“Inside The Games for Change Festival: Discovering Social Impact Through Play”
- Marc Almanzor
- Jun 28
- 2 min read
To me, the Games for Change Festival exists to inspire both the current and next generation of gamers. It's one of the highlights of the year for me, and I thought I'd bring my boys along so that they get their first taste of social impact games.
They were of course, eager to play, but also equally eager to learn. Alex tried VR for the first time by immersing himself in the world of Tablecraft by Not Suspicious to experiment with atoms in a mad science lab. Thankfully, I have a Quest at home, so he can continue his journey! Meanwhile, Leo, an avid Minecraft and Roblox fan, got to explore Minecraft National Park and Art Leap (built by the Belvedere Museum).
Equally inspiring was the session by Take This, Inc.'s Kelli Dunlap, PsyD 🔜 Games for Change, recapping the first year of their Accelerate Program. This is a program designed to support the professional development of those who are in the early stages of their career at the intersection of mental health and games. My boys sat through the entire session, so you know they were interested in becoming future fellows :) This is a program I wish I had available to me early in my career, so it was exciting to see the results of their first year, and also get a peek into what lies ahead for their next season! Speaking of which, if you're interested in participating in Accelerate Season 2, applications are now open here: https://lnkd.in/eP6auTBG
The intersection of mental health and gaming continues to be a big topic these days, so it was great to see Vibrant Emotional Health's Nicole Twohig speak about the contrast of asking for help IRL vs in-game. She shared how seeking support in real life can be reframed through the lens of gaming. By highlighting how common and normalized it is to ask for help in-game, she suggested that we can use that familiarity to lower the emotional barrier (and anxiety?) of asking for help IRL. It’s a smart way to reframe vulnerability as a strategic, even routine, action—just like it can be in games.
Finally - board games are games too! There were a number of interesting games that I think Mike Johnston would love to delve into more. For example, Person - a game that invites players to look beyond stereotypes and challenge their assumptions or preexisting perceptions of others. Then there's Protection: The Board Game - a sort of humanitarian NGO simulator. Think you can solve an international aid crisis while overcoming a bad hand dealt from a deck stacked against you? It's certainly a challenging game, but one I think my former colleagues at previous humanitarian organizations I worked at may find fun and educational as well!
Overall, I got to meet some amazing new people, reconnect with friends, and learned a ton! Looking forward to next year's Games for Change Festival!
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