This jam is now over. It ran from 2023-07-28 23:00:00 to 2023-08-06 22:59:59. View results

'So Bad it's Good' Jam 2023'

Update:

Our modifier, as voted on by the community, and chosen at random, has been picked! And it is.... 'Every suggestion combined'! As always, the modifier can be taken literally, or figuratively, and you can choose to interpret (or misinterpret) it however you want! 

See the bottom of the page for a full list of every suggestion that was voted upon  this year (there were 172 different suggestions 😳).


TLDR: 9 days, bad games, and a whole lotta fun!

For better or for worse, we are hosting the 7th annual "So Bad it's Good" Jam! Make a game that is by no means "well-made" or "polished", but has a unique charm to it. The aim is to create a game that isn't perfect, or extravagant, but is jank to the point where it becomes enjoyable!

Unsure what to do? View our 2022 Jam, 2021 Jam, 2020 Jam, 2019 Jam, 2018 Jam and our 2017 Jam.

The Criteria:

You know the rules…. Oh wait?? You don’t!?!? Welp here they are!

  • Rule 1: "It has to be fun to play"

- This is arguably the hardest category to get right. There is a sweet spot with these types of games. Games that are unplayable, or mediocre to the point of boredom, are not fun. In order to make a true SBIG game, there has to be a level of enjoyment. With that said, it is up to you exactly how you choose to achieve this!

  • Rule 2: "It can be original or based off an existing IP"

- You can be as original or shamelessly unoriginal as you want. Just don't use any trademarked or copyrighted material. If you want to do an existing IP, at least think of a funny name for it. See Low Budget Quantum Tunnelling or Freedom the Eagle for inspiration.

  • Rule 3: "Use whatever engine, whatever genre, however many people"

- Just go nuts. If you want to make your game in Unity, Gamemaker, Unreal, Construct: do it! One person, Two people, Ten people: do it! Hell, if you and your gang of 300 game developers want to create a game for the Neo Geo Pocket, more power to you! Use what you feel most comfortable with, or try something new, and see how it turns out. The only way you could fail is by not releasing a game at all.

  • Rule 4: "Games must be made during the jam period".

- In order to make it a level playing field, you can't submit a game that you've worked on/released before the start of the jam. Once the jam starts, you can work on your game as much as you want, but keep your ideas in your head until the jam begins!

Modifier:

For this year's jam, as with last year's, there will be a modifier. The modifier is a special theme or item that could be added for extra points. For example, our previous modifiers have been “Ssh! The tortoise might hear!”, "one button", "impossible", "retro" and "cyberpunk". The modifier has been chosen and it is  'Every suggestion combined'!  As always, the modifier can be taken literally, or figuratively, and you can choose to interpret (or misinterpret) it however you want! 

Voting for the modifier started in May in the Discord Server, and my (not-so) trusty Discord bot, VoteBot, announced the modifier randomly, two days before the start of the Jam. 

Voting/Prizes:

As with last year’s jam, games will be voted on the following categories:

  • Graphics
  • Sound
  • Gameplay
  • Overall Bad
  • Overall Good
  • Modifier

Remember, the individual categories will be judged on whether they are so bad it's good. The voting isn't a measure of quality, but a measure of how well they fit the brief of the jam.

In previous years, we’ve created a "Best of the Worst" compilation for the top 10 winners, and the overall winner can choose whether the bundle is free or paid, and if so, what charity the proceeds will be sent to. If you would like to see the previous compilations, you can see our 2020 "Best of the Worst" Compilation, the 2018 Compilation and the 2017 Compilation.

Find a team:

We have a dedicated Discord channel for finding teams together. If you'd like to find some people to make a game with, the Discord is the best place to do so! You can join the Discord here:

Links:

As mentioned before, we have a Discord server, where you can see the latest updates, and vote on the modifier: https://discord.gg/rn7amBk

We strongly recommend you join the Discord to get a full SBIGJam experience! Over there you can vote for the modifier, and meet your fellow contestants!

And that is all, Good luck everyone!

