Update: The list of nominees has been amended to include the correct finalists in the ‘Best in Innovation’ category due to inaccuracies in the original press release sent to Game Developer.
Original story: The finalists for the 2024 Games for Change Awards have been unveiled ahead of the celebratory showpiece in New York on June 27.
Games for Change champions video games as drivers of social impact, and said this year’s finalists “showcase the global impact of games as a force for good, educating, inspiring, and driving positive change worldwide.”
Titles including A Highland Song, Chants of Sennaar, American Arcadia, PacaPomo, Loddlenaut, and Jusant have made the final shortlist, which was whittled down by a panel of jury experts after a record-breaking number of submissions from 53 countries.
“This year, The Games for Change Awards received 44 percent more submissions than last year from developers in more than 50 countries,” explained Games for Change organizers. 37 percent of those submissions came from the United States, while the remaining 63 percent were made by international developers.
Although developers must submit themselves for consideration, each title is evaluated across three rounds of qualitative and quantitative jury review by experts from diverse fields including design, development, social impact, and more.
Record breaking submission numbers for Games for Change
“The overwhelming response to this year’s Games for Change Awards is a testament to the incredible potential of games and immersive experiences to make a difference in the world,” said Games for Change president, Susanna Pollack. “From the record-breaking number of submissions to the diverse range of countries represented, it’s clear that game developers are increasingly recognizing the power of their medium to tackle pressing social issues and create meaningful change.”
A number of special awards will be handed out at the ceremony to recognize the “exceptional contributions” of individuals and organizations in the game industry who have pushed for positive change.
The Industry Leadership Award will be bestowed upon Minecraft in recognition of “its unparalleled influence on the gaming landscape over the past 15 years.” “With its open-world format and limitless creative potential, Minecraft has empowered millions of players worldwide to build, explore, and collaborate in ways never before imagined, leaving an indelible mark on the industry and showcasing the boundless creativity of its players,” said show organizers.
Twitch will receive the G4C Giving Award for playing an “instrumental role in driving real-world change through its innovative charity tools for creators,” while Venba will be honored with the G4C Indie Breakout Award for “demonstrating outstanding innovation in bridging entertainment and commercial success with real-world impact.”
Games for Change praised the work of Venba developer Visai Games for its “meaningful and authentic” representation of the immigrant experience. “By addressing important issues of cultural identity through innovative gameplay mechanics and a thought-provoking narrative, Venba exemplifies the power of games to create awareness, foster empathy, and bridge the gap between entertainment and real-world impact,” they added.
You can find the full list of 2024 Games for Change Awards finalists below.
Best in Innovation
A Highland Song – inkle
Stay Alive, My Son Chapter 1 & 2 – UME Studios
Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical – Summerfall Studios
Best in Civics
We. The Refugees: Ticket to Europe – Act Zero
Sibel’s Journey – Food for Thought Media
Headlines and High Water – Field Day Lab
Best in Environmental Impact
Loddlenaut – Moon Lagoon
Wake: Tales from the Aqualab – Field Day Learning Games
The Plastic Pipeline – FableVision
Best in Health & Wellness
Teach Your Monster Adventurous Eating – Teach Your Monster
So Exhausting – Open Concept
Soulpaint – Improvive
Best in Impact
Headlines and High Water – Field Day Lab
Stay Alive, My Son Chapter 1 & 2 – UME Studios
American Arcadia – Out of the Blue Games
Best in Learning
Outbreak READY 2!: Thisland in Crisis – &ranj
Give As We Grow – FableVision
Headlines and High Water – Field Day Lab
Best in XR
MLK: Now Is The Time – Flight School Studio, TIME Studios, Meta VR For Good
Origen – Presencias
Maya: The Birth of a Superhero – Just Another Production Company
Best Narrative
Torn Away – perelesoq
Stay Alive, My Son Chapter 1 & 2 – UME Studios
American Arcadia – Out of the Blue Games
Best Student Project
It’s Ukraine – Not a Game – Various Students
Stop and Breathe – One Must Imagine Games
PacaPomo – Saturday Boys
Best Gameplay
A Highland Song – inkle
Chants of Sennaar – Rundisc
Jusant – DON’T NOD