The 2026 Green Games Jam Awards, organized by the environmental initiative Playing for the Planet, took place last week at the iconic BFI Southbank venue. The event celebrated game creators who have pushed the boundaries of sustainable development practices and woven ecological narratives into their titles.
Over the course of the evening, eleven distinct honors were handed out, with two studios—Northern Forge Studios and Runaway Play—each walking away with a pair of accolades. Northern Forge Studios was recognised in two categories. First, the studio earned the Best Small Studio award, a nod to its ability to produce high‑quality experiences despite limited resources. In addition, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) selected Northern Forge’s title *Orna: The GPS RPG* as its Choice award winner, highlighting the game’s innovative use of real‑world location data to promote environmental awareness.
*Orna* blends role‑playing mechanics with a GPS‑driven map, encouraging players to explore their surroundings while learning about local ecosystems and conservation challenges. Runaway Play also secured two honors. The studio captured the Best Storytelling award for *Flutter: Butterfly Sanctuary*, a game that immerses players in the delicate life cycle of butterflies and underscores the importance of preserving habitats.
The second distinction came from Google, which named *Splash – Fish Aquarium* as its Choice. This interactive aquarium simulation not only offers soothing gameplay but also educates users on marine biodiversity and the impacts of pollution on aquatic life. Beyond the studio awards, several individual and corporate recognitions were presented.
CD Projekt Red received the prestigious Changemaker award for its ongoing commitment to integrating sustainability into its development pipelines and for championing green initiatives across the industry. Meanwhile, Maria Sayans, the chief executive of Ustwo Games, was honoured with the Champion accolade, acknowledging her leadership in promoting environmentally responsible game design.
Rovio Entertainment was celebrated for its fundraising achievements, with *Angry Birds Friends* and *Angry Birds Dream Blast* earning the Best Fundraising award. The titles have generated significant charitable contributions, supporting various ecological projects worldwide. Lisa Pak, head of operations at Playing for the Planet, reflected on the significance of the ceremony: “Every year, the Green Game Jam demonstrates how interactive entertainment can bring environmental stories to life and motivate players to protect and restore our planet.” She added that the response from gamers to this year’s reef and rainforest themes had been overwhelmingly positive.
“We’re excited to keep the dialogue about resilience going, reaching millions of players globally in the eighth edition of the Green Game Jam scheduled for 2027,” Pak said. The awards ceremony concluded the annual Green Games Summit, a gathering that featured a series of talks and panel discussions from industry leaders such as Hasbro, Supercell, Ustwo Games, Playstack, and others.
Participants explored topics ranging from carbon‑neutral production pipelines to the role of narrative in fostering ecological stewardship. Below is a comprehensive list of nominees and winners from the 2026 ceremony: - **Cards, the Universe and Everything** (Avid Games) – Nominee - **Lords Mobile** (IGG) – Nominee - **Seekers Notes** (Mytona) – *Winner* - **Cards, the Universe and Everything** (Avid Games) – Nominee - **Flutter: Butterfly Sanctuary** (Runaway Play) – Nominee - **Orna: The GPS RPG** (Northern Forge Studios) – *Winner* - **Hope's Adventure** (Green Leap Games) – Nominee - **Sunshine Island** (New Moon Studios) – Nominee - **Splash – Fish Aquarium** – Nominee - **Lords Mobile** (IGG) – *Winner* - **Call of Dragons** (Lilith Games) – Nominee - **June's Journey** (Wooga) – Nominee - **Flutter: Butterfly Sanctuary** (Runaway Play) – *Winner* - **Hope's Adventure** (Green Leap Games) – Nominee - **June's Journey** (Wooga) – Nominee - **June's Journey** (Wooga) – Nominee - **Canasta Fun & Friends, Rummy Fun, Skat Treff & Tarot Classique** (GameDuell) – Nominee - **Angry Birds Friends & Angry Birds Dream Blast** (Rovio Entertainment) – *Winner* - **Jonas Goodwin** (Runaway Play) – Nominee - **Sophie Barteau** (Ubisoft Montreal) – Nominee - **María Sayans** (Ustwo Games) – *Winner* - **CD Projekt Red** – *Winner* - **Massive Entertainment** – Nominee - **Megapop** – Nominee - **Lords Mobile** (IGG) – Nominee - **Orna: The GPS RPG** (Northern Forge Studios) – Nominee - **Splash – Fish Aquarium** (Runaway Play) – *Winner* - **Match Masters** (Candivore) – Nominee - **Hay Day** (Supercell) – *Winner* - **June's Journey** (Wooga) – Nominee - **Orna: The GPS RPG** (Northern Forge Studios) – *Winner* - **June's Journey** (Wooga) – Nominee - **Lords Mobile** (IGG) – Nominee The ceremony highlighted a growing trend within the gaming sector: developers are increasingly integrating ecological themes not merely as backdrop but as core gameplay elements that educate and inspire.
Titles like *Orna* and *Flutter* demonstrate how location‑based mechanics and lifelike simulations can foster a deeper connection between players and the natural world. Moreover, corporate recognitions such as the Changemaker and Champion awards signal that industry leaders are taking responsibility for their environmental footprint, from reducing energy consumption in studios to supporting global conservation initiatives. As the Green Games Jam moves toward its eighth edition in 2027, organizers anticipate even broader participation, with a focus on climate resilience, biodiversity protection, and sustainable production practices.
The momentum generated by this year’s awards suggests that the intersection of gaming and environmental advocacy will continue to expand, offering both creators and audiences new ways to engage with the planet’s most pressing challenges.