Draknek New Voices Puzzle Grant

The Draknek New Voices Puzzle Grant is a grant opportunity for game developers from traditionally underrepresented groups and backgrounds who are interested in designing and developing puzzle games.

Applications are currently closed, but sign up here to be notified about future opportunities:

About the grant

How to apply

Applications have now closed.

Application Deadline

The Application Deadline is 23:59 PST Monday 7th October 2024.

We expect to make decisions by 16th December 2024. If we have to extend this timeline, we will inform all applicants.

Who’s eligible?

These grants are intended to support creators who are under-invested-in within today’s game industry or who do not receive much support from the existing structures. If any of the following descriptions apply to you, you are eligible.

Person of Color
Indigenous, First Nations, etc. peoples
Jewish, Muslim, and non-Abrahamic faiths
LGBTQIA
Woman
Not from North America, Europe or another western nation
Refugee, displaced person, or living under apartheid
English is not your first language
Disabled, neurodiverse, or mental health issues
Trans/non-binary/gender non-conforming

This list is not exhaustive. If you feel like your identity and/or culture are not supported or are underrepresented in gaming, then you are eligible.

There are no geographical restrictions to applicants.

What are we looking for?

Our selection process focuses on puzzle games under active development, with a playable prototype, from early-career or under-the-radar developers who identify with an under-represented group within the games industry.

What is the grant offering?

The Draknek New Voices Puzzle Grant is offering 6 grants of $15,000 USD each. We are also offering opportunities for mentorship through 2025, as well as a supportive community of industry experts to provide advice and feedback.

What do we consider to be a puzzle game?

Any videogame which is primarily about thinking/logical reasoning — and not primarily challenging due to execution/timing elements — is likely to be a good fit for what we're looking for. Puzzle games cover a wide range of subgenres, e.g. Patrick’s Parabox, ElecHead, Myst, Return of the Obra Dinn, and Opus Magnum are five games with very different gameplay, which would all be considered relevant. However, while Tetris is a phenomenal game, it is not an example of what we're looking for due to its reliance on reaction speed. If in doubt, please apply.

Can I apply with a boardgame?

The intended end product you are working towards should be a digital videogame. Boardgames, ARGs, physical escape rooms, etc. are not eligible, as we don't believe we can provide appropriate support and mentorship to these projects. A paper prototype for a videogame is acceptable.

Can I apply if I've already received funding/support?

The Draknek New Voices Puzzle Grant aims to support developers who will benefit the most from the funding. If your game is already fully funded, or backed by a publisher, this may not be the right grant for you. However if you’ve already received a microgrant or incubator support, please feel free to apply. If in doubt, apply anyway and supply some more context.

Does Draknek & Friends have a stake in what I produce?

You own what you make with this grant. We seek no rights to the resulting games and there are no strings attached. You can release your game commercially or non-commercially. We do not care what platform you build your game for (PC, console, mobile, etc.), or what the revenue model is if the game is commercial.

Is this money intended as a game budget?

No. While $15k USD can go quite far in certain parts of the world, this is not intended to be a budget for a full game. This money is intended to help you in whatever way makes the most sense for you. If selected, we do not expect you to change the scope or ambition of anything you’re working on.

What can people spend the grant money on?

Anything — from development tools to rent, the grant money is intended to help people interested in creating puzzle games in whatever way makes sense for the individual.

Are there any expectations about what I accomplish over the course of 2025?

Throughout the grant you will have 1-1 meetings with your mentor and opportunities to share your progress with the community. However, there are no specific deadlines or milestones that grant recipients are required to meet, as each game project is unique. If your project changes direction during the year, that's completely acceptable too.

We want you to feel involved in the cohort and the community, and you’ll be invited to present your progress at the end of the year. The key is your satisfaction and growth, not rigid timelines or predefined goals.

What happens if I don't finish my game?

If you don't finish your game by the end of the grant period, it’s not a problem. We understand that creative projects can take unexpected turns. We don’t want you to feel pressured to continue with something that no longer inspires you or makes sense for your development.

I’m part of a team. Can we apply?

Yes. Please choose one individual to apply on behalf of a team. You should talk about the entire team on the application form and cover your respective roles.

Will my data be shared publicly?

No, your data will not be shared publicly. The information you submit will only be read by the selection committee. Furthermore, we will use your email address solely to contact you about your application. The only exception is that if you are selected as a winner, we may use your provided name, pronouns, location and game information as a part of the announcement, unless you specify otherwise. If in doubt, please let us know in your application.

Why are we offering this?

We love puzzle games, and see that the community of people who play and love great puzzle games is full of people from a wide range of backgrounds. However, the people making the most successful puzzle games and getting funding to make the next great puzzle games are noticeably less diverse – even less so than video games more broadly.

We hope that these grants can be a small part of the work of changing that and help more people from underrepresented backgrounds to thrive in this space, and to create experiences that no one else would have.

Is this connected to the Astra Fellowship?