See all glossary termsOriginally, "game jam" was a term used to describe a game development event where developers would come together in real life to create games in a short amount of time. However, the term has evolved to include online events as well.
Game jams often involve a theme, which is a word or phrase that participants must use as inspiration for their games. The goal is to create a game based on the theme within a set time frame, usually 48 hours or a week. Game jams are a great way to test your skills, learn new things, and collaborate with other developers.
Some jams have more rules, but as a whole, game jams are rarely very strict, and the theme is often very open to interpretation.
The best thing about game jams is that they are very low stakes. There's usually no prize, and winning or losing is unimportant and not the main goal. The focus is on creating something new and having fun in the process. Game jams are a great way to experiment with new ideas, mechanics, and art styles without the pressure of a commercial release.
Thanks to having to adhere to the theme, and because there isn't a lot of time to get lost in details, game jams often yield very creative, unique, and very focused games. A large number of indie games you know and love started life as a game jam. Games like "Superhot," "Celeste," or "Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy."
While building prototypes trains you to make games, game jams train you to release games, a different skill altogether. You'll learn how to scope your projects, manage your time, and work toward a goal. If you find people to work with, you'll also learn how to collaborate with others, as game jams are often team-based. Collaborative game jams are an excellent way to find long-term collaborators. Finding people you can work with well is rare, and participating in game jams often multiplies your chances of meeting them.