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Aspiring movie director Himani Chonkar, age 11, from Waukesha, Wisconsin, shows a clear sense of cinematic vision in her original video game concept, STEM Obstacle Course. Positioned as the “ultimate challenge” in gaming, the players are offered a preview of upcoming levels at a distance and the opportunity to select the avatars and abilities best suited … 

The dynamic developing duo is at it again! In 2016, 14-year-old Lucas Armand of Malvern, Pennsylvania and 14-year-old Shrey Pandya of Exton, Pennsylvania wowed STEM Challenge judges with their science-themed game, Outbreak: Cellular Warfare, winning them the Nat Geo Explore Middle School Playable Game title. This year, the teammates took home their second National STEM Video Game Challenge victory, earning the … 

Inspired by a wide variety of movies and games, the top-down shooter game Keeper is an ode to classic 16-bit era video games featuring vibrant graphics, music, and sounds. Created by 16-year-old Jude Morey of Beech Grove, Indiana, Keeper took home the High School Open Platform title in the 2017 National STEM Video Game Challenge. “I started … 

Inspired to create a video game that would engage young people while fostering ecological responsibility, Geneva Heyward from Corona, New York, developed Green Hero. “The idea came to me when I was researching different ways to stop climate change and better the environment,” explains the 17-year-old. “To make it more appealing for children, I decided the … 

It was a love of dinosaurs that sparked inspiration for 15-year-old Mason Felton’s original video game design, Extinction. Integrating rich custom backgrounds and thoughtfully leveled gameplay, the game invites players to navigate Earth as a dinosaur named Jeff, who, despite his omnivore upbringing, aims to avoid meat whenever possible. The peaceful reptile’s perilous journey through … 

Face off with real-life cybersecurity scenarios in 14-year-old Pranav Patil’s original game design, Cyber Champion. After participating in CyberPatriot, a national cybersecurity competition in which students configure systems to be secure, Pranav was determined to educate others on the vulnerabilities of the cyber world. “I wanted to create a fun and simple way for kids to learn … 

Commended by the judges for exceptional storytelling, 13-year-old Kyle Roke’s game, Artificial, invites players along on a robot’s intense, heartfelt journey to self-discovery. With over 40 levels, patience and problem-solving skills are integral for success. Thanks to his attention to detail and meticulous gameplay development, the Foxboro, Massachusetts-based student took home the Middle School Gamestar Mechanic title in the 2017 National STEM Video Game Challenge. … 

Journey into the depths of an ancient tomb as you navigate The Pyramid, an intricate platform game rich with Egyptian mythology, secret levels, and powerful spells. Created by Parker, Colorado-based teammates John Korhel (age 16), Alex Lawrence (age 16), and John Ripple (age 16), The Pyramid was awarded the High School Team Open Platform … 

With the hope of bettering humanity on both a local and global level, Vineland, New Jersey-based teammates Liakadja Whitesell (age 12), Ruth Elahi (age 13), and Hannah Tamagni (age 13) created The Hunger Game, a story-driven platformer. In The Hunger Game, players move through each level learning about ways to contribute to their community. … 

In their haunting and elaborate game design, Washington, DC-based teammates Owen Cain (age 15), Doanna Nguyen (age 16), Gabriel Stevanus (age 16), and Tochi Ukegbu (age 16) ask players to step into the shoes of someone who recently took their own life, and has been given a chance to explore the life of someone else …