🌍 What is Code for a Cause?
Code for a Cause is a game jam where your creativity can make a real-world impact! This is not just another jam—it's an opportunity to win cash and prizes while supporting a charity.
How does it work?
- The total prize pool is split up, spread to the podium and any special tracks.
- 50% of each prize is then donated to a charity of the winners' choice 💙
Here's the exciting part: The prize pool grows as we receive more donations and sponsorships! That means the more people support the jam, the bigger the rewards for both participants and charity.
Here is the theme video:
This jam’s theme is: You Only Get One!
Join the Discord to participate with the community! (also a requirement to be eligible to win)
💰 Prizes
Our current prize pool is a total of $500 USD:
🏅 1st Place:
$200 ($100 to winner, $100 to a charity of your choice)
🥈 2nd Place:
$120 ($60 to winner, $60 to charity)
🥉 3rd Place:
$80 ($40 to winner, $40 to charity)
🕹️ Best game made with GameMaker: This prize goes to whoever makes the best game using our sponsor, GameMaker!
$100 ($50 to winner, $50 to charity)
🔹 As we secure more sponsors and donations, these prizes will increase and we can introduce new tracks for more opportunities to win! 🔹
Want to help grow the prize pool? Donate or share the jam with potential sponsors
💸 Sponsors
Thank you so much to our incredible sponsors! Without them, Code for a Cause just could not run! Make sure to click the graphics below and check out each one of them:
💡 Judges
Cherry – Hey! I’m Cherry, a student who somehow thought making games in my free time was a relaxing hobby (it’s not, but I love it anyway). I’ve got a small YouTube channel where I ramble about whatever I’m working on – usually my indie game *On The Wind’s Breath*, which has consumed my soul in the best possible way. It’s a passion project, emphasis on passion, mild panic, and a lot of coffee.
Zach – Zach is an Assistant Professor in the Game Art & Design department at the Columbus College of Art and Design. His wide variety of skill sets and curiosity finds him teaching courses such as 2D Game Production, Programming for Play, Game Theory, and Tabletop Game Design. He actively maintains practice as an interactive designer with LittleSeed Inc, who serves as a technology partner with non-profit organizations to create engaging gamified experiences for fields like education, health, and even archaeology.
📖 Rules
1. No AI-generated art (cover art, music, assets, etc)
2. No NSFW content, including excessive gore and sexual content
3. Team sizes of max. 6 members!
4. No submitting more than one game (this includes teams and solo projects, EX. if you are in a team you cannot make a solo project as well)
5. There will be NO extensions or grace periods, so plan ahead!
🕹️ How It Works
1. Develop a game based on the announced theme.
2. Work solo or in teams – it's up to you!
3. Submit your game before the deadline.
4. Judging Criteria – Winners are selected based on creativity, gameplay, visuals, sound/music and theme interpretation.
5. Results will be hidden after community voting until the judging period ends.
🚀 Why Join?
✅ Win cash prizes! More sponsors = bigger prizes!
✅ Help raise money for a great cause.
✅ Connect with fellow devs and grow your network.
📢 Help Spread the Word!
The bigger this jam gets, the bigger the prize pool and the greater the impact we can make together. Share this jam with your dev friends, communities, and potential sponsors!
💙 Support Us
We run Code for a Cause fully based on your support, so if you like what we are doing and want to see us keep going, consider joining our Patreon for only 5$/month!
Let's make games for good! 🎮