A heart for NPCs

NPCs are the hidden soul of every game world, enriching our journeys with their stories, quirks, and quiet presence that bring depth and life to the experience. In this GameJam you honor that every character, no matter how small, has a story worth sharing, adding warmth and wonder to the worlds we explore.

NPC Game Jam Overview

The NPC Game Jam challenges participants to design games centered around Non-Playable Characters (NPCs) as the focal point. Rather than traditional player-driven experiences, this jam emphasizes creating rich, memorable NPCs who drive the story, gameplay, or emotional core of the game. Whether they’re allies, antagonists, quirky shopkeepers, or complex, autonomous AI, participants are encouraged to make NPCs dynamic and engaging.

Goals:

• Innovative NPC Mechanics: Make NPCs essential to gameplay—whether through unique interactions, relationships, or decision-making.
• Emotional Depth: Craft NPCs with personalities, motivations, and stories that leave a lasting impact on the player.
• Immersive AI: Consider giving NPCs routines, reactions, or behaviors that make the game world feel alive and responsive.

This jam is perfect for exploring narrative design, AI behavior, and character development. Let’s make NPCs more than background characters—they’re the heart of the game!

Voting:

Once the jam has ended, all submitters are encouraged to play and rate as many entries as possible. Voting will continue for a week.

Rules:

• You must follow the Itch.io TOS
  
• Be Respectful: Treat all participants with respect and kindness.
• Use of Existing Content: You are allowed to use previously created content (art, code, assets) as long as you have the rights or commercial license for it. 
• Submission Format: 'Playable in Browser' is a preferred format to provide access to as many players as possible.
• Licensing for Assets: Ensure you have the proper commercial licenses for any third-party assets you use (art, music, code, etc.).
• Content Restrictions:
  • No pornographic content or nudity.
  • No illicit drug references or offensive material.
  • No vulgar language.
  • No NSFW
• Fun Over Perfection: Focus on making something fun and engaging rather than aiming for perfection.