Liminal Road Spooky Jam is an online game jam hosted by Liminal Road, a Brazilian game company. The jam is open to everyone, from anywhere in the world.

We value the international creative exchange that the internet makes possible. Because of that, games must be in English, so the largest possible number of participants, players, streamers, and judges can play and understand the submissions.

Our rules are flexible and guided mostly by common sense. We want people to make horror games that feel spooky, strange, creative, and finishable during the jam without turning the event into paperwork

The
Liminal Road Discord
is the central hub for the jam. Use it to find teammates, ask questions,
follow announcements, and see the theme reveal.

What is the theme for this jam?

The theme will be announced on Discord at the start of the jam. This page will also be updated with the theme on the first day.

Who can join?

Anyone can join. The jam is online and open to international participants.

What language should my game use?

Your game must be in English. This helps the international community play, rate, and comment on submissions more easily.

How do teams work?

• 👥Teams may have 1 to 5 people.
• 👤Solo entries are welcome.
• 🔍 The Discord server will work as the main place to find teammates.
• ➡️ Only one team member needs to submit the game on itch.io.
• 📃Preferably, all team members should be listed as contributors on the itch.io project.

Can I use code or assets I made before the jam?

Yes. You may use pre-existing code, art, audio, tools, plugins, templates, and asset packs. However, the main game experience should be created during the jam.

Please do not submit a finished game that already existed before the jam.

Can I use assets made by someone else?

Yes, as long as you have the legal right to use them. External content must be credited clearly in your submission.

Can I use AI tools?

AI tools are allowed as part of the game creation process, but they should be treated as a tool, not as a replacement for your own creative work.

We strongly encourage you to make as much as possible manually during the jam. Try to challenge yourself, be creative, and use the event as a chance to practice your craft.

Does my game need to follow a specific art style?

There is no strict required art style. 2D and 3D games are both allowed, as long as they fit the horror focus of the jam.

You are encouraged to experiment, play with the theme, and use different visual styles to create atmosphere, tension, and unease.

SUBMISSION PERIOD

When is the submission deadline?

Games must be submitted on itch.io by May 30, 2026.

What platforms should my game support?

Games should prioritize Windows 10 or newer. Other platforms are welcome, and browser games are allowed.

Can I submit an unfinished or buggy game?

Yes. Game jams are about finishing something under time constraints. Unfinished, buggy, or rough submissions are still welcome.

Can I update my game after submissions close?

After the submission period ends and voting begins, updates are not allowed until voting is finished.

Can my game include mature or disturbing content?

Use common sense. If your game includes mature, violent, disturbing, or sensitive content, please flag it clearly on the game page.

VOTING PERIOD

How will voting work?

Voting starts as soon as the submission period ends and runs until June 12, 2026.

There are two public voting criteria, voted on only by people who submitted games or contributed to jam entries. There are also three criteria voted on by the judges. The game with the best average across all five criteria will be considered the overall ranking winner.

Submitters and contributors must vote on 3 random games through the itch.io voting queue before they can freely vote on other games.

What are the judging criteria?

• Fun - How enjoyable the game was, how much you liked playing it, and how positively it impacted you. Voted on by jam participants.
• Horror - How scary the game was, including fear, tension, anxiety, and discomfort. Voted on by jam participants.
• Aesthetics - Art direction, atmosphere, immersion, sound, presentation, and visual identity. Voted on by the judges.
• Gameplay - Mechanics, clarity, controls, pacing, and how interesting the game felt to play. Voted on by the judges.
• Theme - How well the game followed the jam theme. Voted on by the judges.

Will there be awards?

To be announced later.

What is the full jam schedule?

• Jam starts: May 7, 2026.
• Theme reveal: May 7, 2026.
• Submissions close: May 30, 2026.
• Voting starts: May 30, 2026.
• Voting ends: June 12, 2026.
• Results announcement: June 13, 2026, live on Discord.