About the Championship 2025-26

The Game Coding Championship is not just a competition. it is a comprehensive learning ecosystem designed to nurture young talents in technology, coding, and creativity. This season, 2025-26, brings together students and young developers from across regions to learn, build, showcase, and compete in game development projects.

Unleash your creativity, sharpen your coding skills, and compete with the brightest young minds in the ultimate Game Coding Championship!

This exciting competition is designed to train, challenge, and showcase studentsโ€™ abilities in game design, coding, and innovation.

Vision & Philosophy

The championship is built on the idea that coding should be fun, practical, and creative. Games are a perfect medium to teach coding, logic, and problem-solving while encouraging innovation, teamwork, and critical thinking.

  • Vision: To create a community of young, skilled game developers who are confident, creative, and ready for the future of technology.
  • Mission: To empower students with hands-on experience in game coding, from ideation to final presentation, while fostering creativity, innovation, and collaboration.

Core Objectives

1. Skill Development:

  • Build coding, programming, and algorithmic thinking skills.
  • Teach participants how to use popular game development platforms (Scratch, Unity, Roblox, Python-based frameworks).

2. Creativity & Innovation:

  • Encourage designing unique game concepts with engaging gameplay.
  • Foster problem-solving through interactive projects.

3. Exposure & Networking:

  • Connect participants with industry mentors, judges, and peers.
  • Provide a platform for students to showcase their talent nationally.

4. Recognition & Rewards:

  • Award top-performing participants with trophies, scholarships, and certificates.
  • Motivate participants to pursue further opportunities in STEM and game development.

Our Sponsors

What Will I Win?

Best Game

Win Prizes, Scholarships, Certificate of Participation & many other goodies!

Who Can Join?

Juniors (6-10)

New to coding? Start with Scratch or Blockly!

Seniors (11-18)

Ready for advanced tools like Unity, Python, or app development? This is your stage!

Seniors (11-18)

Ready for advanced tools like Unity, Python, or app development? This is your stage!

Stages of the Competition

Stage 1
Training & Guidance (Octโ€“Nov 2025)

Format: Online (2-hour session)

Objective: Learn the basics of game coding, design thinking, and project building.

Outcome: Participants will be ready to start building their own game project.

  • Focus:
    • Game logic & mechanics
    • Coding fundamentals
    • Creativity in storytelling & design
  • Stage 2
    Project Presentation (Dec 8, 2025)

    Format: Online presentation

    Objective: Showcase your game project to the panel of experts.

    Outcome: Shortlisted projects will qualify for the Grand Finale

  • Focus:
    • Game play demonstration
    • Code explanation
    • Creativity & innovation
  • Stage 3
    The Grand Finale (Jan 2026 - 3rd Week)

    Format: Live event at a venue (to be announced)

    Objective: Compete live with the top participants for the championship title.

    Outcome: Winners crowned as Game Coding Champions 2025โ€“26

  • Focus:
    • Final presentation & live demo
    • Jury Q&A session
    • Awards & recognition ceremony
  • Eligibility

    • Age Limit: 6 โ€“ 16 years old
    • Team Size: Minimum 3 members, maximum 5 members
    • Participation Mode: School teams, coding clubs, or independent teams (with parental consent if under 12).
    • Entry Fee: AED 10/- per student

    Why Compete?

    • ๐Ÿ… Global Recognition: Certificates, trophies, and featured on ICLโ€™s hall of fame.
    • ๐Ÿ’ป Tech Prizes: Gadgets, scholarships, and exclusive developer merch.
    • ๐ŸŒ Real Impact: Your project could inspire real change!
    • ๐Ÿ”— Open-Source Legacy: Contribute to a collaborative tech future.

    How to Submit?

    1. Demo Video (3โ€“5 min): Showcase your projectโ€™s magic.
    2. Source Code + Docs: Upload to GitHub/GitLab and share the link.
    3. Theme Alignment: Ensure your project fits the challenge.
    Submit via ICL Portal before the deadline!

    Why Join the International Coding League?

    • โœ… Global Network: Connect with coders from 50+ countries.
    • โœ… Portfolio Boost: Add a standout project to your resume.
    • โœ… Mentorship: Get feedback from tech experts.
    • โœ… Future Skills: Learn teamwork, problem-solving, and cutting-edge tech.

    ๐ŸŒฟ Eco-Friendly Exploration: Embark on a Green Adventure! ๐ŸŒ

    Get ready to dive into the lush world of sustainability and embark on an "Eco-Friendly Quest" for this year's game development competition! We're thrilled to see how your creativity can intertwine with eco-conscious practices to create an unforgettable gaming experience. Here are some hints and ideas to guide you on this green adventure.

