Annual Edition 2026

RPG Maker is a simple game engine that is well suited for making classical JRPG-style games and has also been used to make many other different types of games. And now, it's time to make more of them! Hopefully, at the end of the game jam you will have something playable you can be proud of!

You can also join the jam'sDiscord server! (https://discord.gg/Fdeh3hBtYu)

Theme 1:Heir to the Throne

_The royal heir is a disappointment to many. Far from the ideal of a wise king or queen to be, they appear to be uninterested in the matters of governance, shirking their responsibilities for more frivolous pursuits. And when a crisis shakes the realm, their carefree life is turned upside down. They might be forced to assume the throne after the deaths of their parents, or have run away from the palace that was once their home due to a plot on their life. Or any other number of possibilities._

_The question is, will they prove to be capable enough to handle all the challenges that come their way, unprepared as they are? And when all is said and done, will they emerge from these trials as a capable ruler worthy to assume the throne? That remains to be seen, as it's your task to create a game that follows the journey of the Heir to the Throne!_

Bonus Challenges

**1)****Runaway Royalty:**The protagonist is a prince or a princess. At the start of the game, some kind of event forces them to run from their home.

**2)****Be More Responsible:**The protagonist learns a lesson about responsibility.

**3)****An Important Choice:**There's an important choice the player has to make near the end of the game. Depending on what they choose, the final part of the game significantly changes (for example, having to go through a different final dungeon and fight a different final boss depending on their choice), including the ending.

Theme 2:Knight of the Realm

_A champion with no equal, this knight serves the people with utmost zeal. They frequently travel to the furthest reaches of the realm, slaying dragons, saving damsels in distress and whatever other heroic deeds need doing. Evildoers fear him, for wherever they run rampant, this knight will arrive shortly in order to foil their schemes and set things right._

_And it's up to you to tell the saga of the greatest Knight of the Realm in your game!_

Bonus Challenges

**1)****Heroic Introduction:**The first time the protagonist appears in the game, they perform some kind of heroic feat.

**2)****Shield of the Protector:**The protagonist wields a shield as part of their equipment.

**3)****Noble Guardian:**The protagonist has some kind of ability/skill that allows them to protect allies.

Theme 3:Seeking Absolution

_Every so often, a hero falls, often as a result of doing something truly despicable. Maybe they were convinced that they were doing it for some supposed 'greater good' or perhaps it was caused by a moral failing of theirs, a result of them succumbing to their darkest impulses. And afterwards, they might realize just how far they've strayed from their virtuous roots and become horrified with what they've done._

_Or it might be that their failing isn't exactly a moral one. Maybe they are haunted by their failure to accomplish an incredibly important quest and this failure spells near-certain doom for many people, if not the whole world. And now, all that remains is to try to set things right, however they can._

_On the other hand, there is also the classic story of a villain who tries to turn over a new leaf and seeks to redeem themselves. They try to make up for their misdeeds and search for absolution. One that might ultimately be unattainable, but that doesn't stop them from trying and at least attempting to leave behind a better world._

_Whatever the case is, now's the time to make a game with a redemption story, as your game's protagonist will be Seeking Absolution!_

Bonus Challenges

**1)****Dark Moment:**There's a flashback scene in the game during which the protagonist is shown either doing something evil or failing at some incredibly important task.

**2)****How Could You:**There's a scene in the game where someone tells the protagonist in detail just how much they hate them for what they've done or for what they've failed to accomplish.

**3)****Jewelry Box:**The following items are included in the game in some significant way - An emerald ring, a sapphire bracelet, a ruby necklace, and a citrine brooch.

RULES AND FAQ:

When can I start working on my game? You can only start working on the actual game project after the jam's submission period starts, but you can start planning and creating/gathering assets and other resources before that time.

The only exception is if you want to submit a finished/expanded version of a game which was previously submitted to another one of our RPG Maker Themed Game Jams. In that case, you can start working on it even before this game jam starts, but these games still have to fit at least one of the three themes chosen for the current annual jam. When you submit a previous jam entry to this jam, make sure to make a note on the game page which other RPG Maker Themed Game Jam the game was originally submitted to.

Is it allowed to use premade assets? This is a casual game jam, so premade assets are allowed and you can reuse some code from past projects if you want. However, don't go overboard with it. In order to comply with the spirit of the jam, the bulk of the work on your game should be done during the game jam itself.

Do I have to use RPG Maker to make my game? Entries made in any version of RPG Maker are preferred. If you use RPG Maker to make your game, then you can just make whatever you want. There have been Visual Novels, stray-cat-simulators and more made for this particular game jam.

It's also possible to use other game engines, but if you don't use RPG Maker for your game, then additional limitations apply. In that case, you are required to make some kind of top-down JRPG-style game in order for your game submission to be accepted.

Are AI-generated assets allowed? AI-generated assets are allowed, if you disclose their use on the game's project page. This applies even if these originally AI-generated assets are later edited by you.

That said, this is only a requirement if there are any AI-generated assets in your game. It doesn't apply if you've used AI-generated images as inspiration or if you've simply asked ChatGPT for coding advice, for example.

Can I team up with other people for the jam? Yes, you can form a team. There's no limit to the amount of team members your team can have. You can also work on multiple games or be a part of multiple different teams.

Can I submit an incomplete game? This is a game jam, incomplete games are totally fine and expected. You are encouraged to work on your game even during the Rating Period.

Can my game contain depictions of brutal violence, gore etc.? Follow itch.io's Terms of Service (https://itch.io/docs/legal/terms)and tag your game appropriately. We also advise all jam submitters to include content warnings in their games whenever it seems necessary.

Does my game have to follow the Theme I chose out of the three possible ones? You need to incorporate one of the three Themes from the current jam into your game in some way. It's completely up to you how you interpret the Theme, so long as it's obvious that you've at least made an effort to follow it. We aren't too strict with it and creative interpretations are encouraged.

Are the Bonus Challenges optional? Yes, the Bonus Challenges are totally optional and serve mostly to guide people who need that extra guidance. It's up to you if you decide to implement them or not.

Does my game jam submission have to be free? There has to be some kind of free version of your game made available for the duration of the both this game jam's submission period and also its rating period. It could be a free demo version or the game itself being made free for a limited time. This requirement no longer applies after the game jam ends.

Is it possible to submit a game to the jam after the Submission Period ends? This jam accepts late submissions during the Rating Period. A Late Submission Thread will be set up in the jam's Community tab once the submission period ends. Anyone who wants to submit their game to the jam after the submission period ends will have to put a link to their game's project page in said thread and will receive a reply with a Submission Link that will allow them to submit their game to the jam.

After the Rating Period ends, the Community tab will be closed and no further late submissions will be accepted.

Are there any other rules I should know about?

1. Follow itch.io's Terms of Service (https://itch.io/docs/legal/terms).
2. Follow the Terms of Use of any assets you use in your game.
3. Have fun!