By Juli Scarr
Global Game Jam and Games for Change are expanding their partnership to inspire the next generation of creators. The GGJ Next student game jam and the aligned Next Gen Expert Jam open doors for young people to design games with meaning. It is less about competition and more about learning, belonging, and using creativity to respond to real problems.
Both initiatives run through March 2026 and encourage students to build games that address global themes. That includes food security, road safety, and protecting ecosystems. As an educator and parent, these themes speak to me. They give students space to explore ideas around empathy, advocacy, and teamwork.
The partnership also increases access. Students can join onsite at registered jam sites or join virtually through itch.io. Schools, community clubs, or families can host a jam with guidance from Global Game Jam organizers. It feels flexible in the way project based learning should. Teens and young adults in the Next Gen Expert Jam receive mentorship and opportunities to keep refining their work after their first submission.
Giving youth the space to make their own creations changes how they see games. They stop being consumers and become problem solvers. For teachers, it feels like an easy entry point for STEAM learning without heavy coding prerequisites.
What GGJ Next Offers Students Ages 10–18
This year’s GGJ Next student game jam aligns directly with Games for Change themes, reinforcing how both organizations support youth creativity through social impact ideas. GGJ Next returns as the largest student centered game jam in the world. It invites young people to explore coding, design, collaboration, art, and storytelling in one shared space. The structure aligns with school and after school schedules so groups can build projects during existing learning blocks.
Games created during GGJ Next can be submitted to the Games for Change Student Challenge. Winners share a ten thousand dollar scholarship, which is a nice bonus. The bigger development this year is new country level awards. That helps smaller schools or communities feel seen on the global stage.
Students join through a registered local site or online if one does not exist nearby. Themes match the Games for Change challenge. Food security, safe road practices, and nature protection all feature as inspiration points. These topics work well with cross curricular learning. You could link them to science, civics, media literacy, or environmental inquiry.
For educators, this is where you can watch quiet students surprise you. Collaboration becomes communication. Art becomes storytelling. Students who struggle with language or mobility can still direct design choices. It makes the jam meaningful in ways tests and worksheets rarely achieve.
What the Next Gen Expert Jam Offers Emerging Creators
The Next Gen Expert Jam is a companion program for ages 18 to 25. It focuses on mentorship and professional development while still asking creators to address real world challenges. Anyone can join virtually, or they can take part during the Global Game Jam week. They choose one of three Games for Change diversifiers that tie their project to the same youth focused themes.
After uploading their first version, creators get feedback and guidance. They can refine their ideas until March. There is also a route for colleges and universities to host in person jam events.
To participate in the Games for Change Student Challenge, games must be browser playable and built on free or open tools. That means students are not boxed out by expensive software. It keeps the barrier low and supports learning over polish. The awards range from best gameplay to best tabletop game, with one standout from every country being recognized. It feels encouraging for emerging creators trying to find direction or confidence.
Where Teachers and Parents Make This Real
The Global Game Jam announcement sounds exciting on paper, but GGJ Next student game jam programs only matter if educators and parents step in. That starts in schools. A teacher can host a jam on site, or link students to a virtual one if geography is a barrier. It fits neatly within inquiry projects, coding units, or tech club time. More importantly, it offers a path for students who struggle with traditional academics to shine through creativity instead of worksheets.
I saw that once with a Grade 6 student who barely spoke in class. He used visuals and AAC boards to communicate, and rarely initiated ideas. During a small design project, he created a simple maze game where a lost creature had to find a home. It was rough, but watching him explain it through symbols was a moment that stuck. You could feel his pride. Jams like GGJ Next give more students that moment.
Parents also play a role. Encouraging a child to join a local jam site or registering them virtually can open skills rarely nurtured at home. You do not need prior coding experience. Many tools in these jams are drag and drop, and facilitators guide the rest. Families can support by asking questions, celebrating progress, and showing interest in the ideas behind the game.
Getting involved is simple. Visit globalgamejam.org, click Host a Jam Site, and select GGJ Next. After a short interview, organizers will help you run it. If hosting feels too big, find a site nearby or join online through the itch.io page. Even encouraging one student to submit something is meaningful. Sometimes, creative projects unlock identities students did not know they had. That alone is worth your time.
GGJ Next for Classrooms and Families
I like that the GGJ Next student game jam gives families and educators something to do, not just something to read. GGJ Next does that. It gives families and educators a chance to lift youth voices in a tangible way. For students who do not shine in typical classrooms, jams like this feel rewarding. You see confidence build when ideas come to life.
It also reframes games as tools, not distractions. Students explore civic topics, environmental concerns, or community challenges through expression instead of lectures. As a parent or educator, that feels hopeful.
If you are curious, start small. Visit the site, look at past entries, and ask a student what game they would design. That simple question has opened up some good conversations in my classroom. You never know where that might lead. GGJ Next reflects how game jams can support identity, skill growth, and meaningful learning for youth at any level.