Submissions open from 2025-03-01 05:00:00 to 2025-03-31 03:59:59
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⬅️ GLJ #001 GLJ #003 ➡️

Disclaimer: The Game-Like Jam is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with Ninja Kiwi, Modern Times Group, or the Bloons franchise.


Rogue-likes... Souls-likes... Bloons-likes.

This is your chance to finish a game with known scope.

Now you can focus on the actual building, instead of what to build!

The Challenge

Submit a game that is so similar to Bloons Tower Defense (2007), it would be considered "a Bloons-like."


Bloons Tower Defense, 2007
https://www.crazygames.com/game/bloons-tower-defense

Use the game above as your sole inspiration for mechanics and design.


Rules

1. Preserve the core gameplay.

  • Submit a game that is so similar to Bloons TD, it would be considered "a Bloons TD-like."
  • Improvements and changes are OK!

2. But make it original.

  • Do not give it a name similar to "Bloons", "Bloons TD", or "Bloons Tower Defense".
  • Do not copy any assets or code directly from Bloons Tower Defense, or any Bloons game.
  • Do not use assets that you did not make unless they are CC0/similar, or you own a commercial license to use them.
  • Avoid using music that you did not make yourself, or else your game will be muted in the playthrough livestream. Note that AI music is not considered made by you.
  • Consider adding a "Streamer Mode" if you want sound FX to be heard on stream.

3. Keep it clean.

  • Entries must be SFW (Safe For Work), and comply with the itch.io TOS.

4. Make it embeddable.

  • Your game must be playable in the browser, or it will be disqualified! This allows everyone to play without concerns about malware.

5. Submit in time.

  • You'll have approximately 1 month to work on this. Please study the jam calendar below for exact dates.
  • Submissions will not be editable during the voting period!

6. Vote on other games.

  • During the week after the jam ends, voting will be open. Please rank as many games as you can, so we can find the best Bloons-like out there 😎!

7. Have fun!

  • Just kidding, that would be so cringe to say. No but seriously, try to have fun though.


Calendar

Sat, March 1st (12:00 AM ET):
Jam Begins

Sun, March 30th (11:59 PM ET):
Jam Ends, Voting Begins!

Fri, April 4th (11:59 AM ET):
Voting Ends

Fri, April 4th (2:00 PM ET):
Submission Showcase Livestream


Judging Criteria

Voting begins when the jam ends!

Prepare to judge & be judged on the following criteria:

Most Like the Original
Best Twist on the Original


Watch and Share

Join the weekly livestream to share how your entry is going!

Livestreams happen every week during the jam.

After voting ends, up to 20 submissions will be played live on stream!

Game Breakdown + Devlog 1
Jam Devlog 2
Jam Devlog 3
Jam Devlog 4
Jam Devlog 5
April 4th
Entry Showcase
April 4th

Note: The jam host's entry will not be submitted for ranking.


Future Jams

The Game-like Jam happens hexannually

i.e.
January, March, May, July, September, and November
(6 times a year / every other month)


Links

YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@HyperGameDev

Discord Server:
https://discord.gg/HWXe8pQcEg


⬅️ GLJ #001 GLJ #003 ➡️

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