Every 2023 Modifier Suggestion:

Here is a list of every single modifier  that was voted on this year!

tiny open world i hope nothing bad happens whatever !suggest says let us conduct the ritual
🎷🦖 🤨 crash destruction derby
haunted toothbrush patent infringement stained glass haven't we been here already?
bad translation 2010 youtube ballpit number 9
janky physics boomer humour bone app; the teeth chaotic lawn mowing
the pizza underground plaid for a fool linus tech tips they stole it!?
tax evasion all or nothing the future of sportsball g
kevin, 34 randomized gravity how to mix napalm the letter i is required
it's all about speed ludonarrative dissonance lying financial compensation
the letter h is banned sunk cost fallacy maniacal laughter animate all textures
comedically large spoon fishing you're the bad guy endless rotation
excessively non-violent wacky graphics amogus overpressure
simulator 13-bit out of my head non-existent 4th wall
every suggestion combined my brother is a flamingo!?! the wages of procrastination shameless product placement
1000 monkeys with keyboards wave function collapse dietary supplements deja vu
kick the baby! even the odds all the snails michael jackson
explosive butter odd the evens more tea, vicar? muntjacs
quantum quackery submarine rock it! Nicolas cage
osha violations lying bot bogos binted observant otter
votebot bizarre banana bash multiple instances no.
unusually deep lore out of the box medieval trader it's not a phase, mum!
fantasy console everyn't many book shooting... the messenger!? cats everywhere
but why tho bouncing monsters twitter arguments i like those odds
not a lot of nice blurple so brave! plumb
canonical game crashes fuck it we'll do it live players program the game lead contamination
poor sales numbers vending machine takeover shoot the moon! chonk
comic motherfuckin' sans industrial epsionage jetpack sex i hope i don't get sued
the depths of hell something to prove it's just a prank bro s.p.i.n.a.c.h
unending growth multiplayer gacha simulator too many barrels
cats everywhere! railway jargon st. david tennant misuse of mirrors
industrial espionage savage comebacks giant flying sheep overthrow the school board
let's rotate the board kill all robots it's about time nixon 2024
unapologetically furry it's going... backwards!? a day in the life i object!
tumblr shipfics moist the taxman cometh funf minuten
blood and gore unix epoch overflow kick the baby toilet unicorn
fishy business the turtle always wins. sisyphean just a minute!
stick! powerless change the change moment
bees (many) exactly as planned artificial stupidity $
obsession there is only progress. the least worst choice grimace shake
the uncomfy (un)necessary censorship the barrel. it's dangerous to go alone
killing votebot certified luton moment attraction kafka
votebot's revenge sql injection giant insects futility
impractical joke 🤡🤡🤡 disco inferno washed up

Submissions(35)

All submissions
·
Browser playable (19)
·
Windows (18)
macOS (2)
Linux (2)

No submissions match your filter

Try not to get caught, 'lest you die of embarrassment
Play in browser
A rhythm-stealth-action anthology game about 9 people with connected fates.
Rhythm
Play in browser
Solve one murder and commit several more!
Adventure
You are a foolish game dev who takes EVERY suggestion
Simulation
Play in browser
Bonk the Enemies in this Game made for the "So Bad it's Good" Game Jam 2023.
Action
Play in browser
What can be on this EPIC 172-in-1 (actually 68-in-1 because game's not finished) cartridge?
Pick-me embarks on an epic quest. He'll most likely manage it if you finish the game.
Adventure
Play in browser
Explore the Pizza Underground and shoot haunted toothbrushes in a story about power, freedom and pizza!
Action
Play in browser
Draw the silliest solutions you can!
Puzzle
Play in browser
A speed based 3d platformer
Platformer
No retreat. No surrender.
Action
So Bad it's Good(?)
Shooter
Scary Skulls Attacking Me Oh God AUGHHHHH
Action
Made for SBIG 2023
Shooter
You fell asleep first, and your friends jammed a rod into your brain, will you wake up again or is this your last dream?
Adventure
Make the Next Big Thing (tm)
Simulation
Definition of a waste of your time
Platformer
Play in browser
The manager of a luxurious hotel has been murdered. Who could have done it?
Interactive Fiction
Play in browser
Monkee Gorila Monkey Gorillllla Bananananananas Banananananananannas
She's back, and she's sleepier than ever!
Survival
Play in browser
A game for silly times
Play in browser
welcome to beegleOS!
Survival
Try your best as a Door Specialist
A text-based adventure game that's so bad, it's good!
Play in browser
this is a short puzzle game where you move pieces to make a rock fall on a baby
Puzzle
Play in browser
The sum of everyone's suggestions in card game form.
Card Game
Play in browser
Click, Upgrade, and Conquer the Chaos! #NOT
Simulation
Play in browser
SBIG 2023 - Random Space Shooter
Shooter
Play in browser
funny game
Play in browser
A new innovative type of game: one that deliberately wastes your time for no reason lmao
Action
I peed my pants
Action
Play in browser