How game studios work with the UN and NGOs for nature restoration

Last updated: May 14, 2026

Game studios are working with UN initiatives, NGOs, and environmental partners to turn in-game campaigns into real-world nature restoration. These collaborations can support forest recovery, habitat protection, climate action, and player engagement when they are designed with clear goals and credible reporting.

For studios, the opportunity is not only to support environmental causes. It is to create campaigns where players can participate in a shared goal and see how their actions connect to measurable impact outside the game.

In short, game studios usually work with UN initiatives or NGOs by choosing a credible project partner, designing an in-game activation around a clear environmental goal, tracking player participation, and sharing post-campaign impact results with players.

For a deeper look at how impact campaigns can support player engagement and retention, explore our guide on how impact improves game retention across D1, D7, and D30.

Why are game studios working with the United Nations on nature restoration?

The United Nations has called the 2020s a critical decade for restoring damaged ecosystems. Through the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, governments, companies and citizens are encouraged to prevent, halt and reverse land and nature degradation. Game studios see a clear role for themselves in this story.

With more than 3 billion players worldwide, games can make complex topics like nature restoration feel personal and actionable. When studios join initiatives such as the Playing for the Planet Alliance, they commit to greener operations, but also to putting environmental themes inside their games.

For the UN, games are a way to reach audiences that rarely engage with traditional environmental campaigns. For studios, collaboration with UN agencies adds credibility, guidance and access to scientific expertise that keeps campaigns accurate and impactful.

How UN-backed gaming initiatives reach players

The UN Environment Programme facilitates several projects that work directly with the games industry. These are often referred to as UN Environment program games, because they connect UN environmental priorities with the mechanics and storytelling of modern titles.

A good example is the Playing for the Planet Alliance, which is facilitated by UNEP. Member studios commit to integrate green activations into their games, reduce emissions, and support the global environmental agenda.

Other initiatives include:

• Play to Fight the Nature Crisis is an example of how restoration themes can be introduced through interactive experiences connected to the wider #GenerationRestoration message.
• Green Game Jam events that engage millions of players on forests, oceans and ecosystems each year.
• Lists of UN supported games and learning tools that appear on UNEP and UN partner websites, amplifying studios that take part in environmental initiatives.

These collaborations show how UN Environment program games can scale education around nature restoration while keeping the core focus on fun, high quality play.

How NGOs and game studios design impact campaigns

Outside the UN system, many conservation and climate NGOs see games as a powerful channel to reach new supporters. They work with studios through ngo gaming campaigns that combine storytelling, fundraising and education.

An NGO might bring deep knowledge about a forest, reef or species that needs help. The studio then translates that knowledge into missions, quests or limited time events that fit the game world. Together, they choose a clear goal, such as funding a specific nature restoration project or protecting a wildlife corridor.

Typical elements of ngo gaming campaigns include:

• A defined project on the ground, such as restoring mangroves, replanting native trees or rebuilding wetlands.
• In game milestones that unlock donations, for example when the community completes a number of event quests.
• Impact reporting after the campaign, usually through a landing page, social posts or in game messages that show what players achieved.

For more on how environmental partners support credible conservation outcomes, see our guide to NGO partnerships and biodiversity governance.

Nature restoration inside game worlds

Many collaborations focus specifically on how to represent nature restoration inside game worlds. Rather than just mentioning donations in a menu, studios bring restoration work into the core experience.

Examples include:

• Storylines where players heal a damaged landscape and gradually see it return to life.
• Events where virtual forests, coral reefs or grasslands regenerate as community milestones are reached.
• Base building or management systems that reward players for choosing regenerative options, such as rewilding land or restoring wetlands.

These design choices do more than tell players that restoration is important. They let people feel what it means to repair ecosystems and see the benefits unfold, which mirrors the goals of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

When linked with a UN agency or NGO partner, every in game restoration milestone can unlock real funding for tree planting, habitat protection or soil recovery projects. That is where nature restoration moves from fiction into real life.

Global climate action through games

Partnerships with the United Nations and NGOs are also part of a bigger trend toward global climate action through games. Instead of staying neutral on climate, many studios now see climate themes as an opportunity for creativity and leadership.

Recent initiatives include:

• Play2Act, a project where UNDP and PlanetPlay use games to encourage climate friendly behaviour, supported by in game surveys and challenges.
• The Gaming for Climate Action strategy guide, which helps designers build climate themes into their titles responsibly.
• Green Game Jam campaigns where studios highlight forests, coral reefs and other ecosystems, raising funds and planting trees through nature themed missions.

Many of these efforts combine mitigation and restoration. Players might reduce emissions through choices in a climate strategy game while also supporting nature restoration projects funded by the event.

Key steps for studios partnering with the UN or NGOs

If you are a studio considering a partnership with the United Nations or an NGO, a few practical steps can make the process smoother.

1. Define your goals clearly

Decide whether you want the collaboration to focus on nature restoration, climate mitigation, pollution reduction or a mix of these. Clear goals help you choose the right UN initiative or NGO partner and make it easier to communicate impact to players.

2. Choose a credible partner

Look for organisations with a strong track record in the relevant field. UN agencies like UNEP or UNDP and established conservation NGOs can provide project documentation, verification and reporting that build trust with players and stakeholders.

3. Design player first experiences

Even when you work with experts, the game still has to be fun. Start from your core mechanics and audience. Then work with partners to weave environmental themes into natural places inside your game, such as seasonal events, live ops beats or special story arcs.

4. Plan transparent reporting

Before launch, agree on what metrics you will track and how you will share results. Many studios publish post event blogs, in game messages or short videos that show players what their participation funded, from trees planted to hectares of restored land.

Key takeaways about game studios, the UN and NGOs

• The United Nations sees games as a powerful way to reach new audiences for environmental action, especially around nature restoration.
• UN Environment program games and initiatives like the Playing for the Planet Alliance give studios structure, guidance and visibility for green activations.
• Ngo gaming campaigns connect specific projects on the ground with in game events, letting players fund restoration and conservation while they play.
• Studios that join global climate action through games often see stronger engagement and sentiment, because players value purpose driven experiences.

UN and NGO gaming FAQs

Do studios need to be very large to work with the United Nations?

No. While many early members of initiatives like Playing for the Planet are big publishers, smaller studios have also joined UN backed projects and ngo gaming campaigns. What matters most is a serious commitment to impact and the capacity to deliver a credible activation.

What types of projects are usually funded through these campaigns?

Many collaborations focus on nature restoration, such as forest recovery, wetland restoration or coral reef protection. Others support climate mitigation, plastic cleanup or education. The exact mix depends on the UN or NGO partner and the theme of the campaign.

How do players know the impact is real?

UN agencies and established NGOs typically provide clear documentation and post campaign reporting, including trees planted, land restored or emissions avoided. When studios share this information through blogs, impact dashboards or in game messages, players can see the link between their actions and real outcomes.

What is the difference between UN Environment program games and ngo gaming campaigns?

UN Environment program games are usually linked to initiatives led or facilitated by UNEP or other UN agencies, such as the Playing for the Planet Alliance or Generation Restoration tools. Ngo gaming campaigns are partnerships directly with non governmental organisations, for example a wildlife charity or reforestation group.

How can a studio get started with global climate action through games?

A good starting point is to review resources like the Gaming for Climate Action strategy guide, map where environmental themes fit naturally in your titles, and then reach out to relevant UN initiatives or NGOs. From there, you can prototype a small, testable activation before scaling to larger events.