You can only start working on the actual game project after the jam's submission period starts, but you can start planning and creating/gathering assets and other resources before that time.

This is a casual game jam, so premade assets are allowed and you can reuse some code from past projects if you want. However, don't go overboard with it. In order to comply with the spirit of the jam, the bulk of the work on your game should be done during the game jam itself.

Games made in any version of RPG Maker or similar engines are preferred, but you can use other game engines. However, in that case, additional limitations apply.

What does that mean? If you use RPG Maker or an engine similar to it (such as WOLF RPG Editor) to make your game, then you are free to just make a horror game. It doesn't matter if it's a puzzle game, a dark fantasy RPG or a Visual Novel made with a ton of custom plugins. All is fine and well, so long as it's a horror game or at least features significant horror elements.

If you use a more "heavy-duty" engine such as Unity, Godot or Unreal Engine, then you need to make sure your game "keeps to the spirit of RPG Maker Horror Games". This is very open to interpretation and is judged on a case-by-case basis. Your game should most likely be 2D and top-down/side-view at the very least. The assumption is that if you are using a different engine, you are already familiar with RPG Maker-style Horror Games and how they normally are. We tend to give people the benefit of the doubt when it comes to this.

AI-generated assets are allowed, if you disclose their use on the game's project page. This applies even if these originally AI-generated assets are later edited by you.

That said, this is only a requirement if there are any AI-generated assets in your game. It doesn't apply if you've used AI-generated images as inspiration or if you've simply asked ChatGPT for coding advice, for example.

Yes, you can form a team. There's no limit to the amount of team members your team can have. You can also work on multiple games or be a part of multiple different teams.

Your game has to be a horror game or at least contain significant horror elements. It doesn't need to be outright scary, so long as it can even remotely be considered one.

We tend to give games the benefit of the doubt when it comes to this, so don't worry about it too much.

This is a game jam, incomplete games are totally fine and expected. You are encouraged to work on your game even during the Rating Period.

Follow itch.io's Terms of Service and tag your game appropriately. We also advise all jam submitters to include content warnings in their games whenever it seems necessary.

You need to incorporate the Theme from the current jam into your game in some way. It's completely up to you how you interpret the Theme, so long as it's obvious that you've at least made an effort to follow it. We aren't too strict with it and creative interpretations are encouraged.

Yes, the Bonus Challenges are totally optional and serve mostly to guide people who need that extra guidance. It's up to you if you decide to implement them or not.

There has to be some kind of free version of your game made available for the duration of the both this game jam's submission period and also its rating period. It could be a free demo version or the game itself being made free for a limited time. This requirement no longer applies after the game jam ends.

This jam accepts late submissions during the Rating Period. A Late Submission Thread will be set up in the jam's Community tab once the submission period ends. Anyone who wants to submit their game to the jam after the submission period ends will have to put a link to their game's project page in said thread and will receive a reply with a Submission Link that will allow them to submit their game to the jam.

After the Rating Period ends, the Community tab will be closed and no further late submissions will be accepted.

1) Follow itch.io's Terms of Service.

2) Follow the Terms of Use of any assets you use in your game.

3) Have fun!