Cologne, Germany – The world’s largest entertainment trade fair, gamescom, hosted a remarkable event this year: the Gaming ohne Grenzen Award. Powered by telecommunications provider congstar and the Gaming ohne Grenzen initiative, the award recognizes exceptional efforts towards promoting inclusion within the gaming industry. On August 26, 2026, at gamescom in Cologne, Germany, the award was presented to nine winners across various categories, selected by a panel of experts.
The National Award was awarded to Tiny Bookshop for its relaxed pace, lack of time-critical challenges, and point-and-click controls, making it accessible to a wide range of players. Forza Horizon 6 received the International Award for its combination of open-world racing with an AutoDrive autopilot, built-in screen reader, and visual accessibility options.
The Get Together Award went to Games for Blind Gamers, a Game Jam that brings together sighted and visually impaired enthusiasts during development. PEAK won the Best Feature Award for its function designed to reduce emotional and visual triggers. Art of Fauna took home the Best Mobile Game Award for its screen reader support and adjustable visual elements.
The Representation Award was presented to Find Your Words, a camping adventure that explores non-verbal communication. The Technology and Hardware Award was given to the mouth-operated QuadStick controller, which allows individuals without the use of their arms or legs to play games. Marlene Beilharz received the Personality Award for her blog, events, and podcast promoting accessible gaming. Tiny Bookshop also won the Community Choice Award.
Timo Wakulat, Senior Expert Brand & Communications at congstar, stated, “Gaming connects people all over the world. To ensure that nobody is excluded, we must consider inclusion and accessibility from the start.” Saskia Moes, Head of the Gaming ohne Grenzen initiative, added, “This year’s winners demonstrate that a more inclusive gaming experience benefits everyone.”
For media inquiries, please contact the congstar GmbH Press Office at +49(0)211 96081782 or via email at medien@congstar.de.
Image: The 2026 Gaming ohne Grenzen Award winners and presenters (from left to right): Saskia Moes, Marlene Beilharz, Sven Radtke, Patricia Mendes, Markus Sindermann, Charlotte Zapfe-Wildemann, Linda Scholz, Stefan Wilhelm, David Zapfe-Wildemann, Maurice Andreas, Anni Pekie, and Melanie Eilert. Photo credit: Martin Scherag Photography / Copyright: congstar.
