Roblox & Games for Change India Host IIT Delhi Game Jam

Video games are sometimes blamed for internet toxicity, but a recent marathon event at IIT Delhi actively worked to flip that script. Over the weekend of March 21-22, 2026, 80 students from 13 colleges across the Delhi NCR region gathered to design, code, and collaborate. Their shared goal was to build engaging Roblox experiences that actively promote healthier, safer, and more positive online communities. Hosted by Games for Change India in partnership with Roblox, the two-day game jam challenged 21 student teams to tackle real-world digital issues head-on, all while competing for a share of an ₹3 lakh prize pool.

The creativity displayed during the felicitation ceremony proved that the students took the challenge to heart. Team "Robusters" took home the first-place prize with Lo siento, Wilson, a beautifully crafted 2D platformer featuring original art. The game tasked players with guiding a lost AI bot named W.L.S.N. safely through the hidden dangers of the internet. Second place was awarded to team "Popsicle Merger" for Frost, a gritty rogue-like survival game set on a post-apocalyptic Earth that forces players to rely heavily on community and collaboration to survive. 

Team "AmongUs" secured third place with Open Waters, a dynamic four-player co-op experience where players must work together to defend their ship while naturally learning about empathy, fighting loneliness, and dodging modern online risks like scams and misinformation. The event also handed out a special "Spirit of the Jam Award" to celebrate the most fun and collaborative participant on the floor.

Designing with Intent and Empathy

What truly made the weekend stand out wasn't just the technical skill, but how deeply the participants understood the human side of the assignment. Angad Singh Malik, Chapter Lead at Games for Change India and a jury member, noted that games are far more than just entertainment; they are the primary medium through which young people learn, imagine, and respond to the real world. 

He praised the students for bringing both immense talent and clear intent to their projects. Fellow jury member Aditya Awasthi from Startup Shrink echoed the sentiment. He also pointed out that the teams didn't simply treat the prompt as a simple, abstract brief but brought a promising mix of creativity and seriousness to genuinely solve how people trust and interact online today.

The initiative also drew strong praise from the higher levels of the gaming industry. Daniel Haun, Senior Manager of Civility & Partnerships at Roblox, said the company was incredibly inspired by the students' imagination. He emphasized that Roblox is proud to support an environment where the next generation of developers can use their skills to build a more inclusive and supportive social fabric. 

Aakash Johry, an Assistant Professor at IIT Delhi’s Department of Design, added that gaming gives young people a highly relatable, fun medium to explore topics that actually matter to them, showing the true potential of empowering youth to build safe online spaces.

This New Delhi gathering is just the beginning of a much larger push. The jam was organized in partnership with the Eight Goals One Foundation, IIT Delhi’s Department of Design, and the IIT Delhi G.A.M.E.S. Lab. It ties directly into the global Games for Change x Roblox Challenge, which features parallel events currently taking place in South Korea and Brazil.

For the Indian gaming scene, this event kicks off a year-long calendar aimed at proving that interactive media and video games are essential tools for education, empathy, and an optimistic digital future.