2026 GEE!
Learning Game Awards
The GEE! award recognizes excellence in educational game design. The award is judged by international leaders in the field.
Game Applications Due May 17th.
The Long & Short of it.
In the spirit of James Paul Gee’s scholarship, we’ve created an award to recognize best educational video games in the world. Finalists will showcase their games during the Play Make Learn conference. Send us your best!
Award Categories
Formal Learning
Learning games for use in formal school contexts
Judges
Amy Patterson (Chief Program Officer, Urban Arts)
Amanda Siebert-Evenstone (Efficacy Researcher, Age of Learning)
Ray Kimball (Founder and CEO, 42 Educational Games Coaching and Design)
Valentin Briukhanov (Game Director)
Informal Learning
For home, family, museums, libraries, etc.
Judges
Barry Joseph (Barry Joseph Consulting)
Chris Baker (Public Library Consultant / Games & Learning Consultant, WI Department of Public Instruction)
Ashlyn Sparrow (Senior Research Associate, Weston Game Lab Media Arts, Data and Design Center, University of Chicago)
Brendon Trombley (Lead Game Designer, Games for Change)
Analog Games
Board games, card games, or other non-digital games
Judges
Peter McDonald (UW-Madison)
Small and Indie Studios
Studios with <$100k in funding for the game
Judges
Michael Douma (IDEA Games)
Matheus Cezarotto (Assistant Professor, New Mexico State University)
Al Olsen (NYU CREATE Lab)
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
Every year we poll the public and crown one amazing game the People’s Choice recipient.
Judging Criteria
When judging an entry, we ask the following:
Does it Empower Learners?
Does it create Problems Worth Solving?
Does it create Deep Understanding?
Does it work smoothly?
Is it visually interesting?
Is it original?
WHAT DO WE GET?
WHAT DO WE GET?
WHAT DO WE GET?
For the Winners:
A GEE! Award Winner badge to use on your website and promotional materials
Your game featured on the GEE! Award website
The opportunity to talk about your game during a dedicated hybrid session at Play Make Learn
For the Finalists:
A GEE! Award Finalist badge to use on your website and promotional materials.
Your game featured on the GEE! Award website