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)

All submissions
·
Browser playable (26)

No submissions match your filter

A demake of Dicey Dungeon for the elderly Chip8 Computer with XO-CHIP extension.
Card Game
Play in browser
Chip-8 AKIRA
Action
Play in browser
Do Flaps, Run, and Get Bugs!
Action
Play in browser
A normal-sized Forth for SCHIP.
Run in browser
A collection of CHIP-8 turmites for HP 48 calculators
Simulation
Play in browser
A CHIP-8 maze game for Octojam 7
Play in browser
Yet Another Snake Game
Action
Play in browser
A game for Chip8 platforms inspired by the Windows 3.1 classic "Jezzball". Can you beat all 8 levels and see the ending?
Action
Play in browser
Currently Unfinished Octojam 7 Submission
Play in browser
Keep the ball out of your corner
Sports
Play in browser
A teeny-tiny REPL on CHIP-8
Run in browser
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
Play in browser
Find ancient gold and avoid deadly vipers in this faux-3D first person puzzle game!
Adventure
Play in browser
Build ever bigger rockets and explore the solar system!
Simulation
Play in browser
A partial demake of
Play in browser
A simple CHIP-8 runner where you defeat the enemies and reach the princess!
Platformer
Play in browser
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
Play in browser
Save the universe from an existential threat through the power of Neil Young and the 6 scions.
Strategy
Play in browser
Intergalactic Rock Paper Scissors
Play in browser
A simple reaction timer
Play in browser
XO-Chip brick-breaker with a little twist
Play in browser
Snake-like Chip8 game for the Cosmac VIP
Action
Play in browser
A teeny-tiny apl-ish interpreter for SCHIP
Run in browser