💀 BEWARE THE UNKNOWN 💀
The greatest terrors are those which cannot be completely understood by modern science. There the true horrors lurk; in the darkness, in the depths, in outer space, or from a realm quite beyond our comprehension. Be not afraid of what you know, but what you don't, for there are no experiments or tests that will save you from the void. To attempt tame the 'if', and to wrestle control from the unpredictable vagueness, is to master the art of SCREAMOLOGY.
THE THEME FOR THIS JAM IS
*** KNOWLEDGE ***
This theme is OPTIONAL. You can choose to use it for aesthetics or game mechanics, or you can completely ignore it, whatever helps you best!
💀 ABOUT THE JAM 💀
SCREAM ZONE game jams are horror-themed game jams, made to encourage both beginner and experienced game developers to get spooky! From straight-up scares, to interactive fiction and role-playing games, we encourage all creators to try making something spooky / sp00py in these game jams!
💀 THE SCREAM SCENE 💀
You can join our friendly and welcoming community of game developers on Discord.
💀 SPONSORS 💀
This jam does not accept sponsors, but if you would like to sponsor our July jam or SCREAM JAM 2026, please message us at mail@screamzone.org.
💀 RULES 💀
Planning
What is the theme for this jam?
The theme for this jam is KNOWLEDGE!
Can I submit a game I started before the jam, or made for another jam?
Submissions for the jam should be original. Most of the game should be created during the jam.
Games made specifically for the jam are preferred, but other games are accepted if they comply with the rules of the jam and timeframe.
Can I include code or assets I worked on before the jam started?
Planning before the jam is fine, and you are welcome to reuse some assets and code from previous projects, but it is something you should limit.
In the spirit of participating in a game jam, you should keep most of your development during the jam period to get the most out of it!
Can I use assets created by someone else?
If you have permission to use assets you are free to do so, but you must comply with our Original Content Policy.
Does my game have to use a specific engine or comply with any technical restrictions?
Nope! Your game can be developed using any engine, as long as your game can be played via the browser and/or on all desktop platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux).
Engines which we recommend include Godot, GDevelop, GameMaker, PICO-8, and RenPy. Many teams will also use Unity and Unreal Engine.
NOTE: Exports of Unreal Engine games will often balloon past the 1GB limit imposed by itch.io. With this in mind, we do not recommend the use of Unreal Engine. If you decide to use it, please ensure that your games are stripped of unnecessary assets.
Can I make something which isn't a video game?
Of course! You are welcome to make board games, TTRPGs, zines, non-interactive experiences, or anything else you want. We want to see your creativity in any way you want to express it.
Can I use generative AI content in my submission?
No. All generative AI technologies are banned from use in this jam.
Can I work on multiple games?
So long as each game was started during the jam period, you are welcome to submit more than one game to the jam.
Collaborating with other jammers is encouraged too. Make sure not to overwork yourself!
Submission Period
Can I submit a game I haven’t finished to the jam?
No stress! Unfinished or buggy games are absolutely accepted. No submission is perfect!
Can I submit a game that includes adult, gory, or other offensive stuff in it?
Games with mature content are accepted when flagged. For disturbing or inappropriate content, we ask that jammers use common sense and flag this on the game page.
We reserve the right to remove any games that are not appropriate or flagged correctly, so please reach out if you have any doubts.
Voting Period
I found bugs or issues after the jam ended. Can I change the submission?
New uploads for the submission will be open for two days after the end of the jam to make bug fixes. Uploads are closed after this time to ensure that submitters finish development at the end of the jam.
How do I vote on submissions for the jam?
Contributors to the jam can vote on submissions once the jam has closed.
What are the voting categories?
There are five general voting categories: Enjoyment (Best Game), Horror, Aesthetics, Story, Sound Design. These are voted on by jam participants.
There is also a private Ghosts' Choice for the hosts to identify games that were especially innovative or unique!
