What is Simplicity?

Simplicity is the art of creating something easy to understand and enjoy.

Welcome to our recurring monthly game jam that kicks off on the 1st of every month and runs for two weeks. During this period, you’re invited to use any game engine to create a playable game. These games will be experienced and rated by fellow participants based on specific criteria.

After the two-week development phase, a one-week voting period follows, where participants select their favorites. The goal? To celebrate games that are short, simple, and easy to create—making them easier to polish and complete within the time limit.

The theme for each jam is chosen by the community through voting on our Discord server!

For this jam, the theme is "Light & Shadow"!

Feel free to interpret it however you would like. 

For future jams, the theme will be revealed before the jam starts, giving you time to brainstorm and discuss ideas with others, as well as form teams. However, no work on your game should begin until the official start of the jam.

The theme plays a key role in the voting process, along with any set limitations. Submissions that fail to align with the theme or are in poor taste will be disqualified.

The limitation is a surprise twist revealed at the start of the jam! It's an extra challenge designed to prevent early starts and spark creativity.

For this jam, you get to choose your limitation!

The options are:

1) Limited Palette: Use only two colors—one representing light and the other shadow. This is a simple visual limitation that can enhance the theme without complicating the design.

2) Dynamic Visibility: The player can only see what is illuminated. This adds a simple mechanic where the player has to rely on moving light sources or their surroundings to navigate.

3) Fixed Light Source: The light source is static, but the player can interact with the environment to cast shadows in new ways. This is easy to implement and adds an interesting layer of puzzle-solving.

4) Shadows Are Dangerous: Shadows act as hazards. Certain areas cast deadly shadows, and the player must avoid them or find ways to cast them out using light. This introduces tension and simple obstacle-based gameplay.

5) Additional Theme: Had a theme you voted for but didn't get picked? You can still include it as a limitation! The other themes were: Depth, Pursuit, Time, Chaos, Stealth, Decay, Destruction, Mirror, and Ascension.

While following a limitation is optional, be aware that ignoring it might lead to lower votes during the judging process. It is recommended that you only use one limitation.

The rules are as follows:

1. Anyone can participate in the game jam regardless of their skill level or experience.
2. The games must not include NSFW content, but mild blood/violence is acceptable.
3. Games can be made on any engine and must be playable on the itch.io website.
4. Games must be playable on the web browser without requiring additional hardware.
5. Low-effort submissions that are made in poor taste will be removed and disqualified.
6. Collaboration is allowed and but only the solo entries are eligible for the jam prizes.
7. You can brainstorm ideas prior to the jam, but all content must be created during the jam.
8. You must have the license to use any assets that you include in your submission.
9. A.I. generated content is allowed, but it may result in poor ratings - be creative!
10. Games submitted must be free to play and made specifically for this game jam.

The games submitted will be rated by other participants on the following:

• Theme & Limitation: How well the game aligns with the jam’s theme and limitation.
• Fun & Engagement: How enjoyable and engaging the game is to play.
• Innovation & Originality: The creativity and uniqueness in gameplay or mechanics.
• Audio & Music: The quality and fitting nature of the sound design and music.
• Graphics & Artwork: The visual appeal and overall polish of the game's design.

Three winners will be selected from the game jam, but only solo participants are eligible for prizes.

The prizes are as follows:

🥇 First Place: $25 Steam Gift Card 

🥈 Second Place: $10 Steam Gift Card 

🥉 Third Place: $5 Steam Gift Card

To claim your prize, you must have a valid Steam account. In addition to the gift cards, each winner will also receive a special role in our Discord server!

We’re seeking to build a vibrant community of creators and gamers from all walks of life. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting out, this is a space for you to connect, share ideas, and grow.

Join our Discord server to meet fellow participants, form teams, and discuss game concepts. Our community is here to support you! If you have any questions that aren’t answered on this page, feel free to ask in the server for a quick response. Whether you’re looking for technical help, creative feedback, or just want to chat about your project, the community is ready to assist.

We also encourage resource-sharing! If you're stuck or need inspiration, you can find tips, tutorials, and valuable resources through the collective knowledge of our members.

⭐Also, shout out to all the participants who made the first Simplicity Jam successful!