We are delighted to announce the shortlist of nominees for the special‑category honours that accompany the 2026 GamesIndustry.biz Best Places to Work Awards in the United Kingdom. These special awards celebrate outstanding performance in particular facets of workplace excellence and sit alongside the broader Best Places to Work recognitions that are presented for small, medium‑sized and large studios.
Leading the field in terms of total nominations is NaturalMotion Games, the studio owned by Zynga, which has secured a place in five distinct special‑award categories. Hot on its heels is Rocksteady Studios, based in London, with four nominations.
Jagex, Playground Games and Rare each appear as finalists in three categories, underscoring their continued commitment to nurturing positive work environments. The 2026 programme also re‑introduces the HR Hero Award, a distinction that honours an individual who consistently goes the extra mile to support colleagues and elevate the overall culture of their organisation.
This year’s pool of candidates includes representatives from Frontier Developments, IO Interactive, HundredStar Games, Jagex, Playground Games and Playstack, each of whom has demonstrated a tangible impact on people‑focused initiatives within their companies. Sponsorship for the awards comes from a range of industry partners, including IO Interactive, Games London and Special Effect. The HR Summit and the G Into Gaming Award receive backing from Amiqus Recruitment. As Liz Prince MBE, Business Manager at Amiqus, explains, “The Best Places to Work Awards shine a spotlight on the studios and businesses that are turning those ideas into action.
Bringing the industry together to both learn from each other and celebrate success helps raise standards for everyone, and we’re proud to play a part in that.” The final winners of the special awards, together with the overall Best Places to Work recipients, will be revealed at a formal ceremony held at The Royal Institution in London on 1 October 2026. This awards event will follow the GamesIndustry.biz HR Summit, also sponsored by Amiqus, which takes place earlier in the day at the same venue. The HR Summit will feature a keynote address from Sasi Venables, founder of the HR Confidence Club, who will discuss the evolving role of people leadership as workplace expectations shift for HR professionals.
In addition, Niki Head, People and Development Director at Stellar Entertainment, will lead a practical workshop titled “Challenge without conflict: how HR becomes a ‘critical friend’ to leadership,” offering actionable strategies for navigating difficult conversations. Other sessions on the summit agenda include: - Best practices for collaborating effectively with trade unions; - Approaches to supporting and managing neurodivergent employees; - Developing workforce, leadership and capability strategies in response to the growing influence of artificial intelligence in the workplace; - Hands‑on guidance for handling AI‑generated casework within employee‑relations contexts. Further details about the HR Summit can be accessed via the provided link, and a complete roster of speakers and session topics will be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets for the summit, which also grant entry to the Best Places to Work Awards ceremony, are currently on sale.
Below is the comprehensive list of finalists for each special award category in the 2026 GamesIndustry.biz Best Places to Work Awards UK: Category 1: - Jagex: The RuneScape Company - NaturalMotion Games - Playground Games - Rocksteady Studios - Wushu Studios Category 2: - Maverick Games - NaturalMotion Games - Rare - Snap Finger Click Category 3: - Dink - Electric Square - Jagex: The RuneScape Company - Rocksteady Studios - Two Point Studios Category 4: - NaturalMotion Games - Playground Games - Rare - Rocksteady Studios Category 5: - Behaviour Interactive UK - Hangar 13 - NaturalMotion Games - Rare - Rocksteady Studios Category 6: - Behaviour Interactive UK - Jagex: The RuneScape Company - NaturalMotion Games - Playground Games HR Hero nominees: - Yvonne Dawes, Frontier Developments - Tuoya Joe, HundredStar Games - Gary Martin, Jagex: The RuneScape Company - Carmen Martino, Playstack - Anna Stone, Playground Games - Leah Wilson, IO Interactive These finalists represent a cross‑section of the UK’s most innovative and employee‑centric game development studios. Their nominations reflect not only strong business performance but also a deep commitment to fostering inclusive, supportive and forward‑thinking workplaces. The upcoming awards ceremony will celebrate these achievements and provide a platform for industry leaders to share insights, inspire peers and set new benchmarks for workplace excellence in the gaming sector.