Hack & Play: World Jam is a global celebration of creativity, innovation, and fun! Hosted by Snow Star Games. This jam runs from 25th July to 27th July 2025, challenging developers to build something incredible in just 2 days.

Whether you’re a solo dev, hobbyist, or part of a small team, this event is your chance to bring your ideas to life and compete for a $30,000+ prize pool. The jam is open to all genres, styles, and skill levels. 

What matters most is your imagination.

This isn't just about competition — it’s about connecting with developers worldwide, learning new skills, and having fun while making games under a shared theme. From first-timers to seasoned pros, everyone is welcome.

Whether you finish or not, you'll gain experience, meet fellow game devs, and grow as a creator.

Ready to hack, play, and show the world what you’ve got?

Join us on our Hack & Play Jam Discord Server to get updates, find teammates, ask questions, and share progress!

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🎨 Themes of the Game Jam

🎯Use It Once

🌗Two Worlds

🚪One Room

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🎉 EVERYONE GETS REWARDS! 💥

💰 Current Total Prize Pool: $30,000+

💵 Current Cash Prize Pool: $575

🎁 PARTICIPANT PRIZES

• 🎟️ $40 off coupon for Zector Lab CG Trader (Limited Coupons – claim in our Discord during the Jam)
• 🎟️ $40 off coupon for David Grette Studio CG Trader (Limited Coupons – claim in our Discord during the Jam)
• 🎟️ 50% off coupon for David Grette Studio CG Trader (Limited Coupons – claim in our Discord during the Jam)

🏆 OVERALL WINNER #1

🎖️ Rewards:

• $150 cash prize 💰 (PayPal / Steam Wallet)
• Assets Vouchers - $3,750+
• Discord role: 🏆 World Jam Winner + ⭐ Hall of Fame

🥈 OVERALL WINNER #2

🎖️ Rewards:

• $100 cash prize 💰 (PayPal / Steam Wallet)
  
• Assets Vouchers - $2,750+
  
• Discord role: ⭐ Hall of Fame
  

🥉 OVERALL WINNER #3

🎖️ Rewards:

• $75 cash prize 💰 (PayPal / Steam Wallet)
• Assets Vouchers - $1,800+
• Discord role: ⭐ Hall of Fame

🎮 BEST GAMEPLAY

🎖️ Rewards:

• $50 cash prize 💰 (PayPal / Steam Wallet)
• Assets Vouchers - $550+
• Discord role: ⭐ Hall of Fame

💡 BEST INNOVATION

🎖️ Rewards:

• $50 cash prize 💰 (PayPal / Steam Wallet)
• Assets Vouchers - $500+
• Discord role: ⭐ Hall of Fame

🎯 BEST THEME

🎖️ Rewards:

• $50 cash prize 💰 (PayPal / Steam Wallet)
• Assets Vouchers - $450+
• Discord role: ⭐ Hall of Fame

🎨 BEST DESIGN & ART

🎖️ Rewards:

• $50 cash prize 💰 (PayPal / Steam Wallet)
• Assets Vouchers - $450+
• Discord role: ⭐ Hall of Fame

🎵 BEST SOUND & MUSIC

🎖️ Rewards:

• $50 cash prize 💰 (PayPal / Steam Wallet)
• Assets Vouchers - $600+
• Discord role: ⭐ Hall of Fame

🔍 Curious about all the awesome assets you can win?
Check out the FULL PRIZE VAULT 💼💎 — every voucher, every sponsor, every reward revealed!
👉 Google Sheets

✅ Note: Additional prizes may be added as the event progresses.

All submitted games will be evaluated based on the following categories:

• Gameplay : How engaging, intuitive, and enjoyable is the game to play? Consider the overall fun factor, responsiveness, and balance of the gameplay experience.
• Innovation : Does the game present original ideas or creative mechanics?
• Theme : How effectively does the game incorporate the jam’s theme? Judges will consider how meaningfully and creatively the theme is interpreted.
• Design & Art : How visually cohesive and appealing is the game? This includes overall design, art style, UI, and animation quality.
• Sound & Music : How well does the audio contribute to the experience? Sound effects, background music, and overall audio design will be evaluated for quality and immersion.

Don’t worry too much about the scores!

The most important part is to participate, have fun, and stay true to the theme. Game jams are a great opportunity to meet fellow developers, collaborate, share ideas, and make new friends in the community.

Once the submission period ends, our panel of judges will review and rate all entries.

Please follow these rules to ensure a fair and enjoyable event. Breaking any rule may result in disqualification.

1️⃣ Original Games Only → Your game must be created during the jam. Reusing old ideas is allowed, but everything must be fully remade to fit the theme.

2️⃣ Use Only Licensed or Permitted Assets → You may use external assets (fonts, music, sprites, etc.) only if you have permission or the correct license, and you must credit them properly.

3️⃣ Credit Your Team and Assets → List all team members and their roles in this format: (Role), (Name), (Itch.io Profile Link), and include sources for all third-party assets used.

4️⃣ No Clones or Asset Flips → Games based on unmodified templates or copied from existing games will be disqualified.

5️⃣ Join the Discord Server → You must be in the official Discord Server to be eligible for prizes.

6️⃣ Respect Copyright → Do not use or copy someone else’s work without permission—no plagiarism of any kind.

7️⃣ AI Use Is Limited → You may use AI tools, but your game must still be your own work. Clearly mention how AI was used, if at all.

8️⃣ Keep It Family-Friendly → No NSFW, offensive, or inappropriate content—this is a community-friendly event.

9️⃣ Submission May Be Promoted → By submitting, you agree that your game may be featured in promotional content or social media by the hosts.

1️⃣ How long does the jam last? → You get 48 hours to develop and submit your game.

2️⃣ What are the limitations? → Games must be submitted within the deadline to avoid disqualification.

3️⃣ Is there a theme? → Yes! The theme will be announced at the start of the event. Your game will be judged based on how well it fits the theme.

4️⃣ Can I work in a team? → Yes! You can work solo or in a team (maximum 4 members).

5️⃣ Should my game be playable in the browser? → Yes! Your game must work on PC in both browser mode and as a downloadable file.

6️⃣ Can I use external audio and fonts? → Yes! You may create or use external sound effects, music, and fonts—as long as you credit them properly.

7️⃣ Which game engine should I use? → Any available engine that helps you create a playable game!