AWARD CATEGORIES

Theme Categories: For the three theme categories, submission guidelines, directions, and evaluation criteria are as follows:

Theme Submission Guidelines:

  • Games must be about one of this year’s social impact Themes.
  • Games must be made using any free/open platform (ex: Scratch, Unity, Twine, CoSpaces, etc.).
  • Games must be playable on a web browser and accessible via a URL unless they are made in Minecraft Education Edition or Roblox.  
  • Games made in Minecraft: Education Edition or Roblox require a video walkthrough of the game in lieu of a URL link (2 – 5 minutes long; MP4 or MOV file format).

Theme Submission Judging Criteria:

All games submitted to one of the three theme categories will be evaluated using this rubric:

Use of Theme – Through gameplay, players engage with important content relevant to one of this year’s themes.

Game Play – The rules of the game are clear, the game is playable and provides players meaningful choices while achieving the game’s goals.

Aesthetics – The game is well-designed, legible, and includes components that are pleasing to look at.

Fun Factor – Playing the game is an enjoyable and engaging experience.

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Best Stronger and Greener Communities Game

Supported by

EcoRise_Logo

 Make a game that addresses the urgent issue of climate change by empowering players to design and manage sustainable buildings, schools, and cities. Challenge them to tackle climate resilience and climate action while considering environmental impact, public health, economic stability, and social equity. Inspire players to become champions of a sustainable future as they navigate the complexities of urban development and the global climate crisis.

Best Be Ocean Wise Game

Supported by

OceanWise_Logo

Think about some of the biggest challenges facing our ocean today, including climate change, overfishing, and pollution (sound, plastic, coastal runoff from agriculture, etc.). Design a game that proposes creative solutions to one or all of these challenges and inspires, educates, and activates your players to make a difference.

Best Recycle the Runway Game

 Design a game to help your players dress for eco-success! Teach your players how to make ecologically responsible fashion choices, from the shoes on their feet to the hats on their heads.

Made with Unity

Supported by

Unity logo

Design a game made with Unity that showcases your knowledge and understanding of the Unity platform and inspired by this year’s social impact themes.

 

Unity Submission Guidelines
  • Games must be made using Unity to qualify for this category.
  • Games must be playable on a web browser and accessible via a URL. Unity games are often uploaded to itch.io to be played via browser.
  • Games must be about one of this year’s social impact Themes

Made with Unity Judging Criteria:

Use of Theme – Through game play, players engage with important content relevant to the theme they have chosen.

Game Play – The rules of the game are clear, the game is playable and provides players meaningful choices while achieving the game’s goals.

Aesthetics  & Use of Platform– The game is well designed, legible, and makes good use of the features available in Unity.

Fun Factor – Playing the game is an enjoyable and engaging experience.

Made with Minecraft

Design a game using Minecraft that showcases your knowledge and understanding of Minecraft and is inspired by this year’s social impact themes.


Minecraft Submission Guidelines
  • In the competition portal, you must upload a video walkthrough of your game in .mp4 format. This will allow judges to see your game whether or not they have access to Minecraft.
    • Your Video should include:
      • A narrated walkthrough to give our judges a clear understanding of your game and how it is played
      • Time: 2-5 minutes long
      • Video submitted in MP4 Format
  • Games must be about one of this year’s social impact Themes
Made with Minecraft Judging Criteria

Use of Theme – Through gameplay, players engage with important content relevant to the theme they have chosen.

Game Play – The rules of the game are clear, the game is playable and provides players meaningful choices while achieving the game’s goals.

Aesthetics  & Use of Platform– The game is well designed, legible, and makes good use of the features available in Minecraft. 

Fun Factor – Playing the game is an enjoyable and engaging experience.

Best International Game

Student game designers living outside of the United States submitting their games into this year’s competition will have their games considered for the Best International Game category! All digital games inspired by this year’s social impact theme are eligible.

 

Submission Guidelines
  • Students must live outside of the United States for a game to be eligible for this category.
  • Games should be playable by English-speaking judges. 
  • Games must be made using any free/open platform (ex: Scratch, Unity, Twine, CoSpaces, etc.).
  • Games must be playable on a web browser and accessible via a URL, unless they are made in Minecraft Education Edition or Roblox.  
    • Games made in Minecraft: Education Edition or Roblox require a video walkthrough of the game in lieu of a URL link (2 – 5 minutes long; MP4 or MOV file format).
  • Games must be about one of this year’s social impact Themes.
  • All games made by students located outside of the US will be eligible for this category.
Best International Game Judging Criteria

Use of Theme – Through gameplay, players engage with important content relevant to one of this year’s themes. 

Game Play – The rules of the game are clear, the game is playable and provides players meaningful choices while achieving the game’s goals.

Aesthetics  – The game is well-designed, legible, and includes components that are pleasing to look at.

