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Ranked

Welcome to the first ranked event of Phobia Jam. This Game Jam is organized to have a great time with a touch of friendly competition. The winner will not receive any prizes, but their game will be featured on my itch.io profile.

What is Phobia Jam?

Phobia Jam is a Game Jam series where a different phobia is chosen as the theme for each event. In this series, participants are encouraged to freely create games based on the chosen theme (horror games are recommended).

Theme

Theme: Ergophobia

Ergophobia is the fear or intense anxiety related to work or the workplace. It can manifest as dread of responsibilities, panic at the thought of tasks, or avoidance of environments tied to labor. While less commonly discussed than other phobias, it represents how something as ordinary as “work” can transform into a source of fear.

Schedule

Start Date: 24.08.2025

End Date: 31.08.2025

Duration: 7 Days / 168 Hours

Voting End Date: 07.09.2025

Rules

• Theme is Mandatory: Every game must be based on the announced phobia theme. How you interpret and represent the phobia is up to you, but it should be clearly reflected in your game.
• Team or Solo: You can participate solo or as part of a team.
• No NSFW or Offensive Content: Submissions must not contain hate speech, explicit sexual content, or discriminatory themes.
• Assets: You are encouraged to create your own assets during the jam, but using pre-made or third-party assets is allowed as long as:
  • You have the legal rights to use them (public domain, your own work, or properly licensed).
  • You credit all external assets clearly on your game’s submission page.

Voting Criteria

• Theme Relevance: How well does the game incorporate and interpret the given theme? Is the theme integrated creatively into the gameplay, visuals, and overall concept?
• Creativity & Concept: How original and innovative is the game’s idea? Does it present unique mechanics, storytelling, or design elements that set it apart from typical games?
• Gameplay: How engaging and enjoyable are the game mechanics? Is the gameplay smooth, balanced, and easy to understand? Does it provide a satisfying player experience?
• Visuals & Art Style: How appealing and polished are the graphics and animations? Does the visual style effectively support the game’s theme and atmosphere?
• Audio & Music: How well do the sound effects and music enhance the overall experience? Do they complement the game’s mood and theme effectively?