hi

this is a game jam where any developer can participate including you, and where you can be creative inside the endless world of mental illnesses. it's a place where you can express the pain and the suffering that you carry within you, and maybe even find a glimmer of hope in the darkness.

rules

the rules of this game jam are pretty simple. participants are tasked with creating a game that explores some aspects of mental illness made after that jam starts. i don't mind if you dive deep into the dark waters of depression, anxiety, or any other mental illness, but you must do it with caution and sensitivity. i don't want to see any depiction of self-harm, suicide, nsfw, or graphic violence related to mental illness unless you put a warning on the boot screen.

you can make the game about how you are/were suffering from any kind of mental illness, or you can try to put yourself in the shoes of someone who is struggling. but whatever you choose to do, remember that this game jam is not just about making a game, it's about creating something that speaks to the soul.

other rules as any game jam like any game engine is allowed, doesn't matter if you're using unity, godot, unreal engine or a custom engine, you can use ai tools or assets by crediting the creator.

theme

the theme will be announced two hours before the jam starts on the discord server, and as the jam starts, i'll also write the theme here. the theme is a word that will guide you on your journey, a word that will challenge you to dig deeper and face the pain that you carry within you.

prizes

the top 3 games will be listed on the top of this page after the game jam is over.

• 1st place will receive a 5$ gift card.
• 2nd to 10th will receive high-quality stickers made for their game.

the winners will only receive their prizes if only they were in the discord server before the voting period starts.

the 1st place prize would only be available if the jam got ≥20 submissions! (ONLY REAL GAMES ALLOWED, BLANK SCREEN AND CALCULATORS ARE SUBTRACTED FROM THE SUBMISSIONS)

judging criteria

the games will be judged based on how they affected me negatively, which is not an easy task considering the nature of this game jam. i will also be looking at the use of theme, creativity, gameplay, art and visuals, music and sound effects. but above all, i will be looking for the game that speaks to me on a personal level, the game that makes me feel something that i didn't know i could feel.

• how the game negatively affected on me
  
• use of theme
  
• creativity
• gameplay
• art and visuals
• music and sound effects

discord

if you want to join the discord server to share your progress and get some inspirations. but be warned, the journey ahead is not an easy one. it's a journey through the darkest corners of the human soul, a journey that will leave you exhausted and drained. but it's also a journey that might just save your life.

the jam will run for a total of five days, giving participants plenty of time to create and refine their games before submission. don't forget to join my discord server for updates, support, and to connect with other participants. hope to see you there.

cover art by: Nicola Samori