✨ Katastrophic Code Jam: Narrative Edition

Welcome to the first-ever Katastrophic Code Jam – Narrative Edition!
This is a week-long story game jam focused on interactive, branching narratives built around player choice. Whether you're crafting a heartfelt drama, a mystery with multiple outcomes, or a lighthearted interactive tale, this jam is all about storytelling through decisions.

Let your imagination shape the narrative.
Let every choice carry weight.
Let’s explore the art of interactive storytelling.

🕒 Schedule

Jam starts: June 4, 2025 – 15:00 (UTC)
Jam ends: June 11, 2025 – 15:00 (UTC)
Voting period: 2 days after the jam ends

You’ll have one week to build a story-driven game that puts narrative and player agency at its core.

🎯 Theme

The theme will be revealed at the start of the jam!

Theme:

"A Choice You Can’t Undo"

One decision changes everything. No reset, no escape—just consequences.

📝 Rules

• Follow the theme – Your game should clearly reflect the theme in its story, structure, or choices. Creative interpretations are encouraged.

• Everyone is welcome – Whether you're a solo developer, part of a team, a beginner, or a veteran, you’re invited to join.

• Use any tools – Twine, Ink, Unity, Godot, Ren’Py, HTML, even pen & paper—whatever works for your story.

• External assets are allowed – You can use existing art, music, or code, as long as you have permission to use them (public domain, CC0, licensed, etc.).

• Be respectful – No hate speech, stolen content, or inappropriate behavior.

• Submit on time – Late entries won’t be ranked but can still be shared with the community.

• Prototypes are welcome – Your game doesn’t need to be perfect; focus on telling a compelling story.

🏆 Voting & Rankings

After the jam ends, submissions will be rated by fellow participants. You’ll be able to vote on other games—and they’ll vote on yours.

Games will be judged on:

• Narrative Creativity – Is the story original, meaningful, or emotionally impactful?

• Interactivity – Do choices feel significant and affect the story in interesting ways?

• Theme Interpretation – How well is the theme integrated into the narrative?

• Technical Execution – Does the game run smoothly and support the player experience?

• Aesthetic & Mood – How do visuals and audio enhance the storytelling?

Make sure to enable the ranking option when you submit your entry.

💬 Community

We’ll be sharing progress, feedback, and support on Discord:
👉 https://discord.gg/hWyJhpc7mu 

🛠 Tips

• Keep your project small and focused—one week goes by quickly.

• Test early and make sure your story paths work as expected.

• Prioritize clarity and emotional impact over complexity.

• Don’t be afraid to try something new—interactive fiction is a broad canvas.