Northern Forge Studios and Runaway Play Dominate Green Games Jam Awards 2026

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 demonstrated excellence in sustainable production practices and the art of environmental storytelling.

Over the course of the ceremony, eleven distinct awards were handed out, with two studios—Northern Forge Studios and Runaway Play—each walking away with a pair of honors, underscoring their leadership in the green gaming movement. Northern Forge Studios captured the Best Small Studio accolade, a recognition of its ability to deliver high‑quality experiences while maintaining a lean, eco‑conscious operation. In addition, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) selected Northern Forge’s title Orna: The GPS RPG as its Choice award, highlighting the game’s innovative use of location‑based mechanics to raise awareness about ecological issues.

Orna blends role‑playing elements with real‑world GPS data, encouraging players to explore natural habitats and learn about biodiversity as they progress through quests. Runaway Play enjoyed a similarly impressive night, earning the Best Storytelling award for Flutter: Butterfly Sanctuary. That title was praised for its lyrical narrative and its focus on the fragile life cycle of butterflies, using interactive gameplay to illustrate the importance of pollinator conservation.

Runaway Play also received Google’s Choice award for Splash – Fish Aquarium, a soothing simulation that showcases marine ecosystems and educates players on the impact of climate change on ocean life. The Changemaker award was presented to CD Projekt Red, acknowledging the Polish studio’s commitment to integrating sustainability into its development pipelines and community outreach programs.

Meanwhile, Maria Sayans, the chief executive of Ustwo Games, was honoured with the Champion accolade for her leadership in championing green design principles across the industry. Rovio Entertainment was recognized for its fundraising achievements, with Angry Birds Friends and Angry Birds Dream Blast cited as the winning titles in the Best Fundraising category. The games have generated significant charitable contributions for environmental causes, demonstrating how popular franchises can be leveraged for positive impact.

Lisa Pak, head of operations at Playing for the Planet, reflected on the ceremony’s significance: "Every year, the Green Game Jam shows how games can bring environmental stories to life and inspire players to protect and restore our planet." She added that the organization has been encouraged by the enthusiastic response from players to the reef and rainforest themes featured this year. Pak announced that the upcoming eighth edition of the Green Game Jam, slated for 2027, will continue the conversation around ecological resilience, aiming to engage millions of gamers worldwide. The awards ceremony concluded the annual Green Games Summit, a gathering that featured a series of talks and panel discussions with industry leaders from Hasbro, Supercell, Ustwo Games, Playstack and many others. These sessions explored topics ranging from carbon‑neutral production pipelines to the role of narrative in fostering environmental stewardship among players.

Below is the full roster of nominees and the winners that emerged from each category: - Cards, the Universe and Everything (Avid Games) – Lords Mobile (IGG) – Seekers Notes (Mytona) – **Winner: Seekers Notes (Mytona)** - Cards, the Universe and Everything (Avid Games) – Flutter: Butterfly Sanctuary (Runaway Play) – Orna: The GPS RPG (Northern Forge Studios) – **Winner: Orna: The GPS RPG (Northern Forge Studios)** - Hope's Adventure (Green Leap Games) – Sunshine Island (New Moon Studios) – Splash – Fish Aquarium (Runaway Play) – **Winner: Hope's Adventure (Green Leap Games)** - Lords Mobile (IGG) – Call of Dragons (Lilith Games) – June's Journey (Wooga) – **Winner: Lords Mobile (IGG)** - Flutter: Butterfly Sanctuary (Runaway Play) – Hope's Adventure (Green Leap Games) – June's Journey (Wooga) – **Winner: Flutter: Butterfly Sanctuary (Runaway Play)** - June's Journey (Wooga) – Canasta Fun & Friends, Rummy Fun, Skat Treff & Tarot Classique (GameDuell) – Angry Birds Friends & Angry Birds Dream Blast (Rovio Entertainment) – **Winner: Angry Birds Friends & Angry Birds Dream Blast (Rovio Entertainment)** - Jonas Goodwin (Runaway Play) – Sophie Barteau (Ubisoft Montreal) – María Sayans (Ustwo Games) – **Winner: María Sayans (Ustwo Games)** - CD Projekt Red – Massive Entertainment – Megapop – **Winner: CD Projekt Red** - Lords Mobile (IGG) – Orna: The GPS RPG (Northern Forge Studios) – Splash – Fish Aquarium (Runaway Play) – **Winner: Splash – Fish Aquarium (Runaway Play)** - Match Masters (Candivore) – Hay Day (Supercell) – June's Journey (Wooga) – **Winner: Hay Day (Supercell)** - Orna: The GPS RPG (Northern Forge Studios) – June's Journey (Wooga) – Lords Mobile (IGG) – **Winner: Orna: The GPS RPG (Northern Forge Studios)** These results illustrate a growing trend: games that weave ecological themes into compelling mechanics are not only receiving critical acclaim but also resonating with a global audience eager for meaningful content. The Green Games Jam continues to serve as a catalyst for innovation, encouraging developers to experiment with sustainable design, carbon‑offset strategies, and educational storytelling. Looking ahead, the 2027 edition promises to expand its scope, incorporating new categories that address emerging challenges such as ocean plastic pollution, renewable energy adoption, and climate‑justice narratives.

Organizers hope that by showcasing best‑in‑class examples, they can inspire a new generation of creators to view sustainability not as an add‑on, but as an integral part of the game development process. In summary, the 2026 Green Games Jam Awards highlighted the power of interactive media to shape public perception of environmental issues.

Northern Forge Studios, Runaway Play, CD Projekt Red, Ustwo Games and Rovio Entertainment each demonstrated how thoughtful design, purposeful storytelling, and community engagement can combine to drive both entertainment value and positive ecological impact.