June Updates: G4C2026 Awards Finalists, Roblox Winners, Student Challenge Champions & Pride Month 🌈

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Games for Change
June 11, 2026

Happy June G4C Community ☀️🌈

The weather is warming up, and so are we here at Games for Change. From the success of the G4C Student Challenge Award Ceremony and the announcement of our Awards Finalists for G4C2026 to the amazing turnouts at our chapters' global events and the celebration of Pride Month, we have much to share. 

— Team G4C

💫 The 2026 Games for Change Award Finalists Are Here!

We are absolutely thrilled to announce the finalists for the 2026 Games for Change Awards! Selected from 42 countries worldwide, these titles represent the absolute best in impact gaming and interactive media.

More than just entertainment, this year's finalists embody our #G4C2026 festival theme: "Reimagining Play." They showcase how games have evolved into dynamic spaces for creative experimentation, real-world problem solving, and global connection. 

From breathtaking adventure narratives that touch on familial loss and historical reclamation to innovative mini-games that redefine accessibility and physical rehabilitation, these creators are tackling society's most pressing challenges through groundbreaking gameplay and storytelling. 

The 2026 Games for Change Award Finalists Include:

BEST GAMEPLAY

BEST IN COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT

BEST IN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

BEST IN IMPACT

BEST IN LEARNING

BEST IN XR & EMERGING MEDIA

BEST NARRATIVE

BEST PLATFORM-BASED PROJECT

🏆✨ Don’t miss the celebration! Join us on July 21 as the talented Anjali Bhimani and Osric Chau cohost our Awards Ceremony at #G4C2026. 

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:

On May 28th, we celebrated the future of gaming at our 11th Annual G4C Student Challenge Awards Ceremony hosted live on Twitch by the incredible Anjali Bhimani.

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:  G4C Learn YouTube channel

Ready to play the games? Check out the Student Challenge Arcade!

This past February, Games for Change and Roblox partnered together to launch the Encouraging Positive Connection and Wellbeing Design Challenge. We are proud to announce our two game 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, is a cozy cooperative experience designed to maintain strong parent‑child relationships when physical togetherness isn’t possible.

“As a play therapist, I’ve seen the truly transformative power of building connection through play,” Jacobson says. “ When caregivers and children play together, children grow and thrive in a way that is often far more valuable than verbal or purely cognitive interactions.”

👾 Island of Communion, developed by Laís Migliori Chamarelli and Victor Gabriel Martins Seidel, explores how true communion between adventurers and teamwork can restore an Island that was once a natural paradise.

“Island of Communion is an invitation to get involved, to show up for each other, and to remember that community isn’t something that just happens around us; it’s something we build, actively, every time we choose to play together, “ stated Chamarelli and Martins Seidel.

Each winner captures the core mission of building connection and combating isolation through the power of play. Want to learn more? Read the official Roblox announcement to learn more about the winners and their inspiring stories here. ✨ 

Games for Change Hong Kong hosted its annual festival on May 27, 2026, at the University of Hong Kong, exploring the theme “Gaming Momentum.” This year’s event marked a massive evolution for the chapter, bringing together over 180 change-makers and expanding into a connected ecosystem featuring heavy overseas representation, a summit at BEYOND Expo, and VIP excursions to the Tencent HQ. Catch Chapter Lead Vincent Siu's full opening remarks here and follow along on their Instagram to be part of the momentum.

Games for Change Korea hosted its 3-day G4C Korea Conference “Ctrl+ Alt + Game” at Sungkyunkwan University. From May 20 to 23, academics,  students, and game industry professionals came together to explore this year’s theme, “Playable Impact”, and focused on the convergence of games with social issues, education, and healthcare. Learn more here

  • Discord Launched its Discord Player's Guide. A free, growing library of educational modules and resources designed to help people navigate online spaces with more confidence, clarity, and empathy, built for everyone from teens and parents to volunteer community moderators and everyday users. Learn more here.

  • Read about G4C Hong Kong, which brought together all types of games to help learning and make a positive social impact here. 

  • GamesBeat Engage is coming to Chicago during Unreal Fest. Join gaming industry leaders for a debate on the future of user-generated content, creator-led development, and platforms like Fortnite & Roblox. Find out more here

  • Gaming revenue in Asia and MENA is projected to grow 30 percent by 2030, driven by rapid expansion in India and Southeast Asia, as well as dominant market shares in China, Japan, and Korea. You can read the full analysis here.

  • Learn how Northwestern University scientists are helping chronic stroke survivors regain arm ability through a 90s-style video game here.

  • Read about married couple Emma and Jordan Walbridge on their journey of building videogaming lounges called “Gameway” across U.S airports as a fun and engaging way to pass flight waiting time here.

  • Join Director and Tribeca alum Nia Dacosta and Creative Director Mikael Kasurinen at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival as they discuss the makings of ‘Control Resonant.’ Grab your tickets here.

In honor of Pride Month, we’re celebrating games created by LGBTQ+ game developers and featuring LGBTQ+ characters. Enjoy these games and continue to support LGBTQ+ creatives this month and beyond!

The Beekeeper's Picnic - A Sherlockian Adventure: Arrange a surprise picnic for Watson as a retired Sherlock Holmes! Explore a charming neighborhood, solve pesky local mysteries, and learn to express your feelings in this heartwarming, cozy detective game. | Created by The Wonder Room

Hollow Knight: SilkSong: Discover a vast, haunted kingdom ruled by silk and song! Explore, fight, and survive as Hornet, ascending to the peak of an unfamiliar land in this highly anticipated action-adventure. | Created by Team Cherry

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