The Playground: Shadows of the manuscripts

Welcome to The Playground, a game jam inspired by the Golden Age of Islam and the legends of Arab knights This is your chance to craft worlds of wisdom, adventure, and groundbreaking discoveries!

 🏹 Theme & Inspiration

Your game should draw inspiration from one or more of the following:  

 🔬 Scientific Breakthroughs  

The Islamic Golden Age (8th–14th century) was a time of immense progress in science, mathematics, and medicine. Scholars like Al-Khwarizmi, Ibn Sina, and Alhazen revolutionized fields from algebra to optics.  

👉Can you turn these innovations into engaging game mechanics or puzzles?

 ⚔️ Tales of Heroism & Adventure  

From the legendary knights of the Abbasid Caliphate to the daring expeditions of Ibn Battuta, history is filled with stories of courage, wisdom, and honor.  

👉What if you told the story of an unsung hero, a fearless explorer, or a warrior-poet?

📜 Arabian Folklore & Historical Figures  

Arabian tales like One Thousand and One Nights introduced the world to characters such as Sinbad, Aladdin, and Scheherazade These stories blend fantasy with history, creating a rich playground for game design.  

👉 Can you reimagine an old tale, or create a new legend? 

Theme suggestion

You can suggest a theme of your own here: https://forms.gle/urtHeu3HP8fqHigJ8

 🎮 What You Can Create  

This jam welcomes games of all types—from platformers and RPGs to narrative-driven experiences and puzzle games. Whether your game is a historical simulation or a fantastical reimagining, let your creativity shine!  

 🏆 Judging Criteria  

Games will be judged based on the following:  

1. Theme Interpretation – How well does the game embrace the theme?  

2. Gameplay – Is it fun and engaging?  

3. Innovation – Unique mechanics or ideas?  

4. Art & Sound – Captures the atmosphere?  

5. Polish – Completeness and smoothness. 

Rules

✅ Be friendly and respectful of others.

✅ Host on Itch. No links to external downloads.

✅ Teaming up is allowed. See above.

✅ Use any engine or framework. You can also use assets not made by you, but make sure you have the proper license to use them and crediting is of course encouraged.

✅ Your game must be mostly original. Making everything from scratch is not mandatory, but if you do you get to be extra proud of yourself at the end!

✅ Follow the Itch.io TOS.

❌ No AI-Generated content.

❌ No NSFW or offensive content.

Legal

- Anything you make during The Playground Game Jam is your property. Game Makers Algeria claims no rights or ownership of your game. 

- We reserve the right to disqualify or remove any submission from the competition.

⚔️ Ready to Make History?  

Sharpen your swords (or pencils), gather your scrolls (or code editors), and let’s embark on a journey through time!  

🚀 #the-playground