Welcome
Welcome to the very first Patch Magazine Game Jam!
If you’ve never joined a game jam before, don’t worry! It’s just a friendly challenge to make a game (of any shape or size). Whether it’s a text-based choose your own adventure, or a mind-bending puzzle game, or just a short and sweet cosy experience, the purpose is to have some fun and create something!
Your creation will be judged on Creativity, Enjoyment, Presentation, and Use of Theme.
At the end of the jam, one game will be selected to win the Patch of Approval award with a feature in the November 2025 issue!
Theme
The theme for our very first game jam is… Patch!
Rules & FAQ
👥 Can I work as a team?
Yes! Teams of up to 6 are encouraged. This isn't a hard rule, but we want to encourage everyone to work with new people and create lots of different games. Working solo is totally okay too! You can join our Discord to help find a team, or use the Community board on Itch.io.
⚠️ Are there any restrictions on content?
Your game should not contain any offensive or NSFW content. Always follow the Itch.io Terms of Service.
💾 Are there any technical restrictions?
Your game can be developed using any engine you like, as long as it can be played in-browser or on Windows. The game must be hosted on Itch.io, no external downloads will be considered.
If you're new to game development, beginner-friendly engines include Unity, Godot, GDevelop, GameMaker, PICO-8, Ren'Py, Bitsy, and Twine. You may also use Unreal, but be aware it may exceed the 1GB Itch.io limit.
🎨 Can I use assets made by someone else?
As long as you have the rights or permission to use them, yes!
🚫 Can I use generative AI?
No. The use of AI is prohibited for this game jam.
🔧 Can I submit an unfinished game?
Yes! Unfinished and unpolished games are welcome. Submit what you’ve made and you can continue developing it after the jam ends.
📜 What are the rights of my game?
All games remain the property of their creators.
By submitting, you grant Patch Magazine permission to:
- Feature your game (images, descriptions, clips) on our website and social media
- Include winning entries in our November 2025 print/digital issues
- Use your game title and imagery for jam-related promotion
If your game wins, we may ask for screenshots or a short blurb.
Submitting
To submit your game:
- Upload your game directly to Itch.io (no external download links).
- Ensure it’s playable either in-browser or as a Windows download hosted on Itch.
- Submit it before 25th September 23:59 BST.
Make sure your page includes how to play, a brief description, and any credits. We also recommend testing your game ahead of time to make sure it runs smoothly.
Rating
After the jam ends, submissions will be rated by the public and Patch Magazine. Games will be scored based on:
- 🧠 Creativity: How original is the game?
- 🎮 Enjoyment: Is it engaging, fun, or emotionally resonant?
- 🎨 Presentation: How well is the game presented? This includes visual style, audio, polish, and overall vibe.
- 🎭 Use of Theme: How cleverly is the theme used?
Good Luck!
If you have any questions, feel free to join our Discord!
