Logo art by: Schäferd

The Pixel Game Jam is a 10-day game making marathon, starting on the 11th of May 2025 at 13:00 GMT+. During these 10 days, you will create your own game with a focus on pixel art, fun gameplay mechanics, and your own creative ideas. This event is for everyone who loves pixel games but specifically for beginners that are new in the industry.

Pixel Game Jam is not just about making games, it’s also about having fun and connecting with other developers from all around the world. The goal is simple: make awesome pixel games, enjoy the process, and grow together as a community. Whether you work alone or in a small team, this jam is your chance to show your skills and bring your ideas to life.

This is an annual event, which means every year we welcome new participants and celebrate new winners! After the jam ends, all results and data from the previous year will be cleared to make space for the next round of talent to keep everything at one place.

Our Official Discord:
Pixel Game Jam - Official Discord


HOSTED BY:

The Pixel Game Jam is proudly organized and hosted by SanForge Studio, a new small startup indie game and software development studio with a passion for creating exciting projects and to support game developers like yourself.

SPONSORED BY:

SpacetimeDB: A groundbreaking open-source platform that merges database and server functionalities into a single, high-performance system. By allowing developers to write application logic directly within the database using languages like Rust or C#, SpacetimeDB simplifies the development of real-time multiplayer games and applications.  It is also supported by industry giant Supercell, SpacetimeDB is powering the next generation of game development.

Visit Sponsor Website: Here


Kronnect: Welcome! We're a company 100% devoted to creating Unity assets, a commitment we've held since 2015.

Visit Sponsor Website: Here



Flax Engine: is a fast, lightweight, open-source 3D game engine with C# and C++ support.

Visit Sponsor Website: Here

Who Can Join?

Anyone can join, from anywhere in the world!
You can join alone or with a small team (maximum 3 people).

To join the Pixel Game Jam, here’s what you need to do:

1. Make an itch.io account if you don’t have one yet.

2. Click the Join Jam button on this page.

   • Don’t worry, clicking the Join button doesn’t mean you must submit a game already. You can still change your mind later.

3. Join our official discord server and get the "Participator" role. This role is needed if you want to actually win our prizes, as you will be "Participating" the game jam and its prize pool.

After that, just wait for the jam to start and get excited!
Make sure you read the rules before the jam begins, so you know what’s allowed.
If anything is unclear throughout the jam, feel free to ask questions in the Discord server!

For updates and news, join the official Pixel Game Jam Discord.

To be eligible for rewards, you must:

• Be a solo developer or in a team of max 3 ✅

• Have an itch.io account ✅

• Have a PayPal account (for cash prizes) ✅

• Have the "Participator" role in Discord ✅

• Submit your game on the itch.io jam page ✅

Each year, new winners will be nominated by our jury.

🏆 OVERALL WINNER (x1):

🎖️ Rewards:

• $50 cash prize 💰

• Kronnect asset pack 🎨
  

• Special emblem badge 🏅
  

• Discord role: 🏆 Jam Champion 2025  + ⭐ Hall of Fame

🔍 Judging Criteria:
Overall quality, polish, creativity, fun factor, and presentation.

💡 BEST INNOVATION (x1):

🎖️ Rewards:

• $50 cash prize 💵

• Kronnect asset pack 🛠️

• Special emblem badge 🏅

• Discord role: 💡 Innovator 2025 + ⭐ Hall of Fame

🔍 Judging Criteria:
Rated on: Unique mechanics, creative ideas, or experimental gameplay.

🎨 BEST PIXEL ART(x1):

🎖️ Rewards:

• $50 cash prize 💵

• Kronnect asset pack 🛠️

• Special emblem badge 🏅

• Discord role: 🎨 Pixel Master 2025 + ⭐ Hall of Fame

🔍 Judging Criteria:
Rated on: Unique and high-quality pixel art, creativity in visual design.

🎧 BEST AUDIO (x1):

🎖️ Rewards:

• $25 cash prize 💵

• Special emblem badge 🏅

• Discord role: 🎧 Audio Ace 2025 + ⭐ Hall of Fame

🔍 Judging Criteria: Rated on: Music, Sound effects, and Audio design

🌱 BEGINNERS BEST  (x1):

🎖️ Rewards:

• $25 cash prize 💵

• Special emblem badge 🏅

• Discord role: 🌱 Rising Star 2025 + ⭐ Hall of Fame

• Mentorship session with an industry pro 🧑‍🏫

• Kronnect starter asset 🎨

🔍 Judging Criteria:
Rated on: Effort, creativity, and growth potential.
Note: Only accounts with zero previous games are considered beginner, and only solo developers are eligible.

🚀 BEST MULTIPLAYER (x1):
(Sponsored by: SpacetimeDB)

🎖️ Rewards:

• $100 cash prize 💵

• Special emblem badge 🏅

• Discord role:  👨🏼‍🚀 Multiplayer Guru 2025 + ⭐ Hall of Fame

• Additional perks for SpacetimeDB 🚀

🔍 Judging Criteria:
Rated on: Is Multiplayer with SpacetimeDB.
Note: Only games that use SpacetimeDB will be considered eligible.

Like with most events, there are some important rules you need to follow during the jam. Breaking these jam rules can lead to disqualification.

• No NSFW content.
  This is a family-friendly event, Gore and violence is allowed if it fits the theme, as long as you do not include any form of Nudity or Pornography. 

• No pre-made games.
  Games that were made before the jam are not allowed. If you want to reuse an older idea, you must fully remake it during the jam, and it must match the them.

• You can use assets (like fonts, music, sprites, models etc.) from the internet,
  as long as you have permission or the correct license. All assets must be credited and linked in your game’s description.

• Give proper credits.
  List your team members and their roles in your game’s description. Also list the assets you used and where they came from (if not made by you). And make sure to use the following format: (Role), (Name), (Itch.io Profile Link).

• No asset flips or copies of other games.
  Submitting games that are copied or made from purchased templates without changes will be disqualified.

• Use the tag #beginner in your game description,
  This lets you join the Beginners Best category: Only allowed for Solo developers.

• Game format:
  Your game must be only playable through the browser and not with downloadable files.

• Pixel Art only.
  Your game must have a pixel look. It can be 2D, 3D, top-down, side-scroller, etc. as long as it's pixel-based and uses pixel art think of the usage of sprites and textures.
  It is not allowed to only use shaders or post-processing effects.

• Team limit: max 3 members.
  Teams larger than 3 will be disqualified or made ineligible for prizes. This is strictly checked.

• You must be in the official Discord server
  and have the "Participator" role to be eligible for prizes. All prizes will be announced there. You’ll have 24 hours to claim your prize, after that, it will go to another winner or to a good cause.

• No stealing work.
  Don’t use other people’s work without permission. Respect each other’s creations.

• Use of AI
  Yes, you are allowed to use AI to a certain extend, keep it within boundaries so that you still make the game yourself.

• By joining the jam, you agree that your game may be featured.
  Think about in promotions, videos, or social media posts by SanForge Studio to help share the event.