Help us help cats!

We all love cats, right? But taking care of strays in our communities takes a lot of time and dedication -- most of all, it takes money.  So I've made a Jam to support one of my favorite local-to-me rescues.

The Cozy Cat Game Jam will become a charity bundle in August to benefit the Ohio-based cat rescue, Alley Cats & Aristocats.  I volunteer directly with these folks and they are a wonderful, inclusive bunch tirelessly working to make life better for felines and humans alike.

Once everyone's had a chance to submit their creations to the jam, the bundle's minimum price will be $10 US, with the option to pay more for those who can. All proceeds will go directly to the non-profit. I'm just helping them navigate Itchio, a platform I love.

What we want:

• TTRPGs with a feline theme. We want to emphasize light-hearted, cozy, and family-friendly games (TTRPG comfort food). Cute! Silly! Fun! But we're into spooky, too.
• Don't let "family-friendly" feel too limiting: think mischief over violence, spooky over horror, tender over spicy and you'll have the vibe we're going for. 
• We want games we'd feel comfortable printing out and sharing at the shelter. Your game does not have to be print-ready, but if we raise enough, we may reach out to contributors to see if they'd be ok with having their games available for free at the shelter. Lots of folks come to visit the adoptable cats, especially with their kids, and having some fun games around would be spectacular!
• We encourage games written expressly for the bundle, but also welcome already published works that fit the theme. We like solo games, journaling games, one-shots, campaign settings, loot tables -- whatever you're inspired to create, as long as there's cats. 

The game jam will be open for submissions from June 24th through midnight on July 23rd, 2025. Accepted submissions will go live in the bundle starting on International Cat Day, August 8th (as long as there are no snags). The bundle will conclude on September 9th. We hope to raise at least $2500 for the rescue, but if we reach that amount early, we'll adjust the target and let the bundle climb as high as it can. 

Rules for entry:

1. Entries must be on-theme (cats!)
2.  Entries must be of physical games (as defined by Itchio) 
3. Entries must be roleplaying games or roleplaying adjacent (like a campaign setting) 
4. You must own the work submitted 
5. Multiple entries are encouraged, but not required
6. Absolutely no AI. Anything created with GenAI will be rejected  
7. No hate speech or bigotry. This is an automatic rejection
8. Keep it cozy (be sensitive about language, graphic violence, and heavy emotional themes) 
9. Submitting a work does not guarantee acceptance 
10. All accepted works will be part of the Cozy Cat Charity Bundle and all proceeds will go to the Alleycats and Aristocats non-profit.

Again, we encourage you to make games especially for the jam, but welcome previously published games that adhere to the rules listed above. We're happy to accept free games, paid games, and pay-as-you-can games. Everything helps this great cause.

Have fun with the theme and let there be cats! 

*Title font in promotional materials is Cat Paw by @letterbeary (Instagram)

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Have questions? Here's the Cozy Cat Game Jam FAQ

What do you mean by "cozy"? 

For the purpose of this jam, "cozy" applies to games that are emotionally gentle, low-stakes, and generally non-violent, like TTRPG comfort food (more Humblewood than Mork Borg). That doesn't mean you can't submit games with darker themes, but center mischief over violence, spooky over horror, tender over spicy. Games that can be played with younger people are highly encouraged.

Does it have to have cats?

Yes, please. Cats must be a fundamental part of the submitted material. Please don't just tweak a pre-existing game and add a cat reference to make it fit. One of the goals of this jam is to make cats fun and appeal to cat lovers of all ages. Let there be cats!

Does it have to be exclusively cats?

Nope. Cats and dogs. Cats and people. Cats and aliens. Cats and sentient cauliflower -- you get the idea. Tell the story you want, so long as cats play a key role. 

Can I submit multiple games to the jam?

Yes. You can submit more than one game as long as the games you submit follow the guidelines (analogue/physical games only, your own original content, no GenAI at any stage of creation whatsoever, nothing racist, transphobic, homophobic, sexist, or ableist)

Can I submit games I've already made/published?

Yes. You can submit any of your previously published games -- free, paid, or pay-what-you can. 

What if what I have is not a game, exactly?

TTRPG-adjacent submissions are also encouraged. This includes gaming supplements, original settings, tables of randomized items and/or effects, character or worldbuilding resources, and collections of original spells, abilities, or resources.

What happens if my game doesn't adhere to the submission rules?

Your submission will be rejected and that game will be excluded from the charity bundle. 

What charity does the bundle support? 

This bundle supports Alleycats and Aristocats, a cat rescue serving the Northeast Ohio area. All funds raised by this bundle go directly to the non-profit. Alleycats and Aristocats provides both adoption and Trap-Neuter-Return services, also working closely with reputable breeders to find homes for retired cats. Alleycats and Aristocats is LGBTQIA+ friendly; inclusiveness for both cats and people is a big part of their vision. Their motto is "All cats deserve love." You can learn more about the non-profit here: https://alley-aristo.org/

How long will the game jam last?

The game jam will run from 8:30 AM EDT June 24th through Midnight EDT on July 23rd. Assuming there are no snags with approval, the charity bundle will launch on August 8th just in time for International Cat Day. It will run through September 9th.

How much will the bundle cost?

The bundles' minimum price will be $10 US, although higher payments are encouraged and appreciated.

How much do you hope to raise?

Our starting goal is $2500 but if we exceed that before the charity bundle ends, we'll extend the limit as far as we can go. 

Will I get paid for anything I submit?

No. And neither will I. This is a charity bundle, and all funds raised go directly to the non-profit, Alleycats and Aristocats.

Who is organizing this bundle?

I'm Xosh (he/him) and I run Darkheart Games. I also volunteer with Alleycats and Aristocats. I am an award-winning writer and game designer. I also happen to be intersex. 

Who do I contact if I have questions?

Email Xosh at contact -@- darkheart.games You can also find me on BlueSky as @sethanikeem.bsky.social

How do I help promote the bundle?

Talk about it! Use the hashtag #CozyCatJam on your socials. Mention it on your streams and APs. Post this link to the jam for people to submit, please and thank you!