Unlikely Collaborators™ Game Jam

Hosted by IGDA

This jam is now over. It ran from 2026-03-21 16:00:00 to 2026-04-08 06:59:59. View 36 entries

We’re excited to team up with the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), the IGDA Foundation, the Girls Make Games Scholarship Fund, and Unlikely Collaborators™ to bring you a truly special opportunity. If you’ve ever wanted to stretch your creativity, build something meaningful, or collaborate with new people, this is your moment.

Unlikely Collaborators™ Game Jam

The Unlikely Collaborators Game Jam is open to U.S.-based teams living in the United States. For more information, please reference the Rules section below.

Interested creators can join our Discord to find team members. All qualifying individuals must submit a registration form in addition to one representative submitting their game to Itch.io to enter for judging and prizing.

KEY DATES

January 27 – Apr 7: Sign-ups are open
March 21 - April 7: Game Jam
- March 21 @ 12PM PT : Theme announced
April 7 @11:59PM PT : Submissions close
April 27 : Winning Games Announced, Prizes Awarded

Are you ready to take on the challenge? We can’t wait to see what you create!

For any questions, please reach out to unlikely@igdafoundation.org

The theme is consciousness and identity through awe and wonder - make awe playable!

Need a team? Find them on the dedicated Discord Channel!

Find team members
Request help from industry mentors
Connect with other professionals
Make new friends

Registration & Submissions

To help us celebrate everyone taking part, we ask that each team member registers individually for the game jam. When it comes time to submit, each team should submit one game entry on behalf of the group. This helps us keep an accurate participant count while making sure every game gets the spotlight it deserves. To have your game officially judged please make sure everyone on your team registers and one team member registers your game via the registration form by Tuesday, April 7 @11:59PM PT .

The following prizing is available to be awarded:

1st Prize: $5,000
2nd Prize: $1,000
3rd Prize: $1,000
4th Prize: $1,000
5th Prize: $1,000
6th Prize: $1,000

Projects will be judged off the following elements:

10 points for Gameplay
10 points for Theme
10 points for Graphics
5 points for Audio
5 points for Reviewer’s Discretion

Please reference the Official Rules for complete rules.

All participants must be (i) a legal resident of the United States or the District of Columbia, excluding residents of Arizona; and (ii) aged 18 or over, at the time of entry
Team Submissions are permitted, provided that: (i) each team member meets the eligibility criteria outlined above; (ii) the team consists of 6 or fewer members; and (iii) a Team Lead is designated in the Submission.
The Submission Period will be from March 21, 2026 at 12:01a Pacific Time (PT) to April 7, 2026 at 11:59 pm PT (the “Submission Period”). Your Submission must be uploaded to Itch.io and received by Itch.io before the end of the Submission Period. By uploading a Submission and entering the Jam, you agree to be bound by these Rules, Itch.io’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, and the Organizers’ Privacy Policies linked here.
You may only submit your own work. Plagiarized, forged, or other copied works, and works created, in whole or in part, using AI technologies or tools, will be automatically rejected.
The assets contained in your Submission must belong to you or your Team Lead (as appropriate) which you agree to provide to the Organizers upon request, and that you (or, as appropriate, the Team Lead) have/has all the necessary rights, consents, and permissions to control the Submission and grant the licenses contained in these Rules.
Teams must also submit a 30 -60 second gameplay video that has been uploaded to YouTube. You will need to include this video upon submitting.