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 developers who have pushed the boundaries of sustainable game design and incorporated ecological narratives into their titles.
A total of eleven distinct honors were handed out, and two studios – Northern Forge Studios and Runaway Play – each walked away with a pair of awards, underscoring their leadership in the green gaming movement. Northern Forge Studios was recognized in two categories. First, it earned the Best Small Studio award, a distinction that highlights the studio’s ability to deliver high‑quality experiences despite a modest team size and limited resources. In addition, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) selected the studio’s title Orna: The GPS RPG for its "UNEP’s Choice" award, praising the game’s innovative use of real‑world location data to encourage players to explore natural spaces while learning about environmental stewardship.
Runaway Play also secured two accolades. The company took home the Best Storytelling award for its beautifully crafted title Flutter: Butterfly Sanctuary, a game that weaves a delicate narrative about butterfly conservation and habitat restoration. Runaway Play’s second honor came from Google, which named Splash – Fish Aquarium as the "Google’s Choice" winner, citing the game’s engaging simulation of marine ecosystems and its subtle educational messages about ocean health. Beyond the studio awards, several individual and corporate recognitions were presented.
CD Projekt Red received the prestigious Changemaker award, acknowledging the studio’s ongoing commitment to integrating climate‑positive practices into its development pipeline and its advocacy for greener industry standards. Meanwhile, Maria Sayans, the chief executive of Ustwo Games, was celebrated with the Champion accolade for her personal leadership in championing sustainability across multiple projects and for fostering a culture of environmental responsibility within her team. Rovio Entertainment was highlighted for its fundraising achievements, winning the Best Fundraising award thanks to the commercial success and charitable contributions generated by Angry Birds Friends and Angry Birds Dream Blast. These titles not only delivered entertaining gameplay but also supported various environmental causes through in‑game events and donation drives.
"Each year, the Green Game Jam demonstrates how interactive media can bring urgent ecological stories to life and motivate players to take real‑world action to protect and restore our planet," said Lisa Pak, Head of Operations at Playing for the Planet. "We have been thrilled by the enthusiastic response from gamers to this year’s reef and rainforest themes. Looking ahead, we aim to keep the conversation about resilience alive with millions of players worldwide during the eighth edition of the Green Game Jam in 2027." The awards ceremony marked the conclusion of this year’s Green Games Summit, a multi‑day gathering that featured keynote speeches, panel discussions, and workshops from industry leaders such as Hasbro, Supercell, Ustwo Games, Playstack, and many others. Topics ranged from carbon‑offsetting strategies for game studios to the design of compelling environmental narratives that resonate with diverse audiences.
Below is a comprehensive list of the nominees and winners that were announced during the event: - Cards, the Universe and Everything (Avid Games) – nominated - Lords Mobile (IGG) – nominated - Seekers Notes (Mytona) – **Winner** - Cards, the Universe and Everything (Avid Games) – nominated - Flutter: Butterfly Sanctuary (Runaway Play) – nominated - Orna: The GPS RPG (Northern Forge Studios) – **Winner** - Hope's Adventure (Green Leap Games) – nominated - Sunshine Island (New Moon Studios) – nominated - Splash – Fish Aquarium (Runaway Play) – nominated - Lords Mobile (IGG) – **Winner** - Call of Dragons (Lilith Games) – nominated - June's Journey (Wooga) – nominated - Flutter: Butterfly Sanctuary (Runaway Play) – **Winner** - Hope's Adventure (Green Leap Games) – nominated - June's Journey (Wooga) – nominated - June's Journey (Wooga) – nominated - Canasta Fun & Friends, Rummy Fun, Skat Treff & Tarot Classique (GameDuell) – nominated - Angry Birds Friends & Angry Birds Dream Blast (Rovio Entertainment) – **Winner** - Jonas Goodwin (Runaway Play) – nominated - Sophie Barteau (Ubisoft Montreal) – nominated - María Sayans (Ustwo Games) – **Winner** - CD Projekt Red – **Winner** - Massive Entertainment – nominated - Megapop – nominated - Lords Mobile (IGG) – nominated - Orna: The GPS RPG (Northern Forge Studios) – nominated - Splash – Fish Aquarium (Runaway Play) – **Winner** - Match Masters (Candivore) – nominated - Hay Day (Supercell) – **Winner** - June's Journey (Wooga) – nominated - Orna: The GPS RPG (Northern Forge Studios) – **Winner** - June's Journey (Wooga) – nominated - Lords Mobile (IGG) – nominated These results illustrate a vibrant and increasingly competitive field where developers are not only striving for commercial success but also seeking to embed meaningful environmental messages within their games. The recognition of titles such as Orna: The GPS RPG and Flutter: Butterfly Sanctuary signals a growing appetite among players for experiences that blend entertainment with education about climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainable living. Looking forward, the organizers of the Green Games Jam have announced that the 2027 edition will expand its thematic focus to include resilience in the face of climate‑induced disruptions, encouraging studios to explore gameplay mechanics that model adaptation strategies and community rebuilding.
With the continued support of partners like Google, UNEP, and major publishers, the Green Games Jam is poised to become a cornerstone event that drives both innovation and responsibility within the interactive entertainment industry.