10 Biggest Game Jams in 2025: Dates, Themes, and How to Prepare

Did you know Among Us started as a game jam project? Many hit games began this way, offering a pressure cooker for creativity, a chance to network, and a proving ground for game ideas. They’re a learning experience that can lead to real opportunities. Knowing which jams offer the biggest impact and understanding their rhythms allows you to plan effectively. This article highlights ten major game jams projected for 2025 and gives you practical advice to get ready.

What’s a Game Jam?

More than just creating a video game from scratch, a game jam is a crucible demanding rapid prototyping and problem-solving. Typically lasting 24-72 hours, these events, whether online or in-person, themed or open-ended, demand rapid prototyping and problem-solving under pressure.

Why Participate?

Game jams compress months of learning into a single weekend. They offer immediate gratification: a playable game in your hands within days. The global game jam scene is vibrant. New jams pop up constantly, offering a diverse range of experiences. If you’re looking for a platform to help you at every stage of the game development process, consider Building Your Game’s Community: Start Before You Have a Game.

Spotlight: 10 Biggest Game Jams in 2025 (Projected)

Note: Dates and themes are projected based on previous years and are subject to change.

Global Game Jam, projected for late January 2025: Join 40,000+ jammers worldwide in this global event, both online and in-person. The theme is announced at the start.

Ludum Dare, projected for April/October 2025: A respected online jam emphasizing solo development, perfect for honing individual skills. Community vote determines the theme.

Game Off, projected for November 2025: An online jam geared towards developers passionate about open-source and collaboration, often related to GitHub.

GMTK Game Jam, projected for July 2025: An online challenge focusing on specific game design mechanics.

js13kGames, projected for August/September 2025: An online jam where games must be under 13KB in size, testing optimization and creative problem-solving.

Mini Jam: Recurring online jam with specific themes, perfect for regular practice.

LOWREZJAM, projected for September 2025: Limits its online participants to a resolution of 64x64 pixels, forcing different thinking about visual design.

Blackthornprod Game Jam: Recurring online jam with themes that vary and a friendly, supportive community.

Alakajam!: Recurring online jam with community-driven themes, focusing on community interaction.