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JagJam 2026 | HappeNow

Welcome to JagJam 2026

JagJam is back for its third round. Build a new game for a unique piece of hardware.

JagJam 2026 is a long-form game jam dedicated to creating new homebrew games for the Atari Jaguar. Whether you are an experienced Jaguar coder, a retro homebrew developer curious about unusual hardware, or a small team looking for a distinctive challenge, you are welcome to join.

The goal is simple: create something new, fun, and technically sound for the Atari Jaguar, and share it with the world.

This jam runs from May 1st, 2026 until October 31st, 2026, giving you plenty of time to build a polished demo or a complete game.

Solo developers and teams are welcome.

Any genre is welcome.

A free public demo is enough to qualify.

If you always wanted to create something for the Jaguar, this is your chance.

Why join?

Create a new game for one of the most fascinating and challenging retro systems out there
Get your work seen by dedicated Jaguar fans and homebrew enthusiasts
Compete for a cash prize and a winner badge
Get the chance to enter a publishing conversation with Songbird Productions

JagJam is not about rushing out a prototype over a weekend. It is about giving developers enough time to build something that can truly shine on original hardware.

Prizes

The winner of JagJam 2026 will receive:

200 EUR prize money

(PayPal required; if a team wins, the prize money will be sent to one account and must be split by the team itself)

A digital winner badge

to display on your itch.io page, website, social media, or project materials

The opportunity for a publishing conversation with Songbird Productions

regarding the game created for this jam

What you can submit

You may submit one or more original Atari Jaguar games.

Accepted entries may be:

a complete game
a substantial playable demo

Every genre is welcome.

Rules and submission requirements

Please read these carefully before joining.

Your entry must:

be a project for the Atari Jaguar console
run on a real Atari Jaguar using a GameDrive-compatible cartridge image

(for example: JAG, J64, ROM, BIN, ABS)

run on PAL and NTSC systems (50/60 Hz)
include basic instructions on how to play

(a simple text file is enough)

be submitted by October 31st, 2026
have a free public release, at least in the form of a playable demo

You may:

work alone or in a team
submit more than one entry
use any toolchain or development environment you prefer

Your entry must not:

violate intellectual property rights
be a 1:1 port of an existing commercial or homebrew game
be the same game, or a slightly refined version of the same game, that was already entered in a previous JagJam

If you are unsure whether your project qualifies, contact the host before submission.

Very important: real hardware matters

Please keep this in mind from day one:

If it only works in emulation, that is not enough.

Your game must run on a real Atari Jaguar. Emulators are useful during development, but they are not a guarantee that your code will behave correctly on original hardware.

To avoid last-minute problems:

test on real hardware as early as possible
test repeatedly during development
if possible, test on both K and M model Jaguars
do not wait until the final deadline to verify hardware compatibility

If you do not own a Jaguar yourself, that is not a dealbreaker. You can start with emulation, then ask for hardware testing support later. Community members, forum users, and the host may be able to help with testing in time.

For developers who want to be extra careful: initialize global variables manually, clear BSS and stack if needed, and treat hardware validation as part of development rather than a final step.

Where to start

If you are new to Jaguar development, do not worry. There are several ways to get started.

Useful starting points include:

JagStudio (https://reboot-games.com/jagstudio/)
Jaguar SDK (https://github.com/cubanismo/jaguar-sdk)
U-235 sound engine (https://www.u-235.co.uk/)
the AtariAge Jaguar Programming (https://forums.atariage.com/forum/54-atari-jaguar-programming/) section
other Jaguar-focused community spaces and developer forums

You are free to use whichever tools work best for you.

A practical approach is:

get something running in emulation
build a basic gameplay loop
move to real hardware testing early
optimize and refine from there

JagJam is open to all kinds of projects, but the strongest entries usually combine:

a clear gameplay idea
stable performance on real hardware
readable visuals
strong audio design
an overall sense of polish

Do not worry if your game is small in scope. A compact, well-executed idea can be a winner too.

Judging criteria

Entries will be rated by selected judges using the following criteria:

Originality – How fresh and interesting is the concept?
Graphics – Does the game look good, and is the visual style coherent?
Sound & Music – How effective and enjoyable is the audio design?
Playability – Is it fun and responsive to play?
Replay Value – Does it invite players to come back?
Presentation – How well do all parts fit together?
Technical Finesse – How impressive and well-executed is the game technically?

There will be one overall ranking.

The winner will be announced after judging has been completed.

Judges

JagJam 2026 will again be judged by a small panel with experience in Jaguar development, publishing, media, and documentation.

Planned judges include:

Carl Forhan – Songbird Productions (https://songbird-productions.com/)
Rees – CTRL-ALT-REES (https://ctrl-alt-rees.com/)
Boris Kretzinger – author ofClipped Claws – The Atari Jaguar Story (https://archive.org/details/clipped-claws)

Community and contact

If you plan to join, feel free to introduce yourself in the community section.

You are also encouraged to post:

work-in-progress screenshots
short gameplay clips
technical questions
requests for testing help
team-up requests for code, art, music, or QA

If you have questions during the jam, contact the host directly.

When joining, please also make sure the host has a reliable way to reach you if needed.

Final words

The Atari Jaguar homebrew scene is still alive because developers keep building new things for it.

JagJam 2026 is meant to help exactly that: give creators a reason to start, enough time to finish something worthwhile, and a place to present new Jaguar games to an interested audience.

So whether you want to build a tiny arcade game, an experimental prototype, a polished shooter, a puzzle game, or something nobody expects on Jaguar hardware:

Join in and make something wild.

FAQ

Do I need original Jaguar hardware to start?

No. You can begin in emulation, but your game must run on real hardware by submission time.

Can I submit a demo instead of a full game?

Yes. A free public playable demo is enough.

Can teams join?

Yes.

Can I submit more than one game?

Yes.

Can I submit an older unfinished Jaguar project?

Yes, if it is clearly not the same entry as one submitted to a previous JagJam and it's not violating any copyrights.

Past Winners

JagJam took place twice so far, with SJC's "Shape Shooter 2000" winning in 2024 and"SpaceZOT" by Rico59 taking first place in 2025. Just look up the past JagJams and you'll discover some more great games for sure, some of which you will see released by Songbird Productions soonish.

Video 11 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctn0YB4TOqk)

Video 12 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD5biHXj0Ks)