The world feels like a scary and heartbreaking place to be right now.
With the news that Russia has invaded Ukraine dominating headlines for the past few days, it’s been hard to focus on anything else. To have to continue playing and writing about games feels pointless in such a time of turmoil, but life must go on. Thankfully, there are ways we can help, and many game developers have already stepped up to show their support for Ukraine and its people.
Last week, 11 bit studios kicked off a cavalcade of support by announcing that for one week, all profits from This War of Mine would go straight to the Ukrainian Red Cross. That money would then directly support the victims of war in Ukraine. Within 24 hours, 11 bit studios tweeted it had already raised $160,000, which is a phenomenal amount of money.
Since then, many other games studios have joined 11 bit studios by offering their profits to aid victims of war in Ukraine. We’ve rounded them up below. By supporting the studios and buying their games, you’ll also be helping Ukraine’s people in need.
- 11 bit studios: Until 4th March, all profits from sales of This War of Mine and its DLC packs across all formats will go to the Ukrainian Red Cross. Buy it on Steam/PlayStation/Xbox/Switch.
- State of Play: Until 4th March, all profits from State of Play’s games on the App Store, Google Play and Steam will be going to the Ukrainian Red Cross. Buy State of Play’s game, Lumino City, here.
- Beetlewing: Until 4th March, all the developer’s profit from Slipways will be donated to the Polish Red Cross #naPomocUkraine fund. Buy Slipways on Steam here.
- Crunching Koalas: Until 4th March, Crunching Koalas’ profits from all of its games across all platforms will be donated to the Ukrainian Red Cross. Browse Crunching Koalas’ games on Steam by clicking here.
- All In! Games: The publisher will be donating one week’s proceeds from sales of Chernobylite and Paradise Lost to the Ukrainian Red Cross. Buy Chernobylite on Steam/PlayStation/Xbox, and buy Paradise Lost on Steam/PlayStation/Xbox.
- Huuuge Games, publisher and developer of mobile games on iOS and Android, is donating 1 million PLN to charitable causes helping the victims of war in Ukraine. That’s roughly £180,000/$249,000.
- RedDeer.games is donating 100% of its profits from all sales of Cyber Protocol during March will be donated to a charity supporting Ukraine that’s chosen together with players. Buy Cyber Protocol on Steam here.
- Thunderful Games is donating a week’s worth of sales profits from Steamworld Heist and Bridge Constructor to the International Committee of the Red Cross. Buy Steamworld Heist on Steam/PlayStation/Xbox/Switch, and buy Bridge Constructor on Steam/PlayStation/Xbox/Switch.
- Tanuki-sama Studios: a recent crowdfunding initiative to fund key art earned over its goal, and so the studio will be using the excess funds to donate to the British Red Cross’ Ukraine appeal.
- GOG.com is supporting 11 bit studios and Beetlewing by also donating the storefront’s share of profits to the Ukrainian Red Cross. Follow the links to buy This War of Mine and Slipways on GOG.
- Wargaming Kyiv: Along with supporting its Ukraine-based employees with alternate housing, early salary payments and additional funds, Wargaming Kyiv is donating $1 million to the Ukrainian Red Cross.
- Funcom is donating $100,000 of proceeds from the sale of Conan Chop Chop to the Red Cross’s Ukraine fund.
- Embracer Group (the parent company of THQ Nordic, Koch Media and more) is donating $1 million to various humanitarian aid charities helping the people of Ukraine. Further, Embracer’s CEO, Lars Wingefors, is personally matching this donation with another $1 million.
- Thing Trunk is donating all of its income from sales of Book of Demons on PC to NGOs that take care of Ukrainian refugees for the next seven days. Buy Book of Demons on Steam.
How can you help Ukraine war victims?
By purchasing the games from the companies listed above, you’ll be directly supporting the people of Ukraine in this time of need.
If you’d like to make your own donation, here are some links where you’ll find more information about relevant charities:
