This jam is now over. It ran from 2025-11-07 04:00:00 to 2025-11-10 04:00:00. View results

What is Mini Jam?

Mini jam is a 72-hour-long game development jam that occurs every two weeks on Itch.io.

The main focus of this jam is the mandatory limitation is announced as soon as the jam starts. The theme is provided early, so you can plan ahead. Just keep in mind that you may have to change your idea when the limitation is revealed.  This jam's theme is Recursion. Said theme is purely inspirational and it's not required that you incorporate it into your game if you don't want to. Feel free to interpret it however you want.

If you are unable to submit your game before the deadline, do not panic. There will be an announcement on the discord as well as a post in the jam community tab explaining the steps necessary to submit your game late.

Join the discord server if you have any questions, want to be notified of any news, or just want to hang out with fellow jammers.

Limitation

The limitation is a special condition that your game must follow, but is entirely open to interpretation. If you are unsure if your idea does or doesn't fit the limitation,  just remember that everyone will interpret it differently. If you believe in your interpretation, chances are, someone else will too.

Limitation: Mouse Only

You may Interpret this limitation in any way you see fit

Ratings

At the end of the Jam, there will be a rating period that lasts 5 days. Anyone who submits a game to the jam, as well as any team members added as contributors to your game's project page can rate other games for the jam. Games will be rated on the following criteria:

  • Enjoyment - How much you enjoyed your time with the game.
  • Concept  - How interesting or unique the main focus of the game was.
  • Presentation  - How well executed the main focus of the game was.
  • Use of limitation - How well the game incorporated the given limitation.

Keep in mind that while the limitation is mandatory, the theme is purely for inspiration, and you should not rate a game differently based on how well the theme was incorporated. 

Rules

  • Read the rules

    Not reading the rules is not an excuse for breaking them.

  • Follow the limitation

    It is mandatory that you incorporate the jam's limitation into your game. This said, how you choose to interpret its meaning and go about incorporating it is entirely up to you.

  • The game must be made for the jam

    You cannot submit previously made games to the jam. This jam is about creating something new in the given period of time. Games made before the jam will be removed.

  • Keep game content clean

    Any and all NSFW content, potentially offensive content, graphic content etc. must be clearly telegraphed with a content warning at the start of the game or in its description or cover.

  • Answer submission questions honestly

    You will be prompted to answer a few questions when submitting your game. Please answer them to the best of your ability. Giving vague answers is a great way to set off red flags.

Any games that do not follow the rules may be removed from the jam without warning.

FAQ

There will be an announcement on the discord server, as well as a community post explaining the steps you should take to submit your project late if you missed the deadline.

Help! I couldn't submit on time, what do I do?

Mini Jam takes place every 2 weeks on a Thursday/Friday, depending on your time zone. You can expect the next Mini Jam to be up within a week of its start date.

When does the next Mini Jam start, and when will it be announced?

Following the theme is optional, following the limitation is mandatory.

Do I have to follow the theme?

You can use any engine or framework you like. You can even make your own if you want.

What engine can I use?

This jam is open to any sort of game, however video games are expected. You can build your game for any platform.

What kind of game can I make?

Yes, you can make any changes to the project or project page during the rating period, just make sure that the original version of the game can still be downloaded if your project is downloadable and make it clear on the game page that the game has been updated.

Can I make changes during the rating period?

If you have the rights to use it, anything that wasn't made specifically for this particular jam such as code from other projects or assets from asset packs is allowed. 

I have code or other assets from other projects I wish to use, are these allowed?

Yes, but that is generally not advised .

Can I submit more than one game?

Mini Jam is a strictly prize-less jam. The prizes are the games we've made along the way.

Is there a prize for the winners?

Partners

Participating in Ludum Dare? Be sure to join the official unofficial Discord server.

Want a fun and easy way to make games? Try out Ct.Js! It's a free 2D game editor that aims to make programming fun and game development easy by its visual editors and well-documented code library. Available for Windows, Mac and Linux.





Submissions(70)

All submissions
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Browser playable (65)
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Windows (14)
Linux (3)
Android (2)

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A minimal-brutalist clicker, about hating a fractal cube.
Action
Play in browser
Game made for mini-jam 197
Puzzle
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Steal the cheese and try not to get ratted out by the mice!
Survival
move only using your mouse
Action
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An idle, management, trading game about about farming trees.
Simulation
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Steal the diamond, but don't get too greedy!
Platformer
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A simple game about snakes and mice!
Survival
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Sling your way around the office supplies and find your way to the mousepad
Action
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Musical Tower Defence
Strategy
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A cozy strategy game with rogue-like element that you have to open the present and get the mysterious item.
Strategy
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Strategy
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Entry for MiniJam 197 https://itch.io/jam/mini-jam-197-recursion
Puzzle
Play in browser
Shooter
Play in browser
cheesebot
Survival
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How long can you survive in the geometric void?
Action
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Eliminate the Mice
Platformer
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A puzzle disguised as golf: shoot once, then sculpt the path with walls to reach the hole.
Sports
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Action
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Puzzle
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For the Game Jam Mini Jam 197: Recursion. Tony gets a PC from Nairda, and wishes to say thank you...
Visual Novel
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The never-ending face-kick
Platformer
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Puzzle game where you help little mouses stuck in time loops to find cheese
Puzzle
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Story driven adventure game, interact with the world!
Adventure
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How quickly can your mouse sniff out the hidden cheese?
Puzzle
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prototype for a clone like just shapes and beats
Rhythm
A simple game of heads or tales. (Fullscreen recommended)
Play in browser
A cute sorting puzzle about real mice (and their favorite meals)
Puzzle
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A submission for Minijam 197: Recursion
Racing
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War at Every Scale
Strategy
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Play in browser
A cold-hearted clanker stole your lunch. Are you gonna put up with that?
Fighting
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Mini Jam 197: Recursion
Simulation
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A recursive Sokoban-style puzzle game
Puzzle
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3D space combat game prototype made for Mini Jam #197 (Recursion, Mouse Only)
Action
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Split or stand. Nothing in between
Card Game
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Puzzle
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Coordinate with your past selves to escape the dungeon
Puzzle
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Go up faster than time ;)
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Solve puzzles controlling a physics-based computer mouse.
Puzzle
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Puzzle
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Eat other cells to grow
Action
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Play in browser
Marchlings is a simple PVE castle capture game
Strategy
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Submission for MiniJam 197: Recursion
Action
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​When dream and reality meat, there's a thin path to Shadow City. Fullscreen recommended
Puzzle
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Cheese
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Platformer
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Drag cheese to guide a mouse through line-of-sight puzzles—featuring tiny mice inside pulling the strings.
Puzzle
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Submission for MiniJam 195: Recursion
Puzzle
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A dungeon where only emeralds will find an exit!
Puzzle
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Guide the mouse to the end of the laboratory! Made for Mini Jam 197
Puzzle
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Finish, dodge, repeat.
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DO drink and drive, kids
Racing
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Shooter
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Become a very hungry amoeba... Eat everything...
Adventure
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Shoot Your Enemies With Their Own Bullets
Action
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Play in browser
Mini Jam 197
Puzzle
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A game about animals))) Made for the Mini Jam 197 game jam: Recursion
Adventure
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A game for the Mini Jam #197: Recursion
Rhythm
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Play in browser
Puzzle
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Survival
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my itch minijam submission
Puzzle
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Your new job at a company that generates fractals, for some reason.
Simulation
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Eat all the delicious cheese and avoid evil enemies!
Action
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