    Theme Overview:

    In the "Eco-Friendly Exploration," your mission is to develop a game that not only entertains but also educates players on the importance of sustainability. Think of it as a journey through a virtual world where eco-conscious decisions, renewable energy, and environmental stewardship are central to the gameplay.

    Hints and Ideas:

    • ๐ŸŒณ Green Landscapes: Design vibrant game environments with lush greenery, eco-friendly cities, and sustainable communities.
    • โ™ป๏ธ Resource Management: Implement gameplay mechanics that challenge players to wisely manage resources, reduce waste, and make environmentally friendly choices.
    • ๐ŸŒŠ Ocean Conservation: Explore underwater realms and address issues like plastic pollution, overfishing, and the importance of preserving marine ecosystems.
    • ๐ŸŒž Renewable Energy Challenges: Integrate quests that involve harnessing renewable energy sources, and promoting solar, wind, or hydropower in the game world.
    • ๐ŸŒ Global Collaboration: Create opportunities for players to collaborate globally, emphasizing the interconnectedness of environmental efforts on a larger scale.
    • ๐Ÿšด Sustainable Transportation: Incorporate eco-friendly modes of transportation, such as bicycles or electric vehicles, encouraging players to explore the game world sustainably.

    Game Mechanics Tips:

    • Include interactive elements that reward players for making sustainable choices.
    • Introduce challenges that emphasize the impact of climate change and the importance of addressing environmental issues.
    • Design quests that involve reforestation, wildlife conservation, and initiatives to protect endangered species.

    Remember, the goal is to inspire players to think about their ecological footprint and their positive impact on the virtual and real worlds.

    Submission Guidelines:

    • Submit a gameplay demo that showcases how your game aligns with the "Eco-Friendly Exploration" theme.
    • Provide a brief overview of how your game promotes sustainability and eco-conscious decision-making.
    • Use your login details to access the portal and upload your game files before 01-Mar-2024.

    We can't wait to see the incredible worlds you'll create and the positive impact your games will have on players. Let the Eco-Friendly Exploration begin!

    Best of luck, and happy coding! ๐ŸŒฟ๐ŸŽฎ

    Timeline (Tentative)

    • 25 April 2025
      Registration Ends
    • 27 April 2025
      Theme Deep-Dive Webinar
    • 1 June 2025
      Submission Deadline
    • 15 June 2025
      Winners Announced

    Judges Panel

    Previous Season's Champions

    Senior

    Junior

    About STEM LAB

    Powered by STEM LAB Trading LLC, a global STEM education leader with 150+ school partnerships. We organize the International Robotics Olympiad, Innovathon, and now ICL - shaping the next generation of tech visionaries.

    FAQ's

    ICL is a premier global coding competition where young innovators (ages 6-18) develop open-source games or apps addressing real-world challenges. This year features:

    • Game Development Challenge: "Space Colonization - Mission to Mars & Beyond"
    • App Development Challenge: "Tech for Good" (solving global issues)

    Registration Ends : 25 April 2025
    Theme Deep-Dive Webinar: 27 April 2025
    Submission Deadline: 1 June 2025
    Winners Announced: 15 June 2025
    Dates are tentative and subject to change.

    Yes! Two categories:

    • Juniors: Ages 6-10 (Block-based coding like Scratch)
    • Seniors: (Script-based coding like Python/JavaScript)

    Students should work individually on projects, teamwork is not allowed.

    1. Visit www.codingleague.org
    2. Click Register Now
    3. Select your category (Game Dev/App Dev)
    4. Complete the form (No registration fee)

    Login to your account and upload your presentation video along with your code.
    Required materials:

    • 3-5 minute demo video (show functionality)
    • Complete source code (uploaded to GitHub/GitLab)
    • Documentation (PDF/markdown explaining your project)
    • Theme alignment statement
    Submit via the ICL portal before 1 June 2025.

    Judges (including Dr. Frithi Herbert) will assess:

    • Creativity & Innovation (30%)
    • Technical Implementation (25%)
    • Theme Relevance (20%)
    • User Experience (15%)
    • Documentation Quality (10%)

    No restrictions! Use any language/tool:

    • Game Dev: Scratch, Unity, Godot, Python, JavaScript, etc.
    • App Dev: Flutter, React Native, Android Studio, etc.
    • All projects must be open-source

    No restrictions! Use any language/tool:

    • ๐Ÿ† Trophies & global recognition
    • ๐Ÿ’ป Tech gadgets & scholarships
    • ๐Ÿ“œ Certificates of excellence
    • ๐ŸŒŸ Featured on ICL's official platforms
    • ๐Ÿš€ Mentorship opportunities

    ICL is powered by STEM LAB Trading LLC, a global STEM education leader with 150+ school partnerships across UAE, USA, and India.