What are the best recurring game jams?

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Apr 11, 2019

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9 Options Considered

Best recurring game jams	Price	Last Updated
66 Ludum Dare	-	Apr 11, 2019
59 One Game A Month (#1GAM)	-	May 30, 2018
-- BaconGameJam	-	Oct 16, 2014
-- Global Game Jam	-	Mar 10, 2017
-- InsanityJam	-	Oct 1, 2014

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score 16 · Answer 1

Ludum Dare

Top Pro

Long history and strong community

Ludum Dare has been running since 2002, with tens of thousands of entrants at every level of proficiency. As an industry-wide event, participation carries a sense of being part of something, and there's no shortage of interest or discussion online. See More

Top Con

Theme can be too specific

The themes can be too specific, which can limit the creative game ideas. See More

Top Pro

Most popular game jam of all them

Top Con

The company of giants can be daunting

With regular entries from industry celebrities, a beginner has no reason to expect much attention, much less placement in the competition. See More

Top Pro

Other people actually play your game

Top Pro

A lot of mini jams

The main Ludum Dare event happens once in a year, but throughout the year, a lot of Mini LDs are held. Since I don't expect any great results at the main LD, which has countless participants including pros, I only do mini LDs. That's a lot of fun, because the community is large and people actually play your game in the events. See More

Top Pro

Theme Voting == FUN

The fact that everybody gets to VOTE for an entire week to generate a shortlist and final theme which is announced in real-time to great fanfare is half the fun. It draws you in, gives you ideas beforehand, and generates a conversation online in the days leading up to each wonderful #LD48. It is like a drum roll that gets you excited. See More

Top Pro

Chance to see developers writing code

Multiple developer have set up streams allowing people to follow development process in real time. There's a public directory on Twitch with Ludum Dare streams. See More

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score 19 · Answer 2

One Game A Month (#1GAM)

Top Pro

No rules, only a goal

The goal of #1GAM is to release one game every month. The challenge is about maintaining that frequency, so there are no restrictions on any single creation. It doesn't matter when the game was started, how it was made, or even whether it's a computer game: "AAA" industry titles, games made during other jams, clones and ports of existing titles, and physical board and card games are listed among qualifying examples. See More

Top Pro

Start any time

Many jams follow a regular schedule, but the actual event is only a few days long. In contrast, #1GAM is continuous and ongoing. Submissions are always accepted, and count toward the current calendar month. See More

Top Pro

Achievement system rewards personal milestones

For extra encouragement, One Game A Month is a game! Participants are given experience points and publicly-visible achievement awards for individual releases, and for keeping an unbroken release schedule. Leveling up and stocking the virtual trophy case can become additional enticements to stick with the challenge. See More

Top Pro

Achievements

The game jam itself is a kind of game. See More

Top Pro

Completely uncommercial

No ads, no email spam. See More

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score 6 · Answer 3

BaconGameJam

Top Pro

Educational focus

BaconGameJam describes itself as a learning experience, and this ideal has shaped its rules and format as well as the culture of its community. See More

Top Pro

Encourages teamwork

Based on the principle that learning happens faster in groups, teams are strongly encouraged. In particular, the BaconGameJam community favors impromptu teams formed on their reddit community before each jam. The rules and FAQ make reference to solo jams where teams are not permitted, but every BaconGameJam so far has allowed teams of unlimited size. See More

Top Pro

Welcomes beginners and non-coders

BaconGameJam aims to be all-inclusive, encouraging participation regardless of skill. Those who can't code at all are invited join a team and contribute in some other way. Code-free game creation tools are also explicitly permitted. See More

See All

score 3 · Answer 4

Global Game Jam

Top Pro

Live venues around the world

Top Con

Only happens once a year

score 2 · Answer 5

InsanityJam

Top Pro

Ten day format strikes a good balance between urgency and low stress

The single-weekend format of most jams can be daunting to the beginner, but on the other hand a short deadline is a great motivator. InsanityJam allows two full weekends for development, plus the week between them. See More

Top Pro

Randomly assigned game ideas help break creative boundaries

The theme of InsanityJam is that every game is based on an individually-generated random idea. This takes focus off whether or not the idea is any good, bypassing a lot of potential hesitation. It can also help get participants out of their creative comfort zones. See More

Answer 6

QaziJam

Top Pro

Your game gets played on twitch

If you submit a game your game gets played by a streamer on twitch. See More

Top Pro

Relatively long

QaziJams usually lasts a week. See More

Top Pro

No rules

You are free to use anything you want or even continue working on an old project. See More

See All

score 1 · Answer 7

Game A Week

Top Pro

Flexible Schedule

You don't have to work on your game on any particular day(s), therefore you can work when it fits your schedule best. See More

Top Pro

Informal Rules

Game A Week is more of practice than a contest, therefor you can apply rules to yourself that enhance your experience and creativity. See More

Top Pro

Short Time Horizon

Having a quick deadline helps focus your effort and also keep your scope in check. See More

See All

Answer 8

0h Game Jam

Top Pro

Extremely casual

Top Pro

No rules, just make a game, quick!

Top Pro

Make a game in zero hours!

See All

Answer 9

7DRL

Top Pro

You have 7 days

A bit more relaxed time frame than most game jams, but still short enough to feel like a jam. See More

9 Options Considered

My Recommendation for Ludum Dare

My Recommendation for Ludum Dare

Long history and strong community

Theme can be too specific

Most popular game jam of all them

The company of giants can be daunting

Other people actually play your game

A lot of mini jams

Theme Voting == FUN

Chance to see developers writing code

My Recommendation for One Game A Month (#1GAM)

My Recommendation for One Game A Month (#1GAM)

No rules, only a goal

Start any time

Achievement system rewards personal milestones

Achievements

Completely uncommercial

My Recommendation for BaconGameJam

My Recommendation for BaconGameJam

Educational focus

Encourages teamwork

Welcomes beginners and non-coders

My Recommendation for Global Game Jam

My Recommendation for Global Game Jam

Live venues around the world

Only happens once a year

My Recommendation for InsanityJam

My Recommendation for InsanityJam

Ten day format strikes a good balance between urgency and low stress

Randomly assigned game ideas help break creative boundaries

My Recommendation for QaziJam

My Recommendation for QaziJam

Your game gets played on twitch

Relatively long

No rules

My Recommendation for Game A Week

My Recommendation for Game A Week

Flexible Schedule

Informal Rules

Short Time Horizon

My Recommendation for 0h Game Jam

My Recommendation for 0h Game Jam

Extremely casual

No rules, just make a game, quick!

Make a game in zero hours!

My Recommendation for 7DRL

My Recommendation for 7DRL

You have 7 days

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