A Halloween Game Jam by Breakbound Studios

Welcome to Bound Jam 2026.
This October, developers from all backgrounds are invited to create something strange, spooky, funny, unsettling, or completely unexpected.
Work solo or with a team, use any engine, and build in whatever style you want.
The jam has a Halloween focus, but the actual theme will stay secret until the event begins.

Bound Jam 2026 is all about Halloween.
Your game does not have to be pure horror. Comedy, mystery, supernatural, psychological, cute-but-creepy, or completely bizarre interpretations are all welcome.
When the jam officially begins, an additional secret theme will be revealed. How you interpret it is entirely up to you.

Sometimes a jam game deserves more than a jam page.
If we discover a project we believe has real potential, Breakbound may offer to help take it further.
That could include development guidance, store setup, promotional support, trailers, release planning, or helping cover agreed release costs.
Any continued development or publishing arrangement would always be discussed separately.
Your game remains your game. Entering Bound Jam does not transfer ownership or rights to Breakbound.

Everyone is welcome!
Whether this is your first game jam or your twentieth, you can participate solo or as part of a team.
Any game engine is allowed.
Bound Jam is about finishing something, experimenting, and seeing what you can build under a deadline.

AI-assisted development is allowed, but AI should support your work rather than replace it.
Using AI for brainstorming, debugging, code assistance, and development support is completely fine.
AI-generated assets may also be used in moderation.
Submissions that are largely generated through AI with little meaningful human creative input may be disqualified.
If AI-generated content forms a significant part of your submission, please disclose it on your game page.

Your game should primarily be created during the jam.
Existing tools, frameworks, plugins, code, and third-party assets are allowed as long as you have permission to use them.
Your final submission must be playable and follow itch.io's content guidelines.
And most importantly: Finish the game!

Games will be judged on Gameplay, Theme, Creativity, Presentation, and Overall Experience.
Main rankings will be decided by the Bound Jam judges.
A separate Community Choice award may also be included.

Need teammates, feedback, or somewhere to show your progress?
Join the Breakbound community Discord! Dedicated jam channels will be available for team finding, progress updates, questions, and playtesting.

Join the Breakbound Discord

We'll be checking out submissions after the event and highlighting some of our favorites through the Breakbound community and YouTube channels.
Games that continue into full development may also have the opportunity to appear on our dedicated game trailer channel.

READY?
The theme stays secret until the jam begins.
Get your team together. Clear your schedule.

BOUND JAM 2026
Ideas, Unbound.