The 2026 UK Best Places to Work Awards were held on October 1 at the historic Royal Institution in London, marking a significant celebration for the video‑games sector and its broader ecosystem. The ceremony highlighted a number of standout studios and organisations that have demonstrated a genuine commitment to nurturing their workforce, with special recognitions awarded to Dink, Hangar 13, Jagex: The RuneScape Company, NaturalMotion Games, Rare, and Snap Finger Click.
The awards night followed the GamesIndustry.biz HR Summit, an event that attracted 79 delegates representing 41 different entities. Attendees spanned a wide spectrum of the industry, from large AAA publishers and mid‑size AA developers to independent studios, as well as consultancy firms, training providers and academic institutions. The summit served as a forum for candid conversations about talent acquisition, retention, diversity, mental health, and the evolving expectations of game‑development professionals.
The core Best Places to Work awards honoured a total of twenty‑five firms, divided into three size‑based categories—small, mid‑size and large. Winners were selected through a rigorous two‑part evaluation process. An employee‑focused survey contributed eighty percent of the final score, ensuring that the voice of the workforce was paramount. The remaining twenty percent derived from a company‑level questionnaire that examined policies, benefits, leadership practices and long‑term strategic commitments to staff wellbeing.
Key sponsors of the 2026 ceremony included Amiqus, Playground Games, IO Interactive, Games London and Special Effect, each of which underscored its dedication to fostering healthier workplaces within the interactive entertainment field. Liz Prince MBE, Business Manager at Amiqus, reflected on the synergy between the HR Summit and the awards: "What makes these events especially valuable is how well they complement each other.
The HR Summit creates space for honest discussions, shared learning and new ideas, while the Best Places To Work Awards shine a spotlight on the studios and businesses that are turning those ideas into action. Bringing the industry together to both learn from each other and celebrate success helps raise standards for everyone, and we're proud to play a part in that." Her remarks highlighted the importance of coupling dialogue with recognition to drive continuous improvement. Paul Evans, Director of HR & Recruitment at Playground Games, added: "We’re proud to support GI.Biz in recognising the UK’s best mid‑sized Video Game Studios. These are not only teams that are creating brilliant games, but studios who are also setting the standard for what a great place to work looks like in our industry." This comment reinforced the idea that a studio’s reputation for quality gameplay can be matched by its reputation for employee satisfaction.
Among the individual accolades, Jo Haslam received this year’s G Into Gaming award. Currently Design Director at Snap Finger Click, Haslam brings a wealth of experience from previous roles at Mediatonic, Relentless and the BBC.
Liz Prince presented the award, describing Haslam as "one of those rare people who leads with both empathy and action in perfect unison," and praising her as "an inspiring woman and a natural leader." Snap Finger Click also secured a Best Places to Work award and the Diversity Award, underscoring its holistic approach to inclusive culture. Rare was honoured once again with the Environmental Award, a category sponsored by Games London that recognises studios taking concrete steps to reduce their ecological footprint, implement sustainable production practices, and promote green initiatives within the gaming community. Meanwhile, the Education Award went to Middlesbrough‑based indie studio Dink, presented by Veronique Lallier, Chief Development Officer at IO Interactive, acknowledging Dink’s commitment to mentorship, skill‑building programmes and partnerships with local educational institutions. The full roster of winners, spanning various categories, was announced as follows: - Fireshine Games - Lively - MLC Studio - Playstack - Silent Games - Snap Finger Click - Stellar Entertainment Software - Swipe Right - Tanglewood Games - Uplift Games - Behaviour Interactive UK - Electric Square - Expression Games - Fenris Creations - Hangar 13 - HundredStar Games - Kinetic Games - Maverick Games - Rare - Studio Gobo - Wushu Studios - Frontier Developments - Jagex: The RuneScape Company - Playground Games - TT Games - Jo Haslam, Snap Finger Click - Jagex: The RuneScape Company (winner) - NaturalMotion Games - Playground Games - Rocksteady Studios - Wushu Studios - Maverick Games - NaturalMotion Games - Rare - Snap Finger Click (winner) - Dink (winner) - Electric Square - Jagex: The RuneScape Company - Rocksteady Studios - Two Point Studios - NaturalMotion Games - Playground Games - Rare (winner) - Rocksteady Studios - Behaviour Interactive UK - Hangar 13 (winner) - NaturalMotion Games - Rare - Rocksteady Studios - Behaviour Interactive UK - Jagex: The RuneScape Company - NaturalMotion Games (winner) - Playground Games - Yvonne Dawes, Frontier Developments - Tuoya Joe, HundredStar Games - Gary Martin, Jagex: The RuneScape Company - Carmen Martino, Playstack - Anna Stone, Playground Games - Leah Wilson, IO Interactive (winner) The ceremony not only celebrated individual and organisational achievements but also set a benchmark for the industry moving forward.
By highlighting best practices in employee engagement, diversity, environmental stewardship and educational outreach, the awards provide a roadmap for other studios aspiring to improve their workplace culture. As the UK gaming sector continues to expand, the emphasis on people‑first strategies is expected to become an even more critical factor in attracting top talent and delivering innovative, high‑quality games. Looking ahead, the organisers have already hinted at plans for next year’s event, promising broader categories, more data‑driven insights, and deeper collaborations with academic partners to ensure that the industry’s growth is sustainable and inclusive.
The momentum generated by the 2026 awards suggests that the conversation around workplace excellence will remain a central theme in the gaming community, driving both creative and operational progress for years to come.