Fun Factor – Playing the game is an enjoyable and engaging experience.

Best Tabletop Game

Supported by

Hasbro_4c_noR

Design a physical game inspired by one of the G4C Student Challenge themes with materials that can be played in real life. Your game could be a card game, board game, role-playing game, or any game that involves physical components. 

Tabletop Submission Guidelines:
  • Games must be about one of this year’s social impact Themes.
  • Students can either work on their games alone or as part of a team of 2-4 students.
  • Students must have a valid email address (this is how we will let you know if you’re a Finalist!).
  • Please submit a PDF slideshow OR a Video in the competition portal.  

For PDF Slideshow (can be created with Google Slides or Powerpoint) include:

  • a slide with your game title and all teammates’ names
  • a slide describing the rules 
  • a slide describing the challenge of your game
  • a slide describing the goal of your game
  • a slide describing the components and space of your game
  • a slide describing the core mechanics of the game
  • a slide describing what theme your game addresses and how your game makes the world a better place
  • Photos of all of your game pieces (or playtesters playing it!) should be included throughout the presentation to help describe your game

For video include: 

  • Short introduction of the team members and game title
  • Footage of players playtesting the game
  • Explanation of the rules and gameplay
  • Explanation of the challenge of the game
  • Explanation of the goals of the game
  • Explanation of the core mechanics of the game
  • Explanation of how your game addresses the theme and makes the world a better place
  • Explanation of the components and space of the game, with close-up shots of the game components 
  • Video should not exceed 5 minutes! 

Best Tabletop Game Judging Criteria

Use of Theme – Through gameplay, players engage with important content relevant to one of this year’s themes.

Game Play – The rules of the game are clear, the game is playable and provides players meaningful choices while achieving the game’s goals.

Aesthetics – The game is well-designed, legible, and includes components that are pleasing to look at.

Fun Factor – Playing the game is an enjoyable and engaging experience.

Impact Game Writing Challenge
Write a 5 paragraph video game review (500-750 words) of an Impact Game from the G4C Game Arcade!
Impact Writing Submission Guidelines:
  • Students must work alone on the Impact Writing Challenge. 
  • Write a 5 paragraph game review (500-750 words) including the following components: 
    • Paragraph 1: Introduction to the game and its creators, providing a brief summary of the gameplay. 
    • Paragraphs 2-4: Write about what you liked and did not like about the game. Remember to consider: 
      • Aesthetics: How did the game look and feel? 
      • Storytelling: Did it tell a compelling story? 
      • Sound: How did the dialog or the music impact your playing experience? 
      • Playability of the Game: Was it an engaging and enjoyable experience? Why or why not?
    • Paragraph 5: Conclusion. In the conclusion paragraph, sum up your overall impressions of the game, and describe whether or not you believe this game could be used for good in the world.
Impact Writing Submission Guidelines:

Clarity of communication – The writing included few spelling and grammatical errors, and it was easy to understand what the writer was trying to convey.
Review Components – The review included all of the required elements
Argument – The reviewer’s unique opinion of the game was well-supported by evidence in the review.
Impact Connection – The concluding paragraph included a strong explanation of how the game does (or does not) make a difference in the world.

Character Design Challenge

Student artists, designers, and storytellers: we are looking for original artwork of video game characters with a backstory inspired by this year’s social impact themes! Design a character living in a virtual game world related to one of the three themes. We want to know details about your character including their backstory, personality, costume and tools, and their role in the game!

Character Design Submission Guidelines
  • Students must work alone on the Character Design Challenge. 
  • Students must have a valid email address (this is how we will let you know if you’re a Finalist!).
  • Artwork can be done by hand or digitally created. All artwork can be uploaded to the submission form as images (JPG, PNG) or PDF files (maximum of 10 files). The submission form will also ask you to provide written details to help us learn more about your character.
  • Artwork Requirements:
    • Images of your character from 2 different angles (front, back, or side)
    • An appropriate costume
    • 1-3 items or tools your character would use
    • (Optional) Include images of your character in motion
    • (Optional) Include close-ups (character’s face, costume, or item details)
  • Written Requirements:
    • A brief description of your character’s personality and traits (300 words max)
    • Character backstory and explanation of their role in the game (500 words max)
Character Design Challenge Judging Criteria

Use of Theme – The character design is clearly connected to one of this year’s social justice themes.

Backstory – The character has a clear and defined personality that comes through in its appearance, actions, and backstory.

Aesthetics – The character design is visually appealing, with attention to detail and design elements.

Tools and Costumes – The tools and costumes clearly contribute to the social justice theme and the character’s personality and backstory.

LOOKING FOR GREAT IMPACT GAMES TO PLAY?

The Games for Change website contains a library of 200+ recommended games for learning and social impact. Check them out here!