Winners of the Games for Change 2025 Awards announced

The nonprofit organization Games for Change has unveiled this year’s distinguished winners of its 2025 awards.

Honorees included Odd Meter's Indika, which won both Best Narrative and Game of the Year, Neva by Nomada Studios for Best Gameplay, and Sunset Visitor's 1000xResist, which earned the Indie Breakout Award.

Among individual accolades, Tilting Point's Chief Business Officer, Asi Burak, received the Hall of Change Award, while Gilson Schwartz, president of the Games for Change Latin America chapter, was recognized with the International Leadership Award.

This year, the Games for Change Awards drew 800 submissions from 55 nations worldwide.

The award winners were revealed during a live event held as part of the 2025 Games for Change Festival at Parsons School of Design, part of The New School in New York, last week.

Susanna Pollack, president of Games for Change, remarked, "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."

Pollack further stated, "We're observing creators pushing 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."

She 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 as follows:

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)