Games For Change, the leading global advocate for the power of games as drivers of social impact, announced the finalists for the 18^th Games For Change Awards.

The organization revealed that Niantic (Pokemon Go) will be the 2021 G4C Industry Leadership Award recipient for the company’s ongoing work in social justice, the environment, and well-being.

Games Done Quick will be recognised as the recipient of the 2021 G4C Giving Award for their community speed-running events, which have raised over $30 million for charity over the past decade.

“It is an honor to receive this award from Games for Change,” said Games Done Quick founder Mike Uyama.

“Ever since Games Done Quick started in my mom’s basement back in 2010, I would have never imagined we would raise over 30 million dollars for a variety of great causes.

“We are humbled to receive this award, and it is all thanks to so many people who help make this event possible: the speedrunning community, runners, volunteers, viewers, and donors who contribute to our events.”

Mark Barlet of AbleGamers Foundation will be honored with the Vanguard Award for continuing to champion accessibility and amplifying the voices of disabled gamers.

“Games for Change has always held a special place in my social calendar,” says Founder of AbleGamers, Mark Barlet.

“I have made life-changing connections with amazing people that have permanently moved the needle in making the world a better place. I am honored to be chosen as the recipient of the Vanguard Award.

“To be recognised by such a fantastic organization means so much to me and the AbleGamers’ mission of enabling play to combat social isolation to improve the lives of people with disabilities.”

This year’s awards are the most competitive and global in the Festival history – with over 200 submissions across six categories: Best Gameplay, Most Innovative, Most Significant Impact, Best Learning Game, Best Student Game, and Best XR for Change.

A group of 65 game developers, researchers, and experts in game design reviewed the games and selected the finalists.

Game entries came from established AAA studios, indie developers, and university-level students, exemplifying this year’s Games For Change Festival themes of imagining, igniting, and inspiring the future of social impact.

“This year, many of the G4C Awards finalist games are from emerging developers,” said Susanna Pollack, President of Games for Change.

“More than half of our finalists are from international teams, with studios from the US, Canada, England, France, Germany, Chile, and Korea. We are thrilled that the finalists reflect the global audience of the greater Games for Change community.”

The 2021 Game For Change Award finalists include:
 

Additionally, 13 games from the Best Gameplay, Most Innovative, Most Significant Impact, and Best Learning Game categories are eligible for the “G4C People’s Choice” Award, presented by Facebook Gaming.

“Facebook Gaming is once again proud to sponsor Games For Change, and we’re excited to see who will win the 2021 People’s Choice Award. In an increasingly virtual world, the role that games have in pushing society forward is bigger than ever before,” said Luis Renato Olivalves, Head of Gaming Creators, Facebook Gaming.

Voting for the G4C People’s Choice Award closes on July 2nd.

The Games For Change Awards will be streamed at 7:30 pm EDT (11:30 pm GMT) on July 12, 2021, as part of the virtual, three-day Games For Change Festival, July 12 – 14.

Click here to register for free and attend the 2021 G4C Virtual Festival.