The 2026 Green Games Jam Awards, organized by the environmental gaming initiative Playing for the Planet, took place last week at the historic BFI Southbank venue. The event celebrated developers who have pushed the boundaries of sustainable game creation and who have woven ecological themes into compelling narratives. In total, eleven distinct awards were handed out, and two studios – Northern Forge Studios and Runaway Play – each walked away with a pair of honors, 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 testament to its ability to produce high‑quality experiences with limited resources while maintaining an eco‑friendly development pipeline.
In addition, the studio’s title *Orna: The GPS RPG* was selected by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as the UNEP Choice winner, highlighting the game’s innovative use of location‑based mechanics to promote environmental awareness. Runaway Play also secured two accolades. Its soothing title *Flutter: Butterfly Sanctuary* captured the Best Storytelling award, praised for its delicate portrayal of butterfly habitats and the delicate balance of ecosystems.
Meanwhile, the studio’s *Splash – Fish Aquarium* was chosen as Google’s Choice, reflecting the tech giant’s endorsement of games that combine engaging gameplay with educational content about marine conservation. Beyond the studio awards, several individual and corporate recognitions were presented.
CD Projekt Red received the prestigious Changemaker award, acknowledging the company’s commitment to integrating sustainability into its production processes and community outreach. Maria Sayans, the chief executive of Ustwo Games, was honored with the Champion accolade for her leadership in championing green design principles across the industry.
Rovio Entertainment was celebrated for its fundraising achievements, winning Best Fundraising for the continued success of *Angry Birds Friends* and *Angry Birds Dream Blast*. These titles not only generated significant revenue but also directed a portion of proceeds toward environmental charities, exemplifying how popular franchises can be leveraged for positive impact. 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 experiences can bring environmental stories to life and motivate players to protect and restore our planet." She added that the response to this year’s reef and rainforest themed content had been overwhelmingly positive, and she expressed optimism about expanding the conversation around ecological resilience in the upcoming eighth edition of the Green Game Jam slated for 2027.
The awards ceremony concluded the annual Green Games Summit, a gathering that featured a series of talks, panels, and workshops from industry heavyweights such as Hasbro, Supercell, Ustwo Games, Playstack, and many others. The summit provided a platform for developers, publishers, and environmental experts to exchange ideas on how to embed sustainability into game design, production, and distribution. Below is a comprehensive rundown of the nominees and winners announced during the event: - **Cards, the Universe and Everything** (Avid Games) – nominated alongside *Lords Mobile* (IGG) and *Seekers Notes* (Mytona).
*Seekers Notes* emerged as the winner. - **Orna: The GPS RPG** (Northern Forge Studios) – contended with *Flutter: Butterfly Sanctuary* (Runaway Play) and *Cards, the Universe and Everything* (Avid Games). *Orna* secured the UNEP Choice award. - **Hope's Adventure** (Green Leap Games) – faced competition from *Sunshine Island* (New Moon Studios) and *Splash – Fish Aquarium* (Runaway Play).
*Hope's Adventure* took home its category. - **Lords Mobile** (IGG) – went up against *Call of Dragons* (Lilith Games) and *June's Journey* (Wooga). *Lords Mobile* claimed the top spot.
- **Flutter: Butterfly Sanctuary** (Runaway Play) – competed with *Hope's Adventure* (Green Leap Games) and *June's Journey* (Wooga). *Flutter* won Best Storytelling. - **Angry Birds Friends & Angry Birds Dream Blast** (Rovio Entertainment) – selected over *June's Journey* (Wooga) and a suite of card games from GameDuell.
The Rovio titles were honored for fundraising excellence. - Individual recognitions highlighted María Sayans (Ustwo Games) as the Champion, alongside nominees Jonas Goodwin (Runaway Play) and Sophie Barteau (Ubisoft Montreal). - The corporate Changemaker award went to CD Projekt Red, beating out Massive Entertainment and Megapop. - Google’s Choice spotlight fell on *Splash – Fish Aquarium* (Runaway Play), chosen over *Orna: The GPS RPG* (Northern Forge Studios) and *Lords Mobile* (IGG).
- In the mobile gaming category, *Hay Day* (Supercell) triumphed over *Match Masters* (Candivore) and *June's Journey* (Wooga). - Finally, *Orna: The GPS RPG* (Northern Forge Studios) repeated its success, winning again when pitted against *June's Journey* (Wooga) and *Lords Mobile* (IGG). The ceremony not only highlighted the creative achievements of these developers but also reinforced the growing belief that video games can serve as powerful tools for environmental education and advocacy. As the industry continues to evolve, the Green Games Jam Awards aim to inspire more studios to adopt sustainable practices, integrate ecological narratives, and engage players in meaningful conversations about the health of our planet.