Valthorne • Biblical Game Jam
Make a game with a theme inspired by anything biblical. Tell a story. Share a testimony. Explore a parable. Make something creative that clearly connects.
Theme: Biblical Engine: Any Genre: Anything Solo or Teams Keep it Clean
📅 Jam Dates
Timeframe: March 27th, 2026 – April 6th, 2026
(Ends the day after Easter)
Timezone: America/Chicago (Central Time)
Submit before the countdown hits zero.
✨ What is Valthorne?
Valthorne is a game engine I’ve been building for many months. It’s named after the game concepts I’ve created over many years for the world of Valthorne.
This jam is also an opportunity to showcase and advertise Valthorne. You are free to use any engine/framework you want — Unity, Godot, Unreal, GameMaker, custom engines, anything. But if you’re willing, I’d love for you to try Valthorne and ship something with it!
Tip: If you use Valthorne, mention it on your submission page so people can discover it.
💰 Prize Pool
This jam includes cash prizes for the top entries.
- 1st Place: $100
- 2nd Place: $50
- 3rd Place: $25
Valthorne Bonus: If the 1st place winner used Valthorne as the engine, an additional $100 bonus will be added on top.
That means 1st place can earn up to $200 total if the winning game was made with Valthorne.
Prizes are awarded per winning submission, not per individual team member.
✅ Jam Requirements
- Your game must relate to the Bible. (direct retelling or inspired-by is fine)
- Use any game engine/framework you want. Valthorne is encouraged, not required.
- Any genre is welcome: story, puzzle, platformer, RPG, roguelike, VN, arcade, etc.
- Solo or teams are welcome.
🧭 Content Guidelines (Important)
- Keep it clean and appropriate.
- Avoid mocking God, Scripture, or Christian faith.
- If you’re unsure, choose the safer direction.
💡 Theme Ideas
- Scripture story: Exodus, Judges, David, Esther, Jonah, Acts, etc.
- Parable-inspired: Good Samaritan, Prodigal Son, Sower, Lost Sheep, etc.
- Psalm / proverb mood: comfort, wisdom, fear, joy, perseverance.
- Virtues: forgiveness, humility, courage, patience, self-control.
- Testimony: a journey, restoration, calling, answered prayer.
- Bible-adjacent: a fictional story clearly mirroring biblical truth.
📦 What to Submit
- A playable build (Web or Desktop are both welcome)
- A short description of what you made and how it connects to the theme
- Controls (keyboard/mouse/controller) + any accessibility notes
- Credits for assets, music, fonts, tools, and teammates
Recommended: include 2–6 screenshots and a short GIF. It helps people try your game.
🧾 Rules
- Be respectful. This jam is about biblical inspiration, not attacking others.
- Keep it clean. Think: “safe to show at church / youth group.”
- Asset policy: Original, commissioned, or properly licensed assets are allowed — credit required.
- Pre-made work: Allowed if disclosed (code, art, music, etc.).
🏁 Recommended “Done” Goal
Aim for a small, complete experience: one core mechanic, one loop, one ending.
- Start with a playable prototype fast.
- Cut scope early and often.
- Polish your best 1–2 moments.
- Clear tutorial text beats confusion.
- Simple UI beats fancy UI.
- Ship a build you’d replay.
Tip: A small, polished, complete game will score better than a large unfinished one.
🏆 Judging Criteria
Entries will be evaluated based on the following:
- Biblical Connection – How clearly and thoughtfully the game connects to Scripture or biblical themes
- Fun / Engagement – How enjoyable, meaningful, or compelling the experience is
- Gameplay / Design – Mechanics, flow, clarity of goals, and overall game design
- Presentation – Visuals, audio, polish, and overall feel
- Creativity – Originality and unique interpretation of the theme
- Completeness – How finished and stable the game feels (ending, minimal bugs, playable loop)
🔗 Links / Resources
Valthorne GitHub
❓ FAQ
- Do I have to use Valthorne? No. Use any engine/framework you want. Valthorne is encouraged, not required.
- Can I use free assets? Yes, as long as the license allows it and you credit properly.
- Can I work after the deadline? You can keep improving, but submit a jam build before it ends.
- Can teams join? Absolutely.
🙌 Closing
Make something small, meaningful, and finished. Be bold, be creative, and have fun building. And if you try Valthorne, thank you — it helps a ton.
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