Welcome to Unpolished Jam! We're a cozy, imperfect game jam about human creativity.
This jam is a space to make something you want to make... even if it's not perfect. We’re here to explore emotion, raw ideas, weird mechanics, and a whole lot of messy fun.
Whether you’re a first-timer or you’ve shipped ten games already, this is your space to create something that only you could make :)
ABOUT THE JAM:
Create a game that feels unpolished in the best way. Experiment, take risks, and finally make that idea that's been in your notes app for six months. Play around with strange mechanics, messy stories, or even a prototype for your dream game. Whatever it is, this is the place to give it a shot, even if it's a bit broken, weird, or way too ambitious. It doesn't have to be perfect, but make the game only you could make.
THEME:
The theme will be announced on July 19 at the jam start. It'll be a creative jumping-off point that can be interpreted in various ways: literally, symbolically, emotionally, backwards, sideways. There's no right way to follow it, so just find what works for you.
Theme: Go deep 🌊
Whether it’s layered mechanics and worlds, a story that hits somewhere real, or an underwater cave, don’t stay at the surface. Dig further than you usually do and see what you find.
JAM SCHEDULE:
- Starts: July 19, 12:00 PM EST
- Ends: July 26, 11:59 PM EST
- Judging: July 26–30
- Winners announced: July 30–31
RULES:
- Start your game after the theme drops
- You can reuse assets, code, or tools
- Teams up to 3 people
- No NSFW, hateful, or plagiarized content
- No AI-Generated media (art, music, writing)
- Follow good sportsmanship practices
- All engines and formats welcome!
PRIZES:
There’s a small prize pool to keep things fun:
- The Unpolished Award: $50
- Runner-Up: $25
All prizes will be paid out through PayPal, Venmo, or another money transfer app, and all winners will also be featured in a post-jam showcase!
JUDGING CRITERIA:
- Fun factor
- Interpretation of the theme
- Creativity
COMMUNITY:
We’ll be sharing WIPs, ideas, and vibes on our discord: https://discord.gg/Pmd255cxym
Come say hi, and we're excited to see some unpolished work!
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