VOI World/ Desk
An Indian-origin student studying in Scotland has been shortlisted for one of the United Kingdom’s most prestigious young gaming honours after developing a video game that explores the lives of garment workers in India. D’Arcy Dhanda, a first-year student at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, has been nominated for the BAFTA Young Game Designers Award in the 15–18 age category.
Dhanda’s game, titled Maya, follows the story of a young widow working in a garment factory while raising a child and struggling with poverty. Through a series of interactive scenes depicting both factory work and home life, the game aims to give players a deeper understanding of the economic and social pressures faced by low-income workers.
The 18-year-old developed the project while still in school before joining the University of Strathclyde. According to the university, the game was designed to create an emotional connection with players by replicating the repetitive and physically demanding nature of factory work.
Dhanda said he chose India as the setting because of his own Indian background and felt he had the cultural understanding needed to tell the story authentically. He added that the project remains a work in progress and that he hopes to continue refining it in the future.
The BAFTA Young Game Designers competition is organised by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and is aimed at encouraging the next generation of game creators. The annual programme recognises originality, creativity and technical skill among young developers across the UK.
University officials praised Dhanda’s achievement, describing the nomination as recognition of both his creativity and ability to use interactive storytelling to highlight important social issues. Winners of the 2026 BAFTA Young Game Designers Awards will be announced during a ceremony streamed online on June 18.
