Student Challenge Competition
The Student Challenge invites students to design, build, and compete. Showcasing the next generation of game makers. The 2027 Student Challenge competition is NOW open! Submit your games, designs, and trailers by March 29, 2027 @ 11:59 PM PT.
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About the Competition
To engage the global community in game design for good, the Student Challenge welcomes participants from all over the world. Alongside their peers in the US, international students are able to submit their original games and artwork into the Student Challenge Competition. Winners will receive international recognition and prizes including games, technology, and scholarships.
This Year’s Award Categories
Winners in this category design games showcasing one of the social impact themes.
Winners in this category design games made with Unity showcasing the student’s knowledge and understanding of the Unity platform and incorporation of a social impact theme.
Winners in this category design a game inspired by one of the social impact themes, and create a game trailer video of your game that entices players into your game world.
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.
Winners in this category design physical games inspired by one of the social impact themes. Games can be a card game, board game, role-playing game, or any game that involves physical components.
Winners in this category design original hand drawn artwork of video game characters with a backstory inspired by this year’s social impact themes!
Winners in this category design digitally created artwork of video game characters with a backstory inspired by this year's social impact themes!
A digital game will be chosen as game of the year for each of the age brackets (Junior/Senior Division & Expert Division), and the winning teams will take home the scholarship prize of $10,000.00, international recognition, and other prizes and benefits.
Check out the 2026-27 Student Challenge Competition Handbook