Submissions open from 2025-04-01 05:00:00 to 2025-04-29 17:00:00
Submissions due in
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Write a Game Design Document, for a PICO-8 game you want to make!

If you want to make games with PICO-8, even if you've never coded before, then this jam is for you! Get your game idea on paper and you could win a full PICO-8 license for free!

"Fantasy Sprites"

Lets take the *sprites* from this *fantasy* console more literally, as the tiny fictional or mythological creatures such as fairies, pixies, goblins, elementals, gnomes, etc. Any of the little fantastical beings from around the world in folklore that can be light and whimsical or even dark and grim.

(The theme is optional. If you already have a game idea that you love and it doesn't fit the theme then you can ignore the theme and plan the design and details of the game you really want to make.)

  • No AI generated images or text.
  • No multiple submissions.
  • Submit all text and images in a single PDF file.
  • Must provide name and email to receive a prize.
  • Follow our Community Code of Conduct, summarized as "Be nice." 
  • Games that discuss sensitive or mature content/themes should have a content warning on their title such as "mature content".



Our judges will follow this rubric with these 10 areas of assessment.

  • Unique Concept (10 points)
  • Creative Ideas (10 points)
  • Clear Gameplay Loop (10 points)
  • Engaging Mechanics (10 points)
  • Fully Envisioned Style & Theme (10 points)
  • Clear Considerations for PICO-8 limitations (10 points)
  • Realistic Scope (10 points)
  • Clear Communication (10 points)
  • Complete Information (10 points)
  • Professional Presentation (10 points)

Note: We don't want to limit the amount of words you write in your document, but the size of the document and length of text will not be judged, only the quality, creativity, and planning of your game idea. Depending on the number of participants and the length of the documents, the judges may have to skim through the documents to give a fair amount of review time to each submission.

Tip 1: If you write a lot and go into heavy detail in some sections, try to summarize it in the first paragraph for the judges to quickly understand.

Tip 2: If you don't write a lot, or English is not your first language, then try to use many images to get your ideas across.


Submit a single PDF Document at any point during the Jam period, before 30 April. You will not be allowed to edit the document after submission.

Get the Template Here

How to Edit:
Click File > Make a Copy to copy the template to your Google Docs for editing.  Or download it by clicking File > Download > Microsoft Word (.docx)

First time writing a Game Design Document? No problem. The template guides you through what to write in each section and we have examples to read.
Example 1: Puzzles of the Paladin GDD
Example 2: Hero Slayer GDD

This event is sponsored by the NerdyTeachers' Ko-Fi members, and zep, the creator of PICO-8!


For questions, help, and to chat with fellow jammers, join the NerdyTeachers Discord.

If you already own PICO-8 and want to participate in this jam for fun, there is a checkbox on submission to opt out of the reward.