An opportunity to celebrate 100 years of UH by showcasing our students' creativity and academic ability.

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About

The UH Centennial Games is an event that allows students to showcase their abilities in video game design, App creation, digital story telling, and academic knowledge.

The first portion of the competition focuses on video game design by teams of up to 5 undergraduate and/or graduate students. Registration opens January 1.

Challenge Overview

Create a unique, original, and age-appropriate video game as part of the University of Houston Centennial Games celebration.

Who Can Participate?

Teams of officially enrolled UH main campus students for Spring 2026. Each game must be built by a single registered team.

Type of Game

Games must not exceed an ESRB rating of Everyone 10+ and must avoid disallowed content, unauthorized copyrighted material, and heavy AI-generated work.

Finals & Resubmissions

Games that reach the final round cannot be resubmitted in future years. Games that do not advance may be updated and resubmitted in later rounds or years.

Participants & Team Qualifications

Confirm that you and your team meet the eligibility requirements before registering.

Student Eligibility

  • ✅ Officially enrolled at the University of Houston main campus in Spring 2026.
  • ✅ In good academic standing.
  • ✅ Not on academic probation or suspension.
  • ✅ Enrolled in and successfully complete at least 6 class hours during Spring 2026.

Team & Industry Restrictions

  • 🚫 Participants cannot have prior employment in the video game industry.
  • 🚫 A student cannot join more than one team.
  • ✅ Each team must designate one team leader for registration and communication.

Game Content & Rating Guidelines

All submissions must comply with content, originality, and rating rules to remain eligible.

ESRB Rating Requirement

Game rating must be no higher than “Everyone 10+” (E10+) according to the ESRB ratings guide. Content should be generally suitable for ages 10 and up.

  • May contain cartoon or fantasy violence.
  • May contain mild language.
  • May contain minimal suggestive themes.

For details, refer to the ESRB Ratings Guide on the official ESRB website.

Disqualification Criteria

A game will be disqualified if:

  • It contains sexually suggestive themes, strong violence, and/or strong language.
  • It uses unauthorized copyrighted materials (art, music, characters, code, etc.).
  • More than 50% of the game is produced using AI.
  • It is a copy of an existing game (over 50% similarity).

Competition Schedule

Follow each round from registration to final winners:

Round 1 – Team Registration

Spring Round: January 2026 – June 15, 2026

Each team designates a team leader who registers the team on the Centennial Games website by submitting:

  • Team leader’s name
  • UH Cougarnet email address
  • Official team name

After registration, the leader receives a team code used by members to join the team. Teams that submit all required info by Friday, January 16 advance to Round 2.

Round 2 – Storyboard Submission

Due Friday, January 30

Submit a storyboard that clearly communicates:

  • The game’s core concept and goals
  • Major scenes, levels, or gameplay loops
  • Key characters, interactions, and visual style

The storyboard should give judges a strong sense of how players move through the game and what makes your experience unique.

Round 3 – Playable Demo & Promo Video

Due Friday, May 29

Each team must upload:

  • A playable demo of the game
  • Up to 90 seconds of promotional video

By Friday, June 5, judges select the top 6 teams for the Final Round and send a congratulatory email. Constructive feedback is provided to all teams by July 15.

Round 4 – Final Submission

Due Friday, September 4

Teams submit their fully completed game along with the final promotional video (up to 90 seconds).

This is your chance to incorporate judge feedback, polish gameplay, fix bugs, and refine UI/UX before the final evaluation.

Final Round – Winners Announced

Winners announced on September 12, 2026

Finalists showcase their games live as part of the UH Centennial Games celebration.

Winning teams are highlighted across university channels and may be invited to share their work with broader UH and Houston communities.

Ready to Register Your Team?

Ensure your team meets all qualifications.

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