This jam is now over. It ran from 2020-10-01 07:00:00 to 2020-11-01 07:00:00. View 26 entries

Your challenge: during the month of October, build a game for CHIP-8 or one of its extensions- SCHIP and XO-CHIP.

You have a hex keypad for input, 64x32 pixels (or 128x64 with SCHIP), 3.5kb of RAM and code space (64kb with XO-CHIP), and two colors (or up to 4 with XO-CHIP). Embrace these creative constraints, and make the most of them!


The Octo IDE allows you to write CHIP-8 games in a beginner-friendly low-level language, and even export standalone HTML builds of your game to share here on Itch. If you've used Octo before, you might be interested in a summary of the latest improvements.

Octo Source CodeOutput
: main
  i := ball
  loop
    sprite v0 v1 7
    v0 += 3
    v1 += 5
  again

: ball
  0x38 0x74 0xFA 0xFE 0xFE 0x7C 0x38

Using other tools or homespun CHIP-8 emulators is also fair game. If you're interested in making games that will run on historical hardware, like the COSMAC VIP or the HP-48 calculator, reach out on this jam's forum for tips!


Having trouble figuring out where to start? This year, we're offering two XO-CHIP game templates you can tear apart, extend, remix, and reassemble to your heart's content:

Into The GarlicScapeSuper NeatBoy

A roguelike game engine.

- Static or randomly-generated levels
- Turn-based movement and idle animations
- 7x7 tiles and sprites
- Item pickups
- Hostile mobs
- Huggable Llamas

A metroidvania-style platformer engine.

- Jumping! Falling!
- Large maps composed of 16x16-tile rooms
- 8x8 sprites, 8x4 tiles
- Hazardous tiles and respawning
- Speedrunning-friendly timer
- Leaf collecting
Get it HereGet it Here

You can also find inspiration- or code to borrow- over at the CHIP-8 Archive. Like the examples above, everything in the archive is provided under the Creative Commons Zero "No Rights Reserved" license.

Playthroughs and commentary from all six previous Octojams are available on youtube!

Submissions(26)

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A demake of Dicey Dungeon for the elderly Chip8 Computer with XO-CHIP extension.
Card Game
Play in browser
Chip-8 AKIRA
Action
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Do Flaps, Run, and Get Bugs!
Action
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A normal-sized Forth for SCHIP.
Run in browser
A collection of CHIP-8 turmites for HP 48 calculators
Simulation
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A CHIP-8 maze game for Octojam 7
Play in browser
Yet Another Snake Game
Action
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A game for Chip8 platforms inspired by the Windows 3.1 classic "Jezzball". Can you beat all 8 levels and see the ending?
Action
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Currently Unfinished Octojam 7 Submission
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Keep the ball out of your corner
Sports
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A simple CHIP-8 runner where you defeat the enemies and reach the princess!
Platformer
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A teeny-tiny REPL on CHIP-8
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A snake game made for the CHIP-8
Play in browser
You don't have to Think-a-Lot to play Think-a-Dot (unless you really want to)
Puzzle
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Find ancient gold and avoid deadly vipers in this faux-3D first person puzzle game!
Adventure
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Build ever bigger rockets and explore the solar system!
Simulation
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A partial demake of
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An adaptation of Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man
Play in browser
8-bit microgame gauntlet with octopus friends!
Action
Play in browser
A basic lunar lander implementation in CHIP-8
Simulation
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Save the universe from an existential threat through the power of Neil Young and the 6 scions.
Strategy
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Intergalactic Rock Paper Scissors
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A simple reaction timer
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XO-Chip brick-breaker with a little twist
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Snake-like Chip8 game for the Cosmac VIP
Action
Play in browser
A teeny-tiny apl-ish interpreter for SCHIP
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