THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN CANCELED FOR THIS YEAR (2024-2025). Please contact us with any questions or concerns.
Calling All LGBTQ+ Youth Game Creators!
Ready to change the world through video games?
Maven Youth invites you to join our special online LGBTQ+ cohort in the 2025 Games for Change Student Challenge — a competition that teaches high school students about game design, computer programming, and social impact.
(Open to students in grades 9-12 - no prior experience required!)
2025 Maven Youth Games for Change Cohort Program
Teams Form
Teams will form based on roles — Coder, Artist, or Game Writer — to collaboratively develop a social good video game for the G4C competition. You'll work closely with your teammates throughout the program to bring your ideas to life!
Video Game Dev Trainings
Throughout the program, students will receive online game development workshops. These comprehensive trainings will ensure your team is equipped to create a standout game for the G4C competition!
Creating/Support
Teams will collaborate for three months to develop their video game, supported by the Maven Youth team. Hosted open labs will offer additional assistance for drop-in questions and technical support.
Enter Competition
After months of development and game testing, in April teams will submit their video game to the 2024 G4C Competition, aiming to win the Game of the Year award and a $10,000 scholarship.
No longer accepting applications
What is the Games for Change Student Challenge?
In this competition, you'll team up to create an original video game centered around one of this year's compelling themes, all listed below. Your creation could earn recognition, win prizes, and offer you the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the world!
2025 Social Impact Themes
Catastrophes like violence and natural disasters can make it really hard for people to have their needs met, and people in power must make difficult decisions about how to ensure their citizens have the resources they need. Design a game in an imagined world where players need to keep the peace among all groups in a fair and equitable way in your game civilization.
Imagine the powerful role nature can play in boosting the mental health and well-being of young people while also easing eco-anxiety. Your challenge? Design a game that not only educates players about their personal bond with nature but also guides them through the five pathways to deepen that connection.
Think about two important hunger challenges: How to reduce food loss and waste, and how to achieve a healthy food diet in your school, community, or country context. Using the game design tool of your choice, design a game on either of those two challenges in a way that informs and encourages your players to make a difference.
Why Participate?
Where else can you find a community of LGBTQ+ youth passionate about video games and eager to co-create in a safe, supportive space?
Join our queer youth creators to showcase the power of queer leadership and innovation! Express your identity through the exciting world of game design while gaining valuable skills in coding, art, storytelling, and teamwork. Connect with other LGBTQ+ youth who share your passion for gaming and social change, and compete for amazing prizes, including a $10,000 scholarship! Don’t miss this chance to make your mark in the gaming community!
Key Details
Open to students in grades 9 - 12
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Teams consist of up to 4 youth, each responsible for a different aspect of the game development process.
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No prior experience required! Come open to learning and we will support you in unlocking your creativity as a team.​
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Youth will be from around the US.
Tools of the trade
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Games will be built in Ren’Py, a visual novel game engine, with the potential for alternative submissions using other free platforms (e.g. Scratch, Unity, or Twine).
Online cohort experience
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The program will kick off in November 2024 with monthly workshops and team-building activities. Teams will form in January and collaborate on their video game until April 2025, when they will submit their game to the competition. We ask all students to expect to be part of the program for 5 months.