Games for Change Festival unveils 2023 award finalists

Games for Change, the nonprofit focused on social impact games, unveiled today the finalists for its 2023 Games for Change Awards.

For the first time since 2019, the Games for Change Awards ceremony will be in-person at The Times Center.

“This is a landmark year for the Games for Change​ Festival​,​ and our awards are no different,​” said​ G4C president Susanna Pollack, in a statement. “With almost 340 submissions from over 37 countries and the increasing prominence of XR titles, we can really see the dynamic, diverse, and innovative ​growth of the ​games for good space​. We are excited to honor these creative and ground-breaking developers and projects that push the boundaries of gaming and immersive media and use them as a force for good in the world.”

The Games for Change Award finalists

Most Innovative Game — This award recognizes games released in the past year across platforms that embrace experimentation and novel creative expression to pave new ways for the medium.

• Terra Nil – Free Lives 
• Body of Mine VR – Cameron Kostopoulos
• Kristine is Not Well – Seeyam Quine
• Phanthom AR – PlayBionic

Best Learning Game — Recognizes games released in the past year across platforms that offer meaningful engagement around learning objectives and successfully balance educational objectives with fun, engaging gameplay.

• Sago Mini First Words – Sago Sago Inc. & Otsimo
• Teach Your Monster Number Skills -Teach Your Monster
• RoboCo – Filament Games
• Go Nisha Go – Howard Delafield International

Best Student Game –– Recognizes games developed by college and university students over the past year that successfully address timely challenges affecting society and individuals.  

• Wing Wor – AmaVR
• (val)iant: or, val’s guide to having a broken vag – Cactus Games
• Identity Crisis – Ammaarah Noormohamed
• Who’s Lila? – Garage Heathen

Best Civics Game — Recognizes games that inspire responsible citizenship and engagement by bridging gaps between communities and shedding light on the most pressing social issues of our time.

• Spuren auf Papier – Paper Traces – Playing History in collaboration with the Wehnen Memorial Site
• The Mystery Of Sary-Kol – Scafander Games
• Cat Park – Tilt
• Common’hood – Plethora Project

Best XR for Change Experience — Recognizes exemplary virtual, augmented, or mixed reality experiences designed to foster meaningful change within current social issues.

• Body of Mine VR – Cameron Kostopoulos
• Kristine is Not Well – Seeyam Quine
• Phanthom AR – PlayBionic
• Please, Believe Me – Emblematic Group

Best Narrative Game — Recognizes games that use character, narrative, and interactivity to tell thematic and powerful stories about social impact causes.

• Gerda: A Flame In Winter – Bird Island (ex-PortaPlay)
• Endling – Extinction is Forever – Herobeat Studios
• South of the Circle – State of Play
• Valiant Hearts: Coming Home – Ubisoft

Best Health Game — Recognizes games that promote exceptionally positive health and wellness outcomes in the players/patients that use them.

• First Resort – BehaVR
• Phanthom AR – PlayBionic
• Kinder World – Lumi Interactive
• Luna’s Light – ImpactVR

Most Significant Impact — Recognizes games that raise awareness and/or foster meaningful change within prevailing and present social issues.

• Gerda: A Flame In Winter – Bird Island (ex-PortaPlay)
• Endling – Extinction is Forever – Herobeat Studios
• Go Nisha Go – Howard Delafield International, LLP
• Space for the Unbound – Mojiken Studio

Best Gameplay — Recognizes games designed with highly compelling and polished mechanics that reinforce the intended impact of the game through engaging gameplay.

• The Wandering Village  –  Stray Fawn Studio
• I Was a Teenage Exocolonist – Northway Games
• SEASON: A letter to the future – Scavengers Studio
• Beecarbonize – Charles Games

People’s Choice Award
Games nominated in the Best Gameplay, Most Innovative, Most Significant Impact, Best Health, Best Narrative, Best Civics, and Best Learning Game categories are eligible for the “G4C People’s Choice” Award, which is awarded based on online votes from fans. Voting for the People’s Choice Award will open to the public in the coming weeks.