Nurture Yourself with Nature: celebrating student creativity with Games for Change
29th August 2025
At Earthwatch Europe, we believe that reconnecting with the natural world is key for our mental and emotional wellbeing. So we were thrilled to partner with Games for Change on this year’s student challenge theme: ‘Nurture Yourself with Nature.’
The challenge
Students were asked to consider how nature can improve young people’s mental health and well-being and ways it can help reduce eco-anxiety.
The challenge asked students to create a game that teaches players about connecting with nature and guide them through five pathways of nature connection: senses, emotions, beauty, meaning, and compassion (University of Derby, 2022). We wanted the games to spark curiosity, build resilience, and link players’ hearts and minds to nature.
We’re excited to celebrate the three winning student games. They stood out for their creativity, compassion, and strong nature-based storytelling. Each game explores how interacting with the nature can offer calm, inspiration and joy.
The winners
Natural Pathway Adventure: Handling Eco Anxiety
By Finn A, Clint Small Middle School, Austin, Texas
In Natural Pathway Adventure, players explore five pathways to feel connected to nature. They learn to manage eco-anxiety by getting involved with the outdoors. Created in Wick Editor, the game mixes gameplay with animated storytelling. This approach boosts awareness of the natural world and brings joy.
“I thought Nurture Yourself with Nature was the theme I could best adapt to a video game… it really made me believe in the cause,” shared Finn.
Players tackle eco-anxiety by connecting with nature in fun and mindful ways.
With Finn noting that “Being outside is necessary for good mental health”.
To Turn a New Leaf
By Sophia G, Basking Ridge, New Jersey
In this scenic role play game, players start an errand which soon turns into an enchanting journey through meadows, forests, and rivers. Players find keepsakes and meet kind characters, uncovering stories hidden in the landscape. The game encourages us to slow down and enjoy small moments. It reflects nature’s quiet wisdom.
“Even in an increasingly noisy world, nature has always served as a calming outlet for me,” Sophia said. “Building my game allowed me to rediscover the magic of nature and the outside world.”
Sophia brought her characters to life with dialogue and emotional stories, inspired by games like Paper Mario. The game encourages players to slow down and cherish the quiet wisdom of the natural world.
Stop. Water the Roses
By Jane A, Ziad E, Eglis C and Ari Z, Gainesville, Florida
This clever 2D game flips the script on typical gameplay. Instead of rushing through levels, players are encouraged to pause, identify and care for plants, and grow their “plant power”.
“We wanted to create a game for this theme because we feel as though nature is looked over,” the team explained. “We had the opportunity to do horticultural therapy at our university, and this was a good opportunity to share what we learned.”
The game aims to remind us that taking time to care for ourselves and the world can be very nurturing.
The students found it a unique creative challenge to design a game that rewarded presence over progress. They said, “Designing a central mechanic that encouraged staying still was a fun challenge.”
Why these games matter
These students created experiences that highlighted the five pathways to nature connectedness. Each game showed how digital storytelling can teach us about the natural world. It also helps players pause and reflect, letting them benefit from nature’s restorative power.
At Earthwatch Europe, we proudly support the next generation of changemakers. They harness creativity and compassion to create a healthier, more connected world for people and the planet.
Congratulations again to Finn, Sophia, Jane, Ziad, Eglis, and Ari! As a tribute to their creativity, Earthwatch will plant a tree in a UK Tiny Forest for each winning game in the 2025/26 planting season.
Find out more about the winning games.
