness, environmental impact, XR and emerging media, community empowerment, and more.”
This year’s awards features 12 categories with 12 countries featured. You can check all of the nominees for nine of the awards below.
2026 Games for Change Finalists
BEST GAMEPLAY
- and Roger (Developed by TearyHand Studio, Published by Kodansha | Japan)
- Consume Me (Developed by Hexecutable LLC | United States)
- South of Midnight (Developed by Compulsion Games, Published by Xbox Games Studio | United States)
BEST IN COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT
- Powwow Bound: A Menominee Homecoming (Developed by Nebraska Public Media and PBS Wisconsin, Published by Nebraska Public Media | United States)
- Relooted (Developed by Nyamakop | South Africa)
- The Darkest Files (Developed by Paintbucket Games | Germany)
BEST IN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
- Imaginary Atlas, Amazônia (Developed by MIT Media Lab + Quanta | Brazil, United States)
- FACEMINER (Developed and Published by Wristwork | United Kingdom)
- Out and About (Developed by Yaldi Games | United Kingdom, Germany)
BEST IN HEALTH & WELLNESS
- ARWell PRO (Developed by Augment Therapy | United States)
- Camp Movewell (Developed by ReNUSHU Team — Carnegie Mellon University Entertainment Technology Center | United States)
- Year of the Cicadas (Developed by Year of the Cicadas Team | United States)
BEST IN IMPACT
- and Roger (Developed by TearyHand Studio, Published by Kodansha | Japan)
- Eddie and I (Developed by Moosh Studio, Reynard Films, Studio Geppetto, Published by Unframed Collection | Israel, France, Germany)
- South of Midnight (Developed by Compulsion Games, Published by Xbox Games Studio | United States)
BEST IN LEARNING
- Let’s Cook Up a Story! (Developed by Jackie Nam and Minami Matsumoto | United States)
- The Darkest Files (Developed by Paintbucket Games | Germany)
- The Fluffle Factory (Developed by Nurture Holdings Ltd | United States)
BEST IN XR & EMERGING MEDIA
- A long Goodbye (Developed by Timescapes & Polygoat | Belgium)
- Climate Station (Developed and Published by Sony Interactive Entertainment | United Kingdom, Malaysia)
- Eddie and I (Developed by Moosh Studio, Reynard Films, Studio Geppetto, Published by Unframed Collection | Israel, France, Germany)
BEST NARRATIVE
- and Roger (Developed by TearyHand Studio, Published by Kodansha | Japan)
- Consume Me (Developed by Hexecutable LLC | United States)
- The Alters (Developed and Published by 11 bit studios | Poland)
BEST PLATFORM-BASED PROJECT
- MUDEMverse – Platform: Roblox (Developed by MELAZETA, Published by MUDEM – Museo della moneta | Italy)
- Planet Planners on Roblox – Platform: Roblox (Developed by Playerthree and BBC Bitesize | United Kingdom)
- Sesame Street: Magical Beastie Quest – Platform: Roblox (Developed by MindTrust | United States)
Mike has been covering the gaming industry since 2012, and has reported on some of the largest events in the industry while also working as an investigative reporter. Outside of…
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