Games for Change 2015 award finalists include Never Alone, This War of Mine, Bounden

Games for Change, the non-profit group that "facilitates the creation and distribution of social impact games that serve as critical tools in humanitarian and educational efforts," announced the finalists for this year's Games for Change Awards, recognizing eight digital games.

Those eight games were nominated across three categories: Most Significant Impact, Most Innovative and Best Gameplay. This year's nominees are:

• Never Alone by E-Line Media, for Best Gameplay and Most Significant Impact
• This War of Mine by 11 bit Studios, for Best Gameplay
• That's Your Right by Filament Games, for Best Gameplay
• MindLight by GainPlay Studio and The PlayNice Institute, for Most Significant Impact
• Zoo U by 3C Institute, for Most Significant Impact
• Bounden by Game Oven, for Most Innovative
• Skip A Beat by Happitech, for Most Innovative
• Parable of the Polygons by Nicky Case and Vi Hart, for Most Innovative

All eight nominees will be considered for the organization's Game of the Year award, which will go to the game that "best exemplifies all three categories," according to a release.

Games for Change will also bestow the Game Changer Award on Tracy Fullerton, director of the joint USC Games Program and associate professor and chair of the Interactive Media and Games Division of the USC School of Cinematic Arts. The honor "recognizes the significant global contributions of individuals who inspire and mentor new generations of game creators and researchers," organizers said.

The awards will be presented at the annual Games for Change Festival at the NYU Skirball Center on April 22. Tickets for the festival, which runs April 21-23, are on sale now.