Nord University students won three awards at the Norwegian Game Awards

“It feels completely surreal. I really didn’t expect it!”

That’s according to a more-than-happy Maya Kristin Chruicshank Venås, who recently received the Best Narrative award for the game Ødeborg at NGA.

“We worked really hard on the game, and it was very surprising to win an award for something we made during our first year at Nord University. It feels amazing and very motivating for the future. We’re already looking forward to next year,” she says.

I’ve learned that if you truly put in the work and pour your soul into a game, the project turns out great!
Maya Kristin Chruicshank Venås

To studenter på en scene - en ung kvinne og en ung mann. De holder i en diplom og en pris. — **Award-winning:** Maya Kristin Chruicshank Venås and Halldór Björnsson received the Best Narrative award for the game *Ødeborg*. Ariana Roxana Dragota and Gabriel Mateo Gausen Jørgensen were not present at the award ceremony. Photo: Start NTNU.

Maya and a large group of students from the bachelor’s programme in Games and Entertainment Technology at Nord University delivered a performance that truly caught the attention of the gaming industry during the Norwegian Game Awards (NGA) 2026 – Norway’s largest competition for student-developed games.

During the award ceremony at Trondheim Spektrum on March 20, the students secured three of the eight awards:

Gamer’s Choice: Jiggle Ball (3rd year)
Best Narrative: Ødeborg (2nd year)
Most Innovative Game: PinPals (2nd year)

In addition, PinPals earned a strong second place in the audience favorite category, Gamer’s Choice, where several hundred visitors voted for their favorites among around 50 exhibited games.

Games that stand out

**The PinPals-team:** These students received the Most Innovative Game award. From left: Isari Rares, Inga Sigurrós Thorisdottir, Einar Mikal Dyrendal Sterten, and Hilmir Snær Guðmundsson. Students Andreas Karbu Wahlvåg and Ivar Bredeli were not present when the photo was taken. Photo: Start NTNU.

Both Ødeborg and PinPals were nominated for the prestigious Game of the Year award. PinPals also stood out in the categories for gameplay, audio, and visual design – a sign of the overall quality of the development work.

Meanwhile, Jiggle Ball was nominated for the industry-oriented KickAss Award, which highlights games with commercial potential. The game is already on its way to market, with a planned launch and the possibility of being wishlisted on Steam.

A gateway into the games industry

Voksen dame med blått skjerf som ser i kamera og smiler mens hun holder opp en mobil med gamingbilde. Samen heter Helga dis Isfold Sigurdardottir. — **Proud lecturer:** Helga Dis Isfold Sigurdardottir is proud of her students in Games and Experience Technology. Photo: Siv Lyngstad.

The Norwegian Game Awards is more than just a competition. It is a meeting place where students connect with industry professionals, receive professional feedback, and build relationships with potential employers and collaborators.

“This is an important arena for our students. They get to showcase their skills while building networks within the industry. We are incredibly proud of what they have achieved,” says Associate Professor Helga D. Ísfold Sigurðardóttir at Nord University.

From student project to award winners

Bilde av et nettspill kalt JiggleBall, med store og fargerike bokstaver og gelefigurer på en idrettsbane med flombelysning.

Several of the games started as student projects during the programme. Ødeborg and PinPals were developed over the course of a single semester before being further refined and polished ahead of the competition.

The result? Games that don’t just work – they engage, challenge, and stand out.

Behind the projects is an international student community, with developers from countries including Norway, Iceland, Romania, and the United Kingdom. Collaboration across cultures and disciplines is an important part of the programme – and a strength in meeting the demands of a global games industry.

“Here, we build strong bonds with our fellow students and lecturers, and we spend a lot of time together,” says Maya Kristin Chruicshank Venås.

The best thing about studying Games and Entertainment Technology at Nord University is the sense of community and working as part of a team.
Maya Kristin Chruicshank Venås

Interested in making games yourself?

The achievements at the Norwegian Game Awards show what is possible when ideas are allowed to grow in a creative and technologically strong learning environment.

“Here, we get the opportunity to work hands-on with game development, always with good guidance. We learn everything from 3D modeling, programming, drawing, and storytelling, to how to set up a project plan. We also get to practice what it’s like to work in the industry. There’s always something new and exciting,” says Maya.

The bachelor’s degree in Games and Entertainment Technology gives you the opportunity to develop your own games, collaborate in teams, and work closely with real-world industry challenges.

Maybe next time, it will be your game on stage.