updates:

4/5/2025: New Discord Group: https://discord.gg/Nh3Da2Hu
4/12/2024: Deadline extended by 2 hours for final submissions.

What is this jam about?

This jam is all about emergent gameplay, where interesting, surprising, and even hilarious moments happen as a result of your game’s systems colliding, rather than because they were directly scripted.

We’re looking for games that feel alive, where mechanics interact in unexpected ways and players experience moments you didn’t fully plan for.

Rules & Guidelines

• Your game must embrace emergent gameplay – No pre-scripted major events. The fun should come from systems, physics, AI, or procedural mechanics interacting in interesting ways.

• You can use existing code, but the "meat" of your game must be made during the jam – Reusing engines, libraries, or personal base code is fine, but core mechanics, interactions, and content should be fresh.

• Creativity and out-of-the-box thinking are highly encouraged – Unique mechanics, unusual interactions, and experimental ideas will be rewarded.

• Your game should still be fun to play – Emergence doesn’t mean randomness. A strong design should make these moments feel meaningful rather than frustrating.

• Single-player or multiplayer is allowed – As long as the emergent gameplay remains a core experience.

• No NSFW content or hateful material – Keep it clean and respectful.

• Your game must be playable in under 1 hour– Short, focused experiences that showcase emergence are ideal.

• No purely random outcomes – Games should have structured systems that allow for surprising interactions, not just random number generators creating chaos.

• No infinite idle games – While procedural elements are welcome, games must have active player involvement and meaningful decisions.

• Games will be played for approximately 1 hour and live-streamed – Ensure your game can provide an engaging experience within this timeframe.

Theme:

🌀 "Accidents Welcome" 🌀

Unexpected results and unintended consequences. Design a game where the best parts happen when things don’t go as planned!

Prize Pool

The final prize amount will depend on the number of participants. The prizes will be distributed among the top-ranked games based on our judging criteria.

Exact prizes and distribution details will be announced once the jam begins.

Judging Criteria

Every game will be personally judged and scored based on the following:

1. Emergent Gameplay (35%)

• Do mechanics create interesting and unexpected interactions?

• Does the game encourage players to explore and discover rather than follow a rigid script?

2. Fun & Engagement (25%)

• Is the game enjoyable to play, even when things go off the rails?

• Do emergent moments feel rewarding and connected to the gameplay?

3. Creativity & Innovation (20%)

• Does the game introduce fresh ideas or experimental mechanics?

• Does it push the boundaries of traditional gameplay in a unique way?

4. Replayability & Variety (10%)

• Does the game feel fresh with each playthrough?

• Are there enough moving parts to create new experiences every time?

5. Polish & Playability (10%)

• Is the game functional and reasonably bug-free?

• Does it effectively communicate how to play without excessive hand-holding?

Every participant will receive constructive feedback. We’re here to celebrate creativity and experimentation, not just crown a winner.

FAQs

Q: Can I use a pre-existing engine or framework? A: Yes! Unity, Unreal, Godot, custom engines—anything is fair game. Just make sure the bulk of your game is created during the jam.

Q: Can I work with a team? A: Absolutely! Solo or team submissions are both welcome.

Q: What platforms can I submit to? A: Ideally, make it playable on Windows, Mac, or Web. If your game requires a special setup, provide clear instructions.

Q: Can I submit a physics sandbox? A: Only if it has actual gameplay. Random chaos is not enough—there should be meaningful interactions that drive the experience.

Q: Can my game have AI-driven emergence? A: 100% yes! AI, procedural generation, physics systems—anything that leads to unscripted surprises is encouraged.