Young Game Designers

Inspiring and celebrating the next generation of game designers.

Entries are now closed. Please email ygd@bafta.org with any enquiries regarding entries for 2025.

Young Game Designers

Four young people casually dressed, sat on the edge of desks surrounded by gaming equipment.
Credit: Alecsandra Dragoi
BAFTA Young Game Designers Winners 2023 L-R: Max Whistlecroft, Alex Phillips, Ava Rogerson & Arlo Freer.
See 2025's concept finalists See 2025's making finalists

Want to kick start your career in games? This is the place for you.

Every year BAFTA runs the Young Game Designers competition, supported in 2025 by Criterion Games, EE, Hasbro, PlayStation and Warner Bros. Games, to inspire those who are passionate about games.

Creating a space for imaginations to thrive, it’s a chance for 10–18-year-olds to design, develop and present new game ideas to the world.

What’s in it for you?

You’ll get a unique platform to showcase your talent as the competition opens up a world of creative opportunities and inspiration…

  • Ever thought about making games when you leave school? The competition can help you start making those dreams a reality
  • Are you an aspiring designer? Get inspiration by reading about past winning games and testing out our game idea generator
  • Be in with a chance of receiving a BAFTA Young Game Designers Award and access to once-in-a-lifetime experiences with top game makers and industry professionals

See the 2024 winners

Read about the winners

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YGD Competition: The Categories

GAME CONCEPT AWARD

Reckon you’ve got a brilliant game idea up your sleeve? Spend hours lost in the world of your imagination? Love to draw or are simply brimming with story ideas? The YGD Game Concept Award is for you!

Entrants for the Game Concept Award must submit an original game idea created by themselves or with a team of up to two other people.

Entries will be judged on gameplay design, creativity and suitability for chosen games platform. It’s not required to have good drawing skills to enter the competition, as the entry will be judged on the idea you present to us.

There are two awards within this category – one for 10 to 14 year olds, and one for 15 to 18 year olds.

GAME MAKING AWARD

Are you skilful at Scratch, crazy-good at Kodu or fantastic at Flash? If you’re already making your own games, take it to the next level by entering the Game Making Award.

Entrants for the Game Making Award must submit an original game created by themselves or with a team of up to two other people.

Entries will be judged on gameplay design, creativity and suitability for your chosen games platform. Check the T&Cs to see what software you can use to build your game. 

There are two awards within this category – one for 10 to 14 year olds, and one for 15 to 18 year olds.

I’M KEEN! WHAT DO I DO NOW? 

First, check out our resources below.

Here you’ll find tips on creating a great entry, and for help and information on the process of submitting your entry. If you’re a teacher, you’ll find lesson plans and other materials to bring YGD to your classroom.

Sign up to our monthly newsletter for all the latest news and how-to videos to help complete your winning application.

Then, when you’re ready, register for a BAFTA account to get ready for entries opening.

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Resources

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Want help with your idea?
Try the Idea Generator

Young Game Designer FAQs

  • UK residents (including residents of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man)  aged 10 – 18 years old during the school year that began 2 September 2024 (19 August 2024 in Scotland).

    Entrant Criteria:

    • Must be resident in the UK.
    • If under the age of 16 must have at least one parent or legal guardian resident in the UK.
    • Must not be closely related to a BAFTA staff member.

    Entering as a team:

    Entrants can apply as an individual, in a pair, or in a team of three, but only one entry per individual per category can be submitted. I.e. if you are entering as part of one pair or a team, you cannot enter as part of another one.

    If entering as part of a team, all members must be in the same age bracket (10-14yrs or 15-18yrs).

    Teams and individuals can enter both Game Making and Game Concept Categories, but they must enter with different game ideas. You cannot enter both categories with the same game.

    Please note: BAFTA reserves the right to request proof of age for entrants as well as parent’s or guardian’s consent and necessary state of health.

  • All applications must be done via the online submission form. Entries for 2025 are now closed.

  • Up to three people can enter as part of a team. You can apply as an individual, in a pair, or in a team of three, but only one entry per individual per category can be submitted. This means if you are entering as part of one pair or a team, you cannot enter as part of another one.

    If entering as part of a team all members must be in the same age bracket (10-14yrs or 15-18yrs)

    Teams and individuals can enter both Game Making and Game Concept Categories, but they must enter with different game ideas (you cannot enter both categories with the same game).

  • All entries are assessed by industry experts. 

    Entries for the Game Concept award will be judged on gameplay design, creativity and suitability for chosen games platform.

    Entries for the Game Making award must have at least one playable level and will be judged on game build, gameplay experience, creativity and suitability for chosen platform.

    For further Entry Requirements please refer to our Terms & Conditions.

  • Great! We have a collection of resources including session activities and worksheets available to support those entering the competition. Our worksheets are also suitable for entrants to enter them as part of their ‘supporting materials’.

    There are also separate Teacher Resources that include a classroom poster, letter to parents and information about teacher workshops.  You can request an idea generator card pack from ygd@bafta.org

  • This means you’ve made it into the top ten games in your category! Amazing! Someone from our team will be in touch and let you know all the details you need to know about participation in the virtual Ceremony, prizes etc.

    Telephone calls will be made to the short listed entrants and their parent/guardian in order to check eligibility. Telephone calls may be recorded for reference purposes.

    Participants may be requested to provide proof of age before being allowed to proceed with the competition.

    If an entrant is unable to be contacted after reasonable attempts have been made to do so, BAFTA reserves right to offer their place to the next best entrant. Unsuccessful entrants will receive an automatic notification after judging is completed.

    Winners and shortlisted entrants will be expected to take part in post-competition publicity for BAFTA.

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