Nonprofit gaming organization Games for Change has announced the start of their annual game design program, Games for Change Student Challenge.
The Student Challenge is open for all students and educators ages 10-25 to create digital games inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Two grand-prize winners will receive $20,000 in scholarships. Winners and finalists will be celebrated at the Student Challenge Awards on May 28, 2026.
Each year’s challenge has a theme (or themes) associated with environmentalism. This year has the following three themes that should be explored through game design:
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Outgrow Hunger (supported by World Food Program USA) – Design a game where players care for a natural space that feeds and supports a community.
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Own the Road (supported by GM) – Design a game that inspires safe behavior in and around vehicles and reduces the potential risks of the road.
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All in for Nature: Reefs & Rainforests (supported by Playing for the Planet) – Design a game that tells the story of a reef or rainforest under threat, and how people unite to protect it.
“The G4C Student Challenge continues to show that when young people design games about real-world issues, they see themselves not just as players, but as problem solvers and change-makers,” said Arana Shapiro, Chief Operations and Programs Officer, Games for Change. “Through game design, students learn to think critically, collaborate, and build solutions with purpose. In a world shaped by AI and constant change, durable skills like problem solving, critical thinking, and game design will allow all learners to thrive in their communities and worldwide.”
All participants under the age of 18 must have parent/guardian/teacher consent to enter. Non-students can still enter, but must still have a valid email address. Designers will be placed into three different categories based on age: Junior (10-13), Senior (14-18), and Expert (19-25). Games must be playable on a web browser and accessible via a URL, or via Minecraft, Roblox, or Unreal Editor for Fortnite.
Student game designs must be summited between November 10, 2025, and March 30, 2026. See the full Student Challenge Competition Handbook for further details.
