One of the biggest obstacles for young people can be confidence, so attending an event like NGF, in a safe and comfortable setting is a great place to build communication and networking skills – essential for any professional toolkit. We’ll be hosting networking talks and workshops across the week, which are perfect for those who find the thought of putting themselves out there a bit daunting!
What preconceptions of NGF and the games industry would you like to challenge
I don’t play games so NGF is not for me
There are so many types of games that I really do believe there is something for everyone. It could be a fast-paced, exciting game that you play with friends or a card game designed to support young children with SEND to develop emotionally and socially. One of the nicest things I hear is when people say they are going to keep playing when they get home / make gaming a regular thing – you see it a lot with families who sit down to tabletop games together.
Games have no value
Firstly, games-based learning is vital to improving recall and enhancing participation, performance and to achieve in the classroom. Secondly, it’s a false narrative that playing [video] games is bad for you. Dungeons and Dragons was at the centre of a panic back in the 1970s as it was [wrongly] linked with the occult. However, imagination, creativity and social engagement are incredibly powerful tools that are linked to problem solving, critical thinking and improving mental health. Of course, sitting down for hours on end, eating unhealthily, staying up late and not getting enough sleep are real issues. It’s all about moderation and ensuring that when you game, you game healthily and always ensure you move, eat and sleep well. Being kind to others is something we should all practise, whether online or in person, and not just when gaming.
The industry is in decline so there’s no point pursuing a career in games
Studying games is great for developing skills, whether you are making or playing. It’s interesting to see just how many sectors employ games graduates in their workforce; you see them in VFX for film and TV (lots of visual effects staff are game devs and computer science graduates), architecture, medical science, heritage and digital mapping, software and app development for GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives and museums) and finance, to name a few.
What’s your favourite game ever
This is the worst question ever! My top ten changes frequently, as there are just so many amazing games out there.
Ok, let’s start with tabletop games: Carcassonne, Labyrinth and Uno.
Physical games, I love playing basketball and used to really enjoy watching test cricket.
Video and computer games... so difficult, we will revisit this in a whole separate article. But for now...
5. Metal Slug
4. Contra
3. The Secret of Monkey Island
2. Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn and Path of Radiance
What’s a new game you would recommend
I am loving smaller indie games at the moment; I loved Donkey Kong Bonanza, Mario Kart World, and I’ve just started Metroid Prime 4 (a bit Switch 2 heavy, I know), but I’m really enjoying playing some smaller and slightly older titles. I backed the Kickstarter for Thimbleweed Park back in 2016 but have only just sat down to play it – I'm loving it, by the way and have so much dust 😉 - but I’m terrible for buying games and then not getting to them for a while.
One of the standout games of 2025 for me was Paper Trail. It is fantastic. The game is absolutely stunning to look at, and the mechanics are so inventive and fun. You ‘fold and tear the screen’ to create new paths to guide your character and it’s a really engaging experience. It’s no wonder that the developers, Newfangled, received so many accolades. I would highly recommend it.
