VN hybrids are also allowed as long as the main game is identifiable as a visual novel. Please consider the narrative relevance before adding any minigames, and accessibility options to make them easier or skippable (e.g. Story Mode).

You are permitted to create concept art, written outlines, and build teams prior to the start date.

Spoilers aren't an excuse. Let players know what they're getting into, especially any sensitive content.

Show players a preview of what they're getting into, and confidence that what they're downloading is a visual novel and not a virus or spam.

This type of content doesn't fit the mass-appeal vibes of the theme. Keep it fun for the whole (rhetorical) family!

Death, blood, and violence are acceptable as long as it's not too graphic. If it can be shown in theatres or be livestreamed, then you're good.

You are welcome to use pre-existing, pre-packaged assets to help supplement your development to ease the burdens of skill and time.

If these are resources you have personally made, they must be publicly available at least 30 days prior to the start of the jam. 

For example, if you make generic tools and assets for the community, of course you can use them in your own project. Just don't try to be cheeky and pre-release a mechanic or assets you fully intend to use specifically for your submission.

Humans must illustrate, write, program, etc. every part of your submission! This includes pre-production: outlining, brainstorming, and art referencing.

Be mindful if you are using third party assets as per the previous rule, as this extends to 3rd party assets. Check your sources!

Let's keep the submissions available for everyone during the rating period! You're welcome to charge for your submissions later.

You can include non-girl characters, as long as the main cast consists of cute girls. There are no restrictions on who can identify as a girl or what that word means to you, as long as you're being sincere.

CGDCT is usually short for Cute Girls Doing Cute Things, but this jam follows the Rule of Cute; anything is cute as long as cute girls are doing it (even if it involves loading heavy artillery), so we changed the second “Cute” to “Cool”.

Making your girls suffer in a cruel, brutal world is part of the fun, but it should have a relatively hopeful message in the end, even if sacrifices had to be made along the way. Cuteness must prevail.

You can, but aim to make something you can finish during the jam. Try not to crunch or overscope.

Fangames are new, standalone renditions of existing worlds and characters built from scratch. Note that, due to general inaccessibility, ripping raw assets from the original media is not allowed.

IP law is complicated, and we don't want you risking getting into legal trouble. You must follow the official IP Guidelines for fangames of your chosen IP or you cannot submit it to this jam.

For example, Doki Doki Literature Club has official guidelines for fan content and you must follow them if you wished to submit a DDLC fangame.