Sebastian Grünwald
Sebastian Grünwald has been active in the games industry since 2006. His portfolio ranges from classic games for game studios to special-interest productions in the B2B sector, as well as serious games and mixed-reality experiences.
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About
Sebastian Grünwald has been active in the games industry since 2006. His portfolio ranges from productions at game studios to specialized B2B projects for different clients. He can do everything from conceptual work and creative direction to full-scale production, acting as a solo developer.
From QA to CD
From Production to Publishing
He worked in quality assurance from 2006 to 2008 before managing numerous projects as a game producer for various publishers and developers between 2008 and 2012. Since 2013, he has typically taken on the roles of Creative Director and Game Designer for his projects. In 2017, he became self-employed after gaining over a decade of experience in publishing, development, production, financing, and game design. Today, Sebastian is a solo developer capable of managing projects from start to finish including concept, coding and publishing.
Media educator with a background in communication studies
Sebastian Grünwald holds an M.A. in Media and Communication Studies with a specialization in media education. Consequently, in addition to creative direction, he often oversees the media-educational aspects of projects, ensuring that elements such as learning motivation, didactics, and learning evaluation are effectively integrated into "serious games."
Storytelling, Escaping, Hiking
In 2012 Sebastian founded a registered association dedicated to promoting narrative computer games, which currently has around 130 members and of which he serves as a board member (Adventure-Treff e.V.) He hosts the "Podcoaster" podcast, which features monthly profiles of figures from the attractions industry.
In his spare time, he organizes trips to various immersive experiences and serves on the voting jury for the TERPECA escape room awards. He is also an avid hiker in the High Alps.
Awards
Sebastian's products have received numerous awards and accolades, including the German Developer Award for "Best Story 2015" and the German Games Award for "Best Serious Game 2025".
Best Serious Game for “Deine Stimme” (FMV serious game about election campaigns, manipulative campaign language, and autocracies)
2025
Innovation Award for Digital Education
for "Mathe als Mission" (story-driven mathematics learning game for vocational training)
2018
Best Story for "Renu and the Sari Revolution" (narrative serious game about gender equality in India, German Developer Award)
2015
Best Serious Game for "Utopolis – Aufbruch der Tiere" (Mutliplayer simulation for political education)
Even more accolades ...
Nomination for "Deine Stimme" (German Developer Award)
Nomination for "Deine Stimme" (Grimme Online Award)
Nomination for the simulation "Maritime Search & Rescue" (German Developer Award)
Nomination for the history educational game "Generation Zero" (Serious Games Award)
Nomination for the physics learning application "Physikus|HD²" (German Developer Award)
Comenius Award for the interactive whiteboard applications "Geographie Interaktiv" and "Das Auge Interaktiv"
Nomination for "Best Series (Children)" for "Detektei Suni & Partner" (Audio Play Award)
Special Award for the project LMSNews.com (Society for Media in Science, ETH Zurich)
1st Place at the "New Media" State Festival in the "Multimedia" category (Free State of Bavaria)
Recent Work
Over the course of more than 20 years of professional experience, Sebastian Grünwald has worked on over 50 productions. Here is just a small selection of the most recent ones...
Venice After Dark
Discover a surreal Venice in this gripping point-and-click narrative adventure game. Solve a variety of puzzles and converse with eccentric characters as you unravel the mysterious case surrounding the Stucky family. Discover what it means to be human in a disruptive world changing rapidly because of AI.
Macht Was?!
In the Philippines, people frequently disappear without a trace. Players are invited to help solve the case, yet each group in this multiplayer adventure pursues its own agenda. Who will succeed in steering the film’s outcome to their advantage?
Augen Auf!
"Augen auf!" is a FMV game designed for classroom use and for raising awareness about the strategies used by right-wing extremist groups on social media. It is suitable for students in grades 8 through 10 across all types of secondary schools. Through the game, students learn to look and listen more closely when consuming media, recognize fake news, see through the tactics of extremists, and avoid sharing online news and memes without critical reflection.
Deine Stimme
The game "Deine Stimme" raises students' awareness of populist and anti-democratic currents within the political party landscape. It is played collaboratively in class under the guidance of a teacher. The game takes place on an interactive online platform featuring videos about the election campaigns of four fictional parties. Based on the parties' debates, students cast their votes for their favorites in the classroom and then experience the consequences of their choices.
More work...
There are too many projects to name, but here is a glimpse...
Coast Guard (Reality Twist/Astragon)
Narrative Realtime 3D game centered on the Coast Guard and the issue of refugees
Ship Simulator – Maritime Sea & Rescue (Reality Twist/DGzRS)
Narrative Realtime 3D Simulation Game focused on maritime search and rescue
"Undercover-Mission im Krankenhaus" and "Die Arbeitshelden" (Goethe-Institut)
Web-based adventure games introducing the world of work
Kitwanas Journey (Missio Munich)
Analog escape game about kidnapping and child abuse
Hauma - A Detective Noir Story (Senam Games/Assemble Entertainment)
Hauma is a deduction visual novel set in Munich. Alongside former police officer Judith, uncover a conspiracy that reaches into the upper echelons of Munich society.
Missio For Life – Learning Trail (Reality Twist/missio Munich)
Interactive, transmedia learning trail for students including mixed reality elements
Wo ist Father Joe? (Missio Munich)
Interactive audio drama about interfaith dialogue
Die Geheimprotokolle des Professors (Domberg Academy)
Analog escape game about fake news for use in schools
Netzagenten – Dem Hacker auf der Spur (Goethe-Institut)
Interactive live escape game with Augmented Reality elements for teaching German culture and society
Pan's Journey (Siemens AG/Reality Twist)
Alternate reality serious game about VUCA.
Math as a Mission (Reality Twist/Joblinge)
Story-driven math learning app designed to guide young people toward STEM careers
Flüchtige Weihnachten (Missio Munich)
Puzzle booklet based on the Christmas story
goRome! (Tellux Next)
Interactive visual novel with location-based gaming elements for the afj’s 2018 Rome pilgrimage
Renu and the Sari Revolution (Reality Twist/missio Munich)
Visual novel adventure game app focused on gender equality in India
Utopolis – Democracy Education App (Reality Twist/Nemetschek Foundation)
Educational simulation app focused on understanding democracy
Learning App for Audi Sales Representatives (Reality Twist/Audi AG)
Educational application for Audi sales representatives focused on sales conversations
Physikus|HD² (Braingame/Reality Twist)
Remaster of a well-know physics learning adventure game
Vincent Mirano: Lernabenteuer Deutsch (Goethe-Institut/Reality Twist)
Visual novel game focused on German as a foreign language