Submissions open from 2025-11-01 13:00:00 to 2025-11-30 14:00:00
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What is the Retro Flavored Jam

The retro flavored jam is a game jam about learning and exploring well known and obscure retro tech, be it an old home console or computer.

Join the Discord!

Theme

To be announced

Rules

  • Your game, at minimum, must be playable on an emulator.
  • All assets must be made during the jam with the only exception being freely available/public domain fonts.
  • NSFW will be disqualified.
  • Jam entries should be free
  • Entries that irreversibly damage others hardware will be disqualified and you will permanently be banned
  • Entries that are de-makes or remakes of existing games, or that closely replicate their gameplay, design, or story, will be disqualified.
  • No AI. Period. End of.

Rating

games will be rated on these criteria:

  • Fun - Was the game fun or not.
    • Did the controls feel responsive or clunky?
  • Graphics - For the platform, How are the graphics?
    • Some platforms may have more colors or even 3d capabilities, but try to judge the graphics in the context of the target platform.
    • Were the characters distinguishable from the background?
    • Do the colors clash with one another?
    • Does the UI fit the games style?
  • Audio - For the platform, How is the music/sfx?
    • Some platforms have better sound hardware than others, but try to judge the audio in the context of the target platform.
    • Was the music pleasant to listen to?
    • Did the music fit the game?
    • Did the sfx fit the game.
  • Uniqueness - How unique is the game?
    • How well can the game distinguish itself from the others?
  • Theme - How well was the theme utilized?
    • Was the theme used in a straight forward or particularly creative way if at all?

FAQ

  • Are teams allowed? - Yes
  • Are there any prizes? - No, This jam is purely about making stuff
  • Is this jam beginner friendly? - It really depends on the platform you decide to develop for.
  • How can I find a team? - In either the community tab or the team-finding channel in our discord.
  • Should I give up because of "XYZ?" - No, Still try despite the circumstances.
  • How big can a team be - As big or as small as you want.
  • Can I offer my skills for money? - No absolutely not.
  • Can I promote my socials? (YT, X, Twitch) - As long as it's relevant to the jam.
  • What platforms can I develop for? - You can find a list in either the stickied post in the community tab or in the valid-platforms channel in the discord.
  • Why isn't "X" platform listed? - Either because platform "X" is in the 7th generation or later (NDS and PSP being the only exceptions), or It's not easy to, or impossible to, emulate. Otherwise just ask and we'll give it a look and if it fits we'll add it.
  • Does I have to make my game open source? - It's appreciated but, no.
  • Can I embed an emulator with my game on Itch.io? - Yes.
  • My platform can utilize extra hardware, can I use that in my game? - As long as it can be emulated without much hassle.
  • Does my game have to be a ROM? - Yes, yes it does. It will be disqualified otherwise.
  • Can I use a game engine or framework to make my game? - If that engine or framework can create a ROM or ISO then go for it.
  • Can I update my game after it has been uploaded? - After the rating period is over.