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Games for Change 2025: ‘Indika,’ ‘Neva,’ and ‘1000xResist’ Among Top Winners at Annual Impact Awards

Games for Change 2025: ‘Indika,’ ‘Neva,’ and ‘1000xResist’
Image: Games for Change 2025: ‘Indika,’ ‘Neva,’ and ‘1000xResist’

The winners of the Games for Change Awards 2025 have officially been revealed, celebrating games and immersive experiences that go beyond entertainment to drive positive social impact.


Held during the annual Games for Change (G4C) Festival in New York, the awards recognize creators who use interactive media to explore themes like mental health, environmental action, accessibility, and personal resilience.


Leading the pack this year was Indika, a surreal narrative adventure by Odd Meter, which earned both Best Narrative and the coveted Game of the Year award. Joining it at the top were Neva by Nomada Studio, which won Best Gameplay, and 1000xResist by Sunset Visitor, which took home the Indie Breakout Award.


Indika, released in May 2024 and published by 11 bit studios, is a third-person adventure that blends religious symbolism with existential introspection. Players guide a troubled nun through strange, distorted landscapes, solving puzzles while unraveling her complex past through 2D pixel-art flashbacks. Its deep, philosophical themes clearly resonated with both the jury and audiences.


On the gameplay front, Neva—from the creators of GRIS—delivered a strong emotional punch. Released in October 2024 and published by Devolver Digital, the game follows a young woman, Alba, and her evolving bond with a mystical wolf cub in a decaying world. Its blend of environmental storytelling, wordless narrative, and evolving gameplay mechanics earned it the Best Gameplay award.


Meanwhile, 1000xResist took a bold approach to sci-fi storytelling. Developed by Sunset Visitor and released on PC and Nintendo Switch, the game explores identity, memory, and political control in a post-apocalyptic future. You play as a clone named Watcher who relives the memories of the immortal ALLMOTHER—until a harsh truth begins to unfold. Its nonlinear storytelling and themes of resistance stood out, earning it the Indie Breakout Award.


Beyond the game-specific categories, several individuals and organizations were honored for their broader contributions. Tilting Point’s Asi Burak received the Hall of Change Award, while Gilson Schwartz, president of the Games for Change Latin America chapter, was awarded for International Leadership.


Asi Burak is a trailblazing figure in the world of games for social impact. He’s currently the Chief Business Officer at Tilting Point, a global game publisher, and was formerly the Chairman of G4C. He co-created PeaceMaker, a groundbreaking game simulating the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and Play the News, an interactive current events platform.


Other notable honors included the Vanguard Award for Dr. Rachel Kowert and the Giving Award for Amir Satvat.


Dr. Kowert is a globally recognized research psychologist and author who specializes in the psychological effects of digital games. She’s the founder of Psychgeist®, a multimedia studio focused on the science of games and pop culture, and has spent over 15 years working with nonprofits, governments, and NGOs to shape policy around mental health, trust, and safety in gaming spaces.


Meanwhile, Amir Satvat is a business development director at Tencent Games and a beloved figure in the gaming industry—not just for his corporate role, but for his massive volunteer effort to help jobseekers break into games.


As per the statement by Games for Change president Susanna Pollack, this year’s winners highlight a pivotal moment for games with impact. “These award winners represent a breakthrough moment for impact gaming,” she noted, emphasizing the diversity of themes from mental health to environmental awareness.


Pollack also added that with entries coming from six continents, the movement is no longer niche. “The future of impact gaming is global, diverse, and deeply human,” she concluded.


Full List of 2025 Games for Change Award Winners:

  • Industry Leader Award: Preloaded

  • Hall of Change Award: Asi Burak

  • Best Narrative & Game of the Year: Indika (Odd Meter)

  • Indie Breakout Award: 1000xResist (Sunset Visitor)

  • Best in Innovation: In the Current of Being (Cameron Kostopoulos)

  • Best Student Project: Prší (Herdek Kolektiv)

  • Best in Learning: Tablecraft (Not Suspicious)

  • Best in Health & Wellness: Vampire Therapist (Little Bat Games)

  • Best in Civics: Kingdom of Rizia (Torpor Games)

  • Best Gameplay: Neva (Nomada Studio)

  • Best Board/Tabletop Game for Impact: Legless in London (Focus Games)

  • Vanguard Award: Rachel Kowert

  • Giving Award: Amir Satvat

  • International Leadership Award: Gilson Schwartz

  • Accessibility Award: Botany Manor (Balloon Studios)

  • Best in Environmental Impact: Crab God (Chaos Theory Games)

  • Best in Impact: Umfeld [social environment] (Hochschule RheinMain)

  • Best in XR: Impulse: Playing with Reality (Anagram)

  • Best Platform-based Project: Seattle Children's Hospital Minecraft Server (Hive Games & Mojang Studios)


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