Nonprofit organisation Games for Change has announced the winners of its 2025 awards.
Recipients included Odd Meter’s Indika for Best Narrative and Game of the Year, Nomada Studios’ Neva for Best Gameplay, and Sunset Visitor’s 1000xResist for the Indie Breakout Award.
Tilting Point’s chief business officer Asi Burak won the Hall of Change Award, while Games for Change Latin America chapter president Gilson Schwartz took home the International Leadership Award.
There were 800 submissions from across 55 countries for the Games for Change Awards 2025.
The winners were announced during a live ceremony as part of the 2025 Games for Change Festival, which took place last week at the Parsons School of Design at The New School in New York.
“These award winners represent a breakthrough moment for impact gaming, showcasing the extraordinary breadth of human experiences that games can address – from mental health and accessibility to environmental action and personal resilience,” said Games for Change president Susanna Pollack.
“We’re seeing creators push the boundaries of what’s possible across every platform and medium, using cutting-edge technology, innovative storytelling, and thoughtful design to tackle deeply personal challenges while reaching global audiences.”
Pollack concluded: “With submissions from six continents, it’s clear the future of impact gaming is global, diverse, and deeply human.”
The Games for Change Award Winners are listed below:
- Industry Leader Award: Preloaded
- Hall of Change Award: Asi Burak
- Best Narrative & Game of the year: Indika (Odd Meter)
- Indie Breakout Award: 1000xResist (Sunset Visitor)
- Best in Innovation: In the Current of Being (Cameron Kostopoulos)
- Best Student Project: Prší (Herdek Kolektiv)
- Best in Learning: Tablecraft (Not Suspicious)
- Best in Health & Wellness: Vampire Therapist (Little Bat Games)
- Best in Civics: Kingdom of Rizia (Torpor Games)
- Best Gameplay: Neva (Nomada Studio)
- Best Board or Tabletop Game for Impact: Legless in London (Focus Games)
- Vanguard Award: Rachel Kowert
- Giving Award: Amir Satvat
- International Leadership Award: Gilson Schwartz
- Accessibility Award: Botany Manor (Balloon Studios)
- Best in Environmental Impact: Crab God (Chaos Theory Games)
- Best in Impact: Umfeld [social environment] (Hochschule RheinMain)
- Best in XR: Impulse: Playing with Reality (Anagram)
- Best Platform-based project: Seattle Children’s Hospital Minecraft Server (Hive Games & Mojang Studios)
