Draknek offers five $15,000 grants for underrepresented puzzle-game developers

The 2026 New Voices Puzzle Grant offers five $15,000 awards, mentorship and a peer community for underrepresented developers working on digital puzzle games. Applications close September 27 at 23:59 PST.

Draknek & Friends has opened applications for the 2026 New Voices Puzzle Grant. The program will make five grants of $15,000 each and pair recipients with mentors through 2027, alongside a community of industry experts. It is aimed at early-career or under-the-radar developers from groups that receive less support in the games industry. There are no geographic restrictions. Applicants should be actively developing a digital puzzle game and have a playable prototype; teams may apply through one representative. Draknek says recipients keep ownership of their work, the grant carries no IP claim or repayment obligation, and the money can be used for anything that helps the developer—from production tools to living costs. Applications close at 23:59 PST on Sunday, September 27, 2026, with decisions expected by December 18.