What's a game jam, anyway?
If you're new to the wonderful world of game jams, welcome! A game jam is an event in which participants gather (online or physically) to make games in a limited period of time. A lot of jams are built around a particular theme.
When is it, exactly?
Jam Starts: Friday, October 29th, 2021 at 12AM (GMT)
Jam Ends: Sunday, November 14th at 11:59PM (GMT).
*Click the dates to convert them to your own timezone!
Here's the detailed breakdown: You can start jamming at 12:00 AM (GMT) Friday, which many people think of as still being Thursday night. So, you have all of Friday (29th), until Sunday (November 14th) until 11:59PM (GMT) to make a game. Your game must be uploaded before 11:59 PM (GMT) on Sunday night. As soon as the jam ends, judging begins. Judging will last until Wednesday, November 24th. After that, we'll announce the 3 winners!
How do I enter the jam?
First, read the Rules and Register, and then:
● If you don't already have a Game Jolt account, create one
● Create a game page from the Store or simply click here
● After the jam begins, submit your game in the Submit Game channel.
● Remember to publish your game release AND your game page.
What is the theme for the jam?
A cute + spooky or Spoopy multiplayer game that can be played with friends locally or online!
Here are some examples to get your ideas flowing:
Social obstacle course game (Fall guys)
Social Trivia/Drawing games (Jack Box)
Collaborative games (Overcooked)
Combat, versus matches (Tower Fall)
Turn-Based games like:
Pokemon, Hearthstone, Magic: The Gathering, Pocket Cowboys
Battle Arena games like:
- Agar IO
- Bumper IO
- Brawl Stars
Be sure to check out Beamable's sample projects to get rolling quickly!
Where do I find teammates?
Collaborations and group efforts are welcome! You can find people looking to team up in the Find Teams channel.
Who judges the games?
Game Jolt and AWS judges will be playing through the games and pick the 3 winners.
Are there prizes?
Yes! The 3 winners will receive prizes!
🏆 1st Place
$6,000 + Twitch.tv homepage feature + Publisher Pitch
🏆 2nd Place
$3,000 + Twitch.tv homepage feature + Publisher Pitch
🏆 3rd Place
$1,000 + Twitch.tv homepage feature + Publisher Pitch
All 3 winners will get a chance to play their creations on the homepage of Twitch.tv with a Twitch partnered streamer!
The following week, the 3 winners will have the opportunity to virtually pitch their games over a video call to a panel of publishers and investors for the possibility of additional funding!
There's this game I've been working on, can I use it?
No. Hey, have you read the rules? Jam entries must be made during the development period (before Friday, October 29th, 11:59PM GMT).
Can my game use graphics and audio that I didn't create?
Yes, but you must have permission or a license.
Click here for free music you can use in your game
Does it matter what I use to make my game?
It doesn't matter. You can use any pre-existing game creation tool, engine, language, or programming library.
Does my game have to run on a certain platform (browser, Windows, OUYA, etc.)?
Windows operating system is required but you're more than welcome to add versions supporting other platforms.
Does my game have to have controller support?
We can use a keyboard and mouse, Xbox one or a PlayStation controller. Be sure to include the controller type we should use in the description section of your game page.
Can I update my game after the deadline?
No. We have a hard deadline for this jam so be sure to give yourself enough time to upload your game.
Do I retain ownership of my game?
Yes, you retain all rights and ownership of your game.
Does my game have to be free?
Yes. All games entered must be completely free.
Won't some people cheat and start their game early?
Sure, a few people might cheat and start making a game early. We'll do everything we can to weed out cheaters, and we have our ways. But frankly, it's not that big of a concern, since cheaters generally don't win game jams. For more details, see this thorough discussion of cheating.
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