The 2026 Green Games Jam Awards, an event organized by the environmental initiative Playing for the Planet, took place last week at the iconic BFI Southbank venue. The ceremony celebrated game developers who have excelled in creating sustainable gaming experiences and weaving environmental narratives into their titles.
A total of 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 commitment to eco‑focused design. Northern Forge Studios earned the Best Small Studio award, a recognition of its ability to deliver high‑quality content with limited resources while maintaining a strong environmental ethos. In addition, the studio’s role‑playing game Orna: The GPS RPG was selected as UNEP’s Choice, highlighting the United Nations Environment Programme’s endorsement of the title’s innovative use of location‑based technology to promote ecological awareness.
Orna blends traditional RPG mechanics with real‑world GPS data, encouraging players to explore natural spaces, identify local flora and fauna, and complete quests that teach conservation principles. The game’s success demonstrates how small teams can leverage mobile platforms to foster a deeper connection between players and their surroundings. Runaway Play also secured two accolades. Its title Flutter: Butterfly Sanctuary was awarded Best Storytelling, a testament to the studio’s skill in crafting an emotionally resonant narrative centered on the delicate life cycle of butterflies.
The game invites users to nurture a virtual butterfly garden, learn about pollination, and understand the broader impacts of habitat loss. Meanwhile, Google’s Choice went to Runaway Play’s Splash – Fish Aquarium, a soothing aquarium simulation that incorporates real‑time data on ocean health and encourages players to adopt sustainable practices such as reducing plastic waste.
Both games exemplify how compelling storytelling can be paired with actionable environmental education. Beyond the studio awards, individual and corporate recognitions were also presented. CD Projekt Red received the Changemaker award for its ongoing efforts to integrate sustainability into its development pipelines and for supporting community‑driven environmental projects.
Ustwo Games’ CEO Maria Sayans was honored with the Champion accolade, acknowledging her leadership in championing green initiatives across the gaming industry and inspiring other executives to adopt eco‑friendly policies. 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 have generated significant revenue, a portion of which has been directed toward wildlife conservation programs, illustrating how popular franchises can be leveraged for philanthropic impact. Lisa Pak, Head of Operations at Playing for the Planet, remarked, "Each year the Green Game Jam illustrates the power of interactive media to bring environmental stories to life and motivate players to become stewards of the planet." She added that the response to this year’s reef and rainforest themes has been overwhelmingly positive, and she expressed excitement about expanding the conversation on ecological resilience with millions of gamers worldwide during the eighth edition of the Green Game Jam in 2027. 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.
Participants explored topics ranging from carbon‑neutral development pipelines to the role of games in climate education. 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) – Winner - Sunshine Island (New Moon Studios) – Nominee - Splash – Fish Aquarium (Runaway Play) – 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 These results highlight a growing trend within the gaming community: developers are increasingly prioritizing ecological responsibility while delivering engaging, high‑quality entertainment. The awards not only celebrate individual achievements but also set a benchmark for future projects, encouraging studios of all sizes to consider the environmental impact of their work.
As the industry looks ahead to the 2027 Green Game Jam, the momentum generated in 2026 suggests that sustainable game design will continue to evolve, offering players richer experiences that both entertain and educate about the urgent challenges facing our planet.