Over 3 billion people play games globally. How can we turn his immense power into a force for good?

Games are already influencing player behaviour and decision-making. This book dispels the often negative perception of gamers and the games they play every day and shows how to harness the medium’s potential. Whether you’re a gamer, in the industry, not in the industry but interested in games or a parent worried about the impact of games on your kids, read this book to:

• Understand the industry and gaming culture and why it lends itself perfectly to tackling global challenges

• Discover how games can be a force for good through real-world examples, underpinned by interviews with leading executives in the industry

• Be inspired to make a positive impact using games

• Recognise that ‘doing good’ corresponds with ‘doing well’ and can drive wider beneficial outcomes such as deeper engagement

Jude Ower MBE has spent the past two decades leveraging games as a force for good, working across industry, corporates and non- profits. She led the worlds largest poll on climate action, all through games, with UNDP, and co-founded the Playing for the Planet Alliance with UNEP.

Mathias Gredal Norvig is the CEO of SYBO, creators of Subway Surfers, the most downloaded game of all time. He advocates for diversity, inclusivity and as much sustainability as possible in a way that inspires millions of players to care while enjoying their favourite games.

Foreword - Introduction -

 Part One: Three Billion Gamers - 1 We All Play Games - 2 An Industry Like No Other - 3 A Playground For All - 

Part Two: Playing For Our Lives - 4 Can Games Be Good For Us? - 5 Levelling Up - Games As A Superpower - 6 Playing To Save The Planet - 7 Engaging With Players - 

Part Three: Gaming For The Future - 8 Doing Well By Doing Good - 9 Changing The World - 10 Good Gaming Guide - Conclusion - Resources - About PlanetPlay -

Acknowledgements - The Authors

Building a legacy is about leaving the planet better than we found it! Gaming For Good explains how gaming can shape human behaviour to transform the worlds biggest challenges into even greater opportunities - from achieving carbon neutrality to how we use the planets finite resources, the answer might be in the games we love to play.

- Bill McDermott, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairman, ServiceNow

Gaming For Good is a brilliant book about how the world of games can save the world! Were now halfway through the most important goals of our time, the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and we really can use cultural mega-trends such as Games to take action today. This book shows how. Read - play - change the world!

- Richard Curtis, Writer, Director and Co-Founder of Comic Relief

The games industry has huge potential to drive massive awareness and action to protect our planet. We are running out of time and global megatrends such as gaming are a great way to inspire generations of all ages. In Gaming For Good, Jude and Mathias use their years of expertise to demystify the industry today and make it practical for all, from working within it to the industry taking action. Whether you know a lot about games or not, this book is a must read if you want to do something big to save our planet.

- Boaz Paldi, Chief Creative Officer (CCO), UNDP

Our planet is facing challenges that our generation has to solve. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is very clear, and with unambitious targets that are not even met, we have to think outside the box. Jude and Mathias do that in Gaming For Good. With facts, passion and examples, they make the case for games perhaps being the media platform that can inspire and enable change. With their massive audiences and attention, game makers are strategically positioned to change the world. They must use their powers wisely, and this book points them in the right direction.

- Jose Maria Figueres, ex-President of Costa Rica and former CEO of World Economic Forum

With a potential audience of 5 billion players by 2030, games are poised to become one of the most impactful forms of entertainment and a powerful vehicle to raise awareness of global issues, like the fight against climate change. I believe games have a unique ability to educate, empower and engage players by immersing them in beautiful virtual environments and showing them how their actions can have a direct impact on the world around them. It is essential we as an industry play our part to continue reducing our environmental footprint while also encouraging our communities to act and lead the change.

- Yves Guillemot, Co-founder and CEO, Ubisoft

In this crucial period of the twenty-first century, the world must unite and turn intention into action to avert climate and nature crises. Gaming has incredible global reach and the potential to inspire change.

- Professor Kieren Mayers, Senior Director of Environment, Social and Governance, Sony Interactive Entertainment

As someone who is passionate about using games for social impact, I found Gaming For Good to be a valuable resource. Jude Ower and Mathias Norvigs conversations with industry leaders about how the industry is tackling real-world issues are both thought-provoking and inspiring. Gaming For Good is a fascinating read that showcases how the games industry can be a force for good. Through interviews with leaders of successful studios, the book highlights practical strategies for making sustainable development a core part of the games industry.

- Nic Walker, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Space Ape Games

Gaming For Good offers a comprehensive examination of the current landscape and major players in impact games, and an exciting look at what the future holds - not only for the gaming industry, but for the large cross-sector community united by a vision to use games and play to make the world a better place.

- Susanna Pollack, CEO, Games for Change

It is encouraging that this book is talking about the opportunity and responsibility the gaming industry has to use its reach to influence positive change in the climate debate. Our lovely planet needs every industry to take responsibility.

- Rene Rechtman, CEO and Founder, Moonbug Entertainment

The planet needs concrete action. Games and digital experiences - low-carbon entertainment - are the approach to degrowth that has the best chances of working. The games industrys incredible talent, passion and experience in building compelling products is such a special capability of our civilisation. Jude and Mathiass book positions it to help solve global issues instead of simply producing "fun".

- David Helgason, Founder, Unity Technologies