Welcome to Oktrollberfest 2026 Game Jam, we're back again to request, nay, demand you build more troll games! Troll games are games that set up expectations only to subvert them. Submissions are due *before* October this year so that we can stream games in the actual month of October.
This isn't trollvember despite how cool a month that would be... and, well, Septrollber didn't have the same ring to it.
Judgement
- As part of being a participant, you will be provided a form and asked to give feedback to other submitters.
- I will stream everyone's web-playable game on my computer, one day in October.
- Afterwards, I'll run an awards ceremony and award bespoke, hand-drawn, participation trophies representing folks' contribution to this event. (Drawings like the silly troll at the bottom of this page, but trophies, I don't know)
Rules
- Submit a troll game. As much as submitting a game that is not a troll game sounds like it is subverting expectations, you need to understand that not following the rules of a competition on Itch is an unfortunate commonplace problem. We had at least 2 submissions last year that were not troll games and I assure you that doing it again will not subvert my expectations.
- Not a game about trolls. I mean, you can, but just to clarify what we mean by "troll game", we specifically mean a game that narratively subverts expectations.
- E.g., tricks you into thinking you're safe, and you're not! Or tricks you into thinking you're not safe, and you ARE!!!
- Still confused
- *Try* to make it web playable (but not required). You're allowed to submit a Windows game, tabletop (rules), etc, but it's possible I won't stream it due to physical limitations on my part.
About this competition
This is a competition's origins is from the somehow still alive in 2026 ZZT Game dev community. If you've found this competition from the wide world of itch, we welcome you!
- Don't be surprised if many of your compatriots in this competition are ZZT Game engine games. Everyone is very excited to see you participate with your engine of choice. (You don't need to lampoon ascii / textmode games from the 90s with your entry, yet a bunch of us will be doing so because of the contest's origins)
- Curious about ZZT? It's an old-school game engine from the 90s, Epic Games' first game engine! Check out this guide to making a ZZT game if you're interested in learning more.
- ZZT entries should submit their games to museumofzzt.com as part of their entry. If you're making a ZZT game please come hang out in the Museum Discord, and if you are uploading to the Museum, please see their upload policy.
Previous years
