Project

Gamebridge

A group watches a video game on a screen. A person stands nearby, smiling and talking. A "gamebridge" logo is displayed in the corner.

Watch the Gamebridge launch video

Hosted annually by ARU, Gamebridge festival helps FE / HE students and graduates gain additional skills, understanding, and opportunities for a career in game-related industries.

Bringing together experts, leading games companies, and students from across the country, Gamebridge aims to remove barriers and help young people plan their careers in the gaming industry - one of the fastest growing creative sectors in the UK.

Gamebridge is free to attend, and also offers various prizes for the best work by teams or individuals. In 2025, over £5,000 of prize money was up for grabs for winning submissions. You can see the 2025 submission guidelines on itch.io, but remember awards categories and prizes are subject to change from year to year.

Gamebridge 2025

A young woman in a white dress energetically descends lecture theatre stairs, surrounded by smiling people seated.
A panel of five people in front of an audience, with images on a giant screen behind them.
Young man wearing headphones, playing a video game on a computer with two other people nearby.
A man speaks enthusiastically to a group of people at an event, standing in front of a Jagex banner with colourful graphics and a QR code.
Ayoung  woman uses a stylus to draw on a digital tablet, with other people working in the background.
Young man with long curly hair giving thumbs up, seated in a lecture hall with others. They wear a white t-shirt and glasses.
A young man wearing a VR headset and headphones stands in a room with others, holding a controller.
A man in a white shirt and glasses working at a computer, focusing intently on the screen
A group of people engaging in conversation at a busy indoor event, with colorful banners in the background.
A young woman and man and an older man attentively look at a computer screen
A Rebellion rep with a pink lanyard talks to two people at a booth with a "#JoinTheRebellion" sign in the background.
Young men working on digital art at a table with laptops and drawing tablets.
Young woman with pink hair playing a video game on a computer, seated next to another person. A third person sits nearby.
A Jagex rep in a black shirt speaks to a group at an event, standing near a colorful "JAGEX" banner with a QR code.
Three people engaging in conversation at an event, with a colourful banner in the background. One is wearing a hat and holding a tablet.
Two Frontier reps at a recruitment booth with banners featuring a dinosaur and a spaceship, with promotional materials on the table.in front of them
ARU prize winner Esmee Purcell going to collect her award Presentation by Frontier Developments Playing games in the open access area Jagex rep talking with attendees Getting hands-on with a WACOM tablet Attendee showing his approval Trying out equipment in the VR Showroom Finding time to work on a project Exploring the exhibition Games bring together people of all ages Rebellion rep with attendees Working as a team Trying out the games Jagex are one of ~50 games companies based in Cambridge A chance for ARU staff and company reps to network The Frontier Developments stand

2025 ARU Award Winners

Two people stand smiling, holding an award. They are between two banners with various sponsor logos at a student games festival.

Owen Monaghan, BSc (Hons) Computer Games Technology

Technical excellence winner: £500 for “Starship Defender”

Two women smiling and holding an award at a gaming festival, standing between two sponsor banners.

Esmee Purcell, BA (Hons) Computer Games Art

3D Environment Art Winner: £500 for "Night Owl Swamp"

Two people smiling and holding an award between them at a student games festival, standing in front of banners with various sponsor logos.

Sunny Turner, BA (Hons) Computer Games Art

3D Environment Art Runner-Up: £250 for "Polgara's Kitchen"

Four people stand smiling in front of Gamebridge festival banners; one holds an award plaque.

MSc Computer Games Development team

Best Team-Project Runner-Up: £400 for "Farm Fiends"

Where Now?

A game controller icon next to the word "gamebridge" in white text on a purple background.External siteGamebridge

A festival specifically aimed at further and higher education students / graduates looking for a career in the games industry.

Two young women watching a computer screen displaying a colorful video game scene.ARU websiteGames at ARU

See info and videos about all our currently available undergraduate games degrees

A gradient game controller icon with a blue plus on the left and pink circles on the right, set against a dark blue background.LinkedInGamebridge

Follow us on LinkedIn for more info about the prizes available, the industry talks and workshops, portfolio reviews, our pitching competition and much more!