2026 Game Jam

SUMMER BEST

MAY 1 → SEPTEMBER 30, 2026

☀️ About the Jam

Make games in the summer so they're ready to play when the winter season comes. 2026 Summer Best is a five-month jam running through the warmest stretch of the year, giving you real time to build something worth playing.

No required theme, no required genre. Cozy mystery, fast platformer, quiet narrative, multiplayer brawler — whatever you make this summer belongs here. Just make something people will want to load up on a cold December evening.

🔥❄️ The Theme 🔥❄️

HIDDEN WARMTH

Interpret it literally, emotionally, or however you want — just make it yours.

📅 Timeline

☀️ Jam opens May 1, 2026 ☀️ Submissions close September 30, 2026 ❄️ Voting opens October 1, 2026 ❄️ Voting closes October 21, 2026

📋 Rules

• Share the Jam!! The more people, the more games, the more FUN!
• Your game must be started and primarily developed during the jam window (May 1 – Sep 30).
• Solo devs and teams of any size are welcome.
• Any engine, framework, or toolset is allowed.
• Pre-made assets and libraries are permitted — just credit what you use.
• Games must be playable in a complete or near-complete state at submission.
• Submissions must include a downloadable Windows build. Extra platforms welcome but not required.
• Submissions must be appropriate for a general audience, or clearly labeled otherwise.

🏆 What We're Looking For

The spirit of this jam is quality over speed. You have five months — use them. We'd rather see one polished, thoughtful game than three rushed ones. Ask yourself: is this something people will genuinely want to play on a cold evening in December?

Polish Replayability Creativity Fun Factor

💬 Community

Post devlogs, share screenshots, and cheer each other on throughout the summer. The community is open from day one — show your progress, ask for feedback, and build something worth being proud of.

Every submission gets rated by the community during the voting period. Ratings are based on overall fun, presentation, and originality.

🎮 Join the Discord

The home base for everything jam-related — and a lot more.

Chat about your jam project, get feedback on your build, or just hang out with other game devs. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just getting started, there's a place for you here.

What's inside:

• Jam announcements, updates, and reminders
• Devlog sharing — show off your progress at any stage
• Game dev help & feedback channels
• Discussion on engines, tools, art, music, and design
• Off-topic chat for everything else

Join the Discord → (https://discord.gg/D4h4b5Y4rD)

⭐ Voting & Ratings

Every submission gets rated by the community from October 1 through October 21. Ratings are based on overall fun, presentation, and originality.