Find the 48-hour version here: https://itch.io/jam/choose-your-own-jam-jam-2025
The Theme is:
The official theme for the jam is Beneath the Surface! What does that bring to mind? A literal journey underground, a hidden mystery, unspoken truths, or something else entirely? There's no single "correct" way to use it, and we're excited to see how this theme inspires you to create. Good luck!
- Almost any game engine, tool, or game-making website is allowed. The exception is no AI-generated artwork. If you cannot upload your game to itch.io, we will have a form for us to play your game on a website like Scratch.
- Your game must be SFW (safe-for-work). This is an all ages jam, so avoid nudity, drug use, profanity, slurs, or extreme violence. We will remove any games we deem inappropriate.
- Games must be made playable for the web only.
- Games must be free to play.
- Updating your entry during the voting period is not allowed.
We are the Gwinnett County Public Library's Learning Labs. We are a community makerspace that provides the means to create, collaborate, and share digital content. If you are a videographer, graphic designer, creative professional, hobbyist or artist, the Learning Lab has the software and equipment to turn your vision into reality.
In the Learning Labs, you can create and share music, podcasts, video and photography content with our collection of audiovisual equipment. You can design digital and printable graphics for your business with our digital drawing tablets and the full Adobe Creative Suite. Make your cosplay dreams and product ideas a reality with our 3D printers, sewing machines, CNC machines and laser cutter. Your imagination is the architect in the Learning Labs.
What ages can participate?
This is an all-ages Game Jam! To publish games on itch.io, you must be 18 years old (or have a parent or guardian publish it for you). More information on itch.io Terms of Service are located here. If you have a child that wants to participate but doesn't know how to use an engine like Unity or Unreal, they can use the Scratch website and submit a link to their game through itch.io using a free tool like TurboWarp Packager.
Do I need to live in Gwinnett County, Georgia, or have a library card?
Absolutely not! One reason we chose to host on this website is so that anyone can participate! Out-of-state participants will have their own category, and the winning game will receive an award in the mail, if they choose. Please note that only participants who come to our Game Jam Award Showcase are eligible for cash prizes.
What tools can I use?
You can use almost any tool available to you. No AI-generated artwork may be used. Entries from any engines will be accepted.
Who owns the game I created?
You will own all the rights to your game. If you consent and we select your game to be featured in a highlight reel or Showcase, all credits go to the creator(s).
How do we vote?
Voting will happen directly on the jam's itch.io page once the submission period ends. Only accounts that have submitted a game are eligible to vote (this counts as one vote per team). To ensure fairness, you will need to rate a minimum number of randomly assigned games from the "rating queue" first. This will likely be 5 games, but may vary depending on the total number of games entered. If you can, please play and vote for as many games as you can. We encourage teams to plan a time to discuss their votes.
Voting for your own game is disabled.
How do we know the winners?
While we consider everyone who made a game a winner, we will be awarding up to $500 in prizes to the top entries in various categories. We will announce the winners at our Game Jams Award Showcase on December 6th at 3:00 PM at our Norcross Branch. All participating developers are asked to arrive at 2:00 PM. Winners will also be notified and then listed on our pages.
Any other Questions?
If you have any other questions, please reach out to us at learninglabs@gwinnettpl.org. Good luck!