SGS&C Announces 2024 Winners

The 2024 Serious Games Showcase & Challenge (SGS&C) is excited to announce the winners of this year’s competition, recognizing exceptional games that push the boundaries of education, training, and simulation. The winners were selected for their innovation, creativity, and impactful contributions to the serious gaming industry.

Congratulations to the 2024 Serious Games Showcase & Challenge winners in the following categories:

• Best Government Audience Serious Game: The Plastic Pipeline by The Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars, Serious Games Initiative, and The China Environment Forum
• Best General Audience Serious Game: Deepfake Elicitation by BridgeFour
• Best Student-Developed Serious Game: Flooded Folds by Team Paper at the University of Florida
• Best Serious Game Innovation: The PEACEGAME by CRISP – Conflict Transformation and Principles for Peace Foundation
• Students’ Choice Best Serious Game: The Plastic Pipeline by The Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars, Serious Games Initiative, and The China Environment Forum
• People’s Choice Best Serious Game: Land Engagement Adjudication Platform (LEAP) by Cadets at the USAF Academy and AFRL Gaming Research Integration for Learning Laboratory (GRILL) for the Multi-Domain Laboratory at USAF Academy Strategy & Warfare Center

Matt Becchio, IPT Lead for the SGS&C, said, “Each of these games stood out for their innovation, creativity, and impact in advancing the field of serious games. The winning games not only demonstrate technical excellence but also the power of interactive experiences to create meaningful learning and real-world impact.”

SGS&C continues to be a driving force in the advancement of interactive technologies that inspire, educate, and solve real-world problems. They essential tools for transforming how we approach learning, training, and engagement across industries.

“By blending entertainment with educational objectives, these games empower users to gain valuable skills, enhance decision-making, and simulate real-world scenarios in a safe and controlled environment,” said Jennifer McNamara, SGS&C director. “The SGS&C is proud to support the development of these innovative games, which are shaping the future of immersive learning and making a lasting impact on education, policy, and technology.” The impact of SGS&C goes beyond the introduction of new ideas for addressing our industry’s training and assessment challenges, it brings an entire community of new developers, often first time I/ITSEC attendees, to the defense M&S community. “I hope our conference attendees spent the time to connect with these potential new partners and remember them when future game-based procurements are issued, the games and company information from all of our events are featured on the SGS&C website and I’d be happy to help anyone contact with the finalists or winners,” said McNamara.

Game submission for 2025 opens in July in preparation for the 2025 SGS&C at I/ITSEC, Dec. 1-5. More information on the Challenge, as well as insightful information on each of the games, can be found at www.SGSChallenge.org.