GMTK Game Jam

What it is

The GMTK Game Jam is an annual online game jam hosted on itch.io by Game Maker's Toolkit (Mark Brown). The 2026 jam ran from 22 to 26 July 2026 with the theme "Count Down", and received about 10,500 entries and 223,000 ratings, according to its itch.io page.

The rules are simple: make a game that fits the theme within the jam period, alone or in a team with no size limit, using any engine. After submission, participants play and rate each other's games, and a round-up video highlights standout entries.

Is it worth joining?

Yes, especially for a first jam. Reasons:

• A fixed deadline forces a small scope and a finished build, the most important habit for a new game developer.
• Thousands of other participants play and comment on entries, so you get real feedback within days.
• Browser builds on itch.io make your jam game easy to share in a portfolio.
• The community is welcoming to beginners, and many people form teams on the jam's community pages or Discord.

How to prepare

• Pick your engine in advance and make sure you can export a web build.
• Have a simple starter project: a menu, restart and a way to show the score.
• Plan your time: core mechanic on day one, content and polish on day two and three, and a buffer for exporting and uploading.
• Scope to one mechanic that fits the theme.

Time

About four days during the jam, plus a few days of rating other games.

Free vs paid

Free.

Common questions

When is the next jam? It usually runs in the northern summer; watch the GMTK YouTube channel and itch.io for the announcement.

Can I use pre-made assets? Check that year's rules on the jam page; many jams allow free assets with credit.

Where it fits in the Sefism roadmap

It is a practice pick from the foundation stage onwards. Enter once you have finished one clone, and again after the engine stage to measure how far you have come.