Welcome to Cold Case Jam, the mystery game jam for developers with unfinished business. Unlike traditional game jams focused on starting fresh, Cold Case Jam challenges you to resurrect an old mystery game project and finally bring it to completion. You've got 60 days to revisit, revise, and release!
Mystery games are video games in which players investigate the answer to a question by discovering clues, deducing theories, and making decisions that lead closer to the truth. They are a unique cross between story games and puzzle games in which the story itself is the puzzle. Great mystery games are solvable, surprising, and satisfying — all at the same time.
Detective games, courtroom games, escape games, and death games are all popular mystery game subgenres. Social deduction games also count. The truth is that mystery elements can be added to almost any game genre, so there is a lot of room to explore and innovate. We hope this game jam provides an opportunity for exactly that.
If you need inspiration or examples, check out these articles on mystery game subgenres here and here.
A cold case game is a mystery game project that was started in the past but has remained incomplete or unreleased. Like a real cold case, its mystery was left unresolved and forgotten… until now.
To qualify as a cold case, your game must:
These rules have changed from last year. We now require a demo, which more clearly determines eligibility. Some demos might be from one month ago, other demos might be from one year ago. What matters is that people had an opportunity to play your game, without ever having an opportunity to resolve the mystery. The purpose of this jam is to give those players the closure they deserve.
When you submit your cold case, you'll need to provide:
Submit as early as you can to give yourself enough time to answer those questions!
Mystery-themed video games are in incredibly short supply. Only 1% of games on itch.io are tagged "mystery" — and even then, that number includes half-finished or abandoned projects. There's nothing more disappointing than spending time playing the demo of a mystery game, only to never receive any answers to the questions presented inside of it. Our goal is to reduce the number of such "cold case" mystery games, by encouraging developers to dedicate some time each year to finishing their games.
With mystery being one of the most popular genres in other forms of entertainment, there is a ton of demand and not nearly enough supply. This is your chance to make a big difference and become a Mystery Gamedev!
Do not submit a game with the following, or it will be removed:
There will not be any judging or voting, so feel free to work on the game without stress or competition.
That said, in order to encourage participation, if you submit a valid entry:
❄️What is the submission timeframe?
Cold Case Jam runs from November 1st to December 31st. Submissions close shortly before New Year's Eve so you can finish your project and celebrate the holiday immediately afterward. Please see the timer at the top of the page for the exact deadline according to your timezone, and be sure to submit early regardless!
❄️What if I fail to complete my game during this jam, too?
That's okay, you can still submit a demo showing your progress. Just like with real "cold cases", any progress is good progress!
❄️What if I never paused or abandoned my project? Does it count?
Yes, that's fine. We just want to see more mystery games actually completed, so we don't want to discourage you from finishing a project simply because you worked on it too much. Think of this jam as a "second chance" for any unfinished mystery game.
❄️What if I only made assets or wrote down ideas without actually building a game out of them?
This year, the answer to this question is no, as explained above in the Cold Case definition section. Existing demos will be used to determine eligibility, so if your game had no demo prior to the start of the jam, it cannot qualify as a submission.
❄️Can I submit a game from a previous Mystery Game Jam?
Yes, the cutoff dates were designed so that you can submit a completed version of your Mystery Game Jam game. You can also submit unfinished projects from other jams, as long as they meet the submission requirements.
❄️Can I submit more than one game?
No, your first submission will be your only one. However, you are allowed to contribute to more than one game (i.e. being on more than one team), but it is not recommended.
❄️Do I need to work on my submission during the entire jam period?
No. You can start at any time, submit early, or take a break when needed. Your project has gone unfinished for a reason, so we just want to make sure you have enough time to actually get it done.
❄️Does my game need to feature any cold-case related themes?
No. Your game does not need to involve the solving of any cold cases, nor any themes related to Winter, ice, snow, etc.
❄️What can I use to make my game?
Any game engine, pre-made libraries, pre-existing assets, or tools you have the legal rights to use. This includes anything free or paid that a copyright holder has licensed for the general public, such as royalty-free asset packs or open source code, but you must always follow the rules of each specific license. You may also use your own pre-existing assets and code.
❄️Will I be able to submit after the deadline?
No. Please don't wait until the final hour when mistakes can happen. There is no penalty for submitting early, and then updating the game right before the deadline. You will need to spend some time filling out the submission form, so please don't let that time push you over the deadline.
If you're new to mystery games, start by reading this ultimate guide.
Mystery games are complicated and hard to make, so we're giving you plenty of time. You might also be surprised how much you can get done when you set your mind to it. If you don't think it's possible, you should read the full story of how we finished our own mystery game in under 30 days. If you need any kind of help or you're looking to form a team, feel free to join our 700+ member Discord server.
Anything you make during the Cold Case Jam is your property. Mystery Gamedev claims no rights or ownership of your game.
It is your responsibility to make sure you are legally allowed to upload your game. If a violation is brought to our attention, we will take appropriate action.
By submitting your game, you agree that Mystery Gamedev may show all or part of your submission for promotional or informational purposes, including but not limited to YouTube videos and newsletter articles, without your express permission.
