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Top 6 Social Impact Games 2025

  • Writer: Genna Revell
    Genna Revell
  • Jul 23
  • 2 min read

Updated: Jul 24

Games can do more than entertain - they can change minds, spark empathy, and start conversations that matter.

Here are six titles from other studios that have inspired us with their emotional depth, cultural impact, and award-winning storytelling. 1. That Dragon, Cancer – Numinous Games

A poetic, devastating interactive tribute to the creators’ son who battled terminal cancer. It turns grief into something very personal, and unforgettable.

🎖️ BAFTA Game Innovation Award (2017)

🎖️ The Game Awards – Games for Impact (2016)


That Dragon, Cancer “A heartbreaking tribute that transforms grief into a poetic, playable journey.”

2. Sea of Solitude – Jo-Mei Games

A haunting exploration of loneliness, anxiety, and emotional isolation. As Kay navigates a submerged city shaped by her inner demons, players confront what it means to be human and to heal.

🎖️ Games for Change – Most Significant Impact (2020)


Sea of Solitude “Navigate a flooded world shaped by fear and loneliness — and discover healing.”

3. Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna) – Upper One Games and E-Line Media

A gorgeous puzzle platformer co-created with Alaska Native storytellers. It preserves Indigenous culture through interactive myth and gameplay.

🎖️ BAFTA Winner – Best Debut Game (2015)

🎖️ Game for Change – Game of the Year (2015)


Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna) “An Arctic adventure rooted in Indigenous wisdom and cultural storytelling.”

4. Umfeld – Hochschule RheinMain

A raw, award-winning game exploring domestic violence from the perspective of bystanders. Subtle, serious, and deeply human.

🎖️ Games for Change – Best in Impact (2024)


Umfeld “Witness domestic violence through the eyes of bystanders in this powerful narrative.”

5. Life Is Strange – Dontnod Entertainment

A choice-driven narrative that tackles bullying, trauma, mental health, and LGBTQ+ identity with empathy and style.

🎖️ Peabody-Facebook Futures of Media Award (2016)

🎖️ BAFTA Games – Best Story (2016)


Life Is Strange “Every choice matters in this bold exploration of trauma, identity, and belonging.”

6. This War of Mine – 11 bit studios

A gritty survival game that puts you in the shoes of civilians trying to endure the horrors of war. It forces tough moral decisions and highlights the true cost of conflict.

🎖️ Games for Change – Best Gameplay (2017)

🎖️ British Academy Games Award – Game Beyond Entertainment (2017)

Content note: Rated 18+. Includes war-related violence, emotional distress, and moral dilemmas.


This War of Mine “A civilian perspective on war that forces impossible moral decisions.”

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