thatgamejam is a biannual game jam hosted by thatgamecompany.
It is a gentle, welcoming space for developers of all backgrounds to challenge themselves, follow their curiosity, and explore the boundless possibilities of play.
We invite creators to build from the heart—crafting experiences that speak to genuine emotion, that can be enjoyed by players of all ages, and that carry a timeless spark capable of inspiring human connection across the world.
And you’re warmly invited to join our Discord server—a friendly indie dev community where we’ll host monthly events for skill sharing, networking, and playtesting.
During the game jam, it will serve as the central hub for announcements, team-forming, and project feedback.
The theme will be revealed when the jam begins.
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SUBMISSION
Start: Dec 20, 2025 @ 8:00 PTEnd: Jan 4, 2026 @ 23:59 PT -
VOTING
Start: Jan 4, 2026 @ 23:59 PTEnd: Feb 4, 2026 @ 23:59 PT -
WINNERS ANNOUNCEMENT
Feb 14, 2026
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BEST OVERALL
Criteria
Awarded to the game that stands out for its overall quality, creativity, playability, and memorable player journey
Number of winner
1
Prize
USD 3,000
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BEST GAMEPLAY
Criteria
Awarded to the game that demonstrates unique and outstanding design and implementation of gameplay mechanics
Number of winner
1
Prize
USD 2,000
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BEST VISUAL DESIGN
Criteria
Awarded to the game that excels in art style, visual impact, and cohesive artistic experience
Number of winner
1
Prize
USD 2,000
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MOST HEARTFELT AWARD
Criteria
Awarded to the game that touches players most deeply through its storytelling and musical expression
Number of winner
1
Prize
USD 2,000
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COMMUNITY'S VOICE
Criteria
Awarded to the game that receives the most vote from the community
Number of winner
1
Prize
USD 1,000
Rules
A public voting page will be live on the event website! Every player can check out all the games and vote for their favorite to crown the most popular one. Please keep things fair—any form of cheating or vote manipulation will lead to disqualification.
Team Guidelines
• Teams can have up to five members, and solo developers are welcome. Developers
may join multiple teams if all involved teams are informed. (We suggest teams including at least one programmer and one artist to help you run smoothly.)
• Each team may submit only one game, uploaded through a single itch.io account
either the team leader’s personal account or a new account created for the team.
• Team members must be listed at submission, using either real names or online
handles. The roster submitted will be considered final.
• Content must uphold universal values. Submissions containing political content,
violence, pornography, personal attacks, anti-humanity themes, or blasphemy toward real-world
religions will be disqualified.
Game Submission
• Submissions will be handled via the event page on itch.io. To register, teams
must provide their team info, game details, and game files.
• Only one team member needs to upload the game, but be sure to credit all other
contributors as game authors. On your game's itch.io page, go to Edit → More → Admins and
follow the instructions to add them.
• You can update and improve your submission as many times as you like before the
deadline. The final version submitted before the cutoff will be considered for judging.
• Do not update your game during the public voting phase. Any changes to your game
build, re-uploads, or deletions during this period may result in disqualification.
Language & Platform Requirements
• Submitted games must use English as the default language.
• There are no restrictions on the development platform or game engine used.
However, you must provide a build that runs on either Windows or Mac as part of your
submission.
• Games created within other games (such as Super Mario Maker, Dreams, Roblox,
etc.) will not be accepted.
Copyright and Assets
• Participants must own the rights to all software and assets used in their
submission, or use properly licensed open-source resources.
• All copyrights for submitted games remain with the creators. However, by
participating in the event, you agree to allow thatgamecompany to showcase your
submission on their websites and at related offline events.
Use of AI-Generated Assets
• If your game includes any "AI-generated assets", you must clearly state this in
your game description, including which parts of the game were created using AI technology.
Failure to disclose the use of AI assets may result in disqualification.
• Please note: thatgamecompany will not provide any legal protection or support in
the event of copyright disputes arising from AI-generated content.
Check the latest updated FAQ in our community for more information. If your question isn’t covered, please join our Discord server and drop it in the Q&A channel.
- Question: What is the theme?
- Answer: The theme will be revealed when the jam begins.
- Question: I’d like to join a team. How can I find teammates?
- Answer: Join our Discord server and share your info in the team-up channel.
- Question: Can I submit an existing project?
- Answer: No. Each thatgamejam has its own unique theme, and we encourage creators to build something new around it to keep the jam fresh and surprising.
- Question: Can I edit my submission after the deadline?
- Answer: No. Please make sure to submit early to avoid any last-minute issues.
- Question: Am I allowed to use AI in my work?
- Answer: Yes, but you must clearly disclose it in your game description, using a note such as “This game contains AI-generated content”, and explain what was generated or how AI was used. If AI usage is not disclosed, the submission will be disqualified. Please note that thatgamecompany is not responsible for any copyright or legal issues caused by AI-generated materials. Participants are responsible for evaluating and managing all associated risks.