Games for Change Student Game Jam Hong Kong 2026

What if games could help protect our oceans, forests, and planet?

The Games for Change Hong Kong Game Jam 2026 invites secondary school and university students to spend one full day designing and building games that tackle real-world environmental challenges — through creativity, collaboration, and play.

This year’s theme, Reefs & Rainforests, is developed in partnership with UNEP Playing for the Planet and is one of the official themes of the Games for Change Global Student Challenge 2026. You’ll explore urgent issues like biodiversity, climate action, and conservation — and turn them into playable game experiences.

No prior game-making experience required. Just bring your curiosity, creativity, and willingness to learn.

🌱 What You’ll Do

In this fast-paced, hands-on Game Jam, you’ll:

• Form teams with other students across different disciplines
• Learn how to design games with impact and intention
• Translate environmental issues into game mechanics and systems
• Build a game concept in a single day
• Pitch and demo your game to mentors and peers
• Explore pathways for further development and potential recognition on a global scale, through international platforms such as the Games for Change Global Student Challenge and the Tencent Games Without Borders Awards

You’ll be guided by industry professionals, educators, and impact practitioners throughout the day.

🧠 How the Day Works

The Game Jam follows a structured but beginner-friendly design process:

1. Vision & Message – Choose an environmental issue and define what you want players to feel, learn, or do
2. Game Mechanics & Ideation – Design gameplay systems that support your message
3. Build, Build, Build – Prototype, test, iterate, and prepare your demo
4. Show the World – Present your game idea in front of your peers and a panel of esteemed industry mentors and judges!

By the end of the day, every team will have something playable to show.

🚀 Why Join?

• Hands-on game design experience — perfect for portfolios
• Learn how games can drive real-world impact
• Meet mentors from the game industry and impact space
• Access regional opportunities, including: submission to the Games for Change Global Student Challenge, a chance to submit to the Tencent Games Without Borders (GWB) Awards (July 2026), and opportunities to showcase your work at Games for Change Hong Kong events.

👥 Who Should Join?

Secondary school students (upper secondary preferred) and university / tertiary students curious about games, art, storytelling, climate, creativity, and/or impact.

You don’t need to know how to code — teams work across different skills — as long as you are a current secondary or tertiary student in Singapore, you are welcome to join!

🧩 What to Bring

• Your laptop (if you have one)
• A willingness to collaborate and experiment
• An open mind and creative energy

🌏 About Games for Change

Games for Change is a global movement that empowers game creators and social innovators to drive real-world impact through games and interactive media. The Singapore Game Jam is part of a wider Asia-Pacific Games for Change ecosystem, led by Games for Change Hong Kong.

🎟 Spots are limited. Register early to secure your place. If you’re excited about games, creativity, and making a difference — this is for you.

The registration fee is simply a token fee for you to hold your spot — we're thankful to our partners and sponsors for enabling more students to join this event for free!