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The QS ImpACT Skills Challenge is a free global competition, advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through games for good. It empowers youth worldwide to tackle the SDGs using digital games as tools for social innovation, creative collaboration, and community engagement.
It’s a unique experiential learning opportunity, where global youth unite with one mission: to build games that change the world.
This year’s challenge was proudly supported by our Title Sponsor: Zoom Communications, Inc., and Education Sponsors: Arizona State University, University of Exeter, Unity Technologies, J.P. Morgan, Netcore Cloud and Endless Games.
In the 2025 edition of the Skills Challenge, over 210 youth teams from 45+ countries and 70+ universities participated, joining one of two tracks - Beginner (No-Code) or Advance (Coding). With support from partners and expert educators, these teams of young people received free training to design and develop digital games aimed at raising awareness and driving SDG-focused impact in their communities.
“Having the chance to work with university-level materials in the Skills Challenge Resource Library was great for us as we are students and don’t usually have the chance to work with such high-quality materials. Becoming the runner-up team means that our local issues are heard and also the future perspective that hard work really pays off.”, said Team radio!ACTIVE, Runner-Up Beginner Track from Germany.
The challenge lasted 2 weeks, during which collaboration, expert-led training, and meaningful game design brought bold, youth-led solutions to life. Out of the numerous submissions from teams around the world, 21 high-impact games were selected as finalists, standing out for their innovation, impact, and storytelling.
This year, we saw games tackling themes like organic farming, recycling, forest conservation, fair trade, marine pollution, gender equality, improving public health, and more - each game rooted in a real-world issue and designed for positive change.
The winners of the QS ImpACT Skills Challenge 2025 are:
Beginner (No-Code) Track
Winner: A Light in the Dark: A story-driven game by a student team from Metropolia University of Applied Sciences in Finland, inspired by Florence Nightingale, a pioneer of modern nursing, that explores gender equality, public health, education, and peace (SDGs 3, 4, 5 & 16) through a historical lens, based on the Crimean War. [Watch the video here]
Runner-up: radio!ACTIVE: An educational game designed to raise awareness about radioactive waste and environmental safety (SDGs 3, 11 & 12) through immersive, reality-based storytelling, by a youth team from Germany. [Watch the video here]
2nd Runner-up: Earth Warriors - The Green Rebellion: A fast-paced no-code action game by a youth team from Symbiosis Centre for Information Technology in India, set in a polluted city where players battle deforestation and waste to restore ecological balance and inspire climate action (SDGs 11, 12, 13 &15). [Watch the video here]
Advance (Coding) Track
Winner: Green Rise: A 3D educational game by a student team from Universidad Militar Nueva Granada in Colombia, that empowers underserved youth to build greener cities by learning about recycling, composting, and reforestation (SDGs 11, 12, 13 & 15) through interactive gameplay. [Watch the video here]
Runner-up: EcoTTD: A reimagined OpenTTD game mod by students from IAE Paris-Est in France, turning urban transport planning into a sustainability challenge, encouraging players to develop greener cities using electric trains, renewable energy, and recycling strategies (SDGs 7, 9, 11, 12, 13). [Watch the video here]
2nd Runner-up: SDG Farmer Sim: A thoughtful 3D farming simulation by a youth team from Ghana, guiding players through the journey of a young Ghanaian woman making real-world decisions around agriculture, gender equity, and sustainability (SDGs 2, 5. 12 & 13). [Watch the video here]
When young people are given the tools, they don’t just play games. They build them to change the world for the better.
“Being part of this international challenge helped us see how our project can have an impact beyond our local community. This experience reminded us that games can be more than entertainment. They can inspire awareness, education and action.”, said Team GreenRise, Winner of Advanced Track from Colombia.
The QS ImpACT Skills Challenge 2025 may be over, but the mission to build a better world through game-based innovation is just getting started.
We’re already gearing up for another high-impact edition in 2026, where more youth, more ideas, and more games will come together to advance the SDGs in bold, creative ways.
Registrations for Skills Challenge 2026 open early next year! Join the QS ImpACT Global Community and be part of the movement to game for good.
The QS ImpACT Skills Challenge is a free global competition where you get to create digital games that can tackle one or more UN Sustainable Development Goals. You can participate regardless of your coding skills and design games using creativity, collaboration, and expert guidance that could raise awareness and inspire real-world change.
The next QS ImpACT Skills Challenge 2026 is expected to take place in Spring 2026, with exact dates to be announced on the official QS ImpACT website. Registrations will open in early 2026, so be sure to sign up for updates and stay informed.
By taking part in the QS ImpACT Skills Challenge, you’ll gain way more than just a certificate. You’ll get hands-on training and guidance from experts in areas like game design, tech, and SDG (sustainability) literacy. Participating in the challenge will also offer a great chance to boost your confidence, grow your cross-cultural communication skills, and connect with an international network of students, mentors, and industry experts.
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Youth, Games, and Global Goals: The QS ImpACT Skills Challenge 2025
Krusha K
Updated Jun 13, 2025Save
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The QS ImpACT Skills Challenge is a free global competition, advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through games for good. It empowers youth worldwide to tackle the SDGs using digital games as tools for social innovation, creative collaboration, and community engagement.
It’s a unique experiential learning opportunity, where global youth unite with one mission: to build games that change the world.
This year’s challenge was proudly supported by our Title Sponsor: Zoom Communications, Inc., and Education Sponsors: Arizona State University, University of Exeter, Unity Technologies, J.P. Morgan, Netcore Cloud and Endless Games.
In the 2025 edition of the Skills Challenge, over 210 youth teams from 45+ countries and 70+ universities participated, joining one of two tracks - Beginner (No-Code) or Advance (Coding). With support from partners and expert educators, these teams of young people received free training to design and develop digital games aimed at raising awareness and driving SDG-focused impact in their communities.
“Having the chance to work with university-level materials in the Skills Challenge Resource Library was great for us as we are students and don’t usually have the chance to work with such high-quality materials. Becoming the runner-up team means that our local issues are heard and also the future perspective that hard work really pays off.”, said Team radio!ACTIVE, Runner-Up Beginner Track from Germany.
The challenge lasted 2 weeks, during which collaboration, expert-led training, and meaningful game design brought bold, youth-led solutions to life. Out of the numerous submissions from teams around the world, 21 high-impact games were selected as finalists, standing out for their innovation, impact, and storytelling.
This year, we saw games tackling themes like organic farming, recycling, forest conservation, fair trade, marine pollution, gender equality, improving public health, and more - each game rooted in a real-world issue and designed for positive change.
The winners of the QS ImpACT Skills Challenge 2025 are:
Beginner (No-Code) Track
Winner: A Light in the Dark: A story-driven game by a student team from Metropolia University of Applied Sciences in Finland, inspired by Florence Nightingale, a pioneer of modern nursing, that explores gender equality, public health, education, and peace (SDGs 3, 4, 5 & 16) through a historical lens, based on the Crimean War. [Watch the video here]
Runner-up: radio!ACTIVE: An educational game designed to raise awareness about radioactive waste and environmental safety (SDGs 3, 11 & 12) through immersive, reality-based storytelling, by a youth team from Germany. [Watch the video here]
2nd Runner-up: Earth Warriors - The Green Rebellion: A fast-paced no-code action game by a youth team from Symbiosis Centre for Information Technology in India, set in a polluted city where players battle deforestation and waste to restore ecological balance and inspire climate action (SDGs 11, 12, 13 &15). [Watch the video here]
Advance (Coding) Track
Winner: Green Rise: A 3D educational game by a student team from Universidad Militar Nueva Granada in Colombia, that empowers underserved youth to build greener cities by learning about recycling, composting, and reforestation (SDGs 11, 12, 13 & 15) through interactive gameplay. [Watch the video here]
Runner-up: EcoTTD: A reimagined OpenTTD game mod by students from IAE Paris-Est in France, turning urban transport planning into a sustainability challenge, encouraging players to develop greener cities using electric trains, renewable energy, and recycling strategies (SDGs 7, 9, 11, 12, 13). [Watch the video here]
2nd Runner-up: SDG Farmer Sim: A thoughtful 3D farming simulation by a youth team from Ghana, guiding players through the journey of a young Ghanaian woman making real-world decisions around agriculture, gender equity, and sustainability (SDGs 2, 5. 12 & 13). [Watch the video here]
Testimonials
When young people are given the tools, they don’t just play games. They build them to change the world for the better.
“Being part of this international challenge helped us see how our project can have an impact beyond our local community. This experience reminded us that games can be more than entertainment. They can inspire awareness, education and action.”, said Team GreenRise, Winner of Advanced Track from Colombia.
The QS ImpACT Skills Challenge 2025 may be over, but the mission to build a better world through game-based innovation is just getting started.
We’re already gearing up for another high-impact edition in 2026, where more youth, more ideas, and more games will come together to advance the SDGs in bold, creative ways.
Registrations for Skills Challenge 2026 open early next year! Join the QS ImpACT Global Community and be part of the movement to game for good.
For more information, please contact us on [email protected]
Frequently Asked Questions
The QS ImpACT Skills Challenge is a free global competition where you get to create digital games that can tackle one or more UN Sustainable Development Goals. You can participate regardless of your coding skills and design games using creativity, collaboration, and expert guidance that could raise awareness and inspire real-world change.
The next QS ImpACT Skills Challenge 2026 is expected to take place in Spring 2026, with exact dates to be announced on the official QS ImpACT website. Registrations will open in early 2026, so be sure to sign up for updates and stay informed.
By taking part in the QS ImpACT Skills Challenge, you’ll gain way more than just a certificate. You’ll get hands-on training and guidance from experts in areas like game design, tech, and SDG (sustainability) literacy. Participating in the challenge will also offer a great chance to boost your confidence, grow your cross-cultural communication skills, and connect with an international network of students, mentors, and industry experts.
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