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A topic by sleepyboydev created Jan 14, 2026 Views: 1,019

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sleepyboydevHost267 days ago (17 edits)

SHORT INTRO TO YANDERE JAM

This post is for new-comers, or anyone interested in Yandere Jam.

🔪🩸🔪🩸🔪🩸🔪🩸🔪🩸🔪 Jam Basics 🔪🩸🔪🩸🔪🩸🔪🩸🔪🩸🔪

What is Yandere Jam?

Yandere Jam is a game jam that stipulates the inclusion of Yandere archetypes, aesthetics, or tropes within your creative entry.
Technically, yandere-adjacent archetypes are accepted too (e.g. yangires, so forth…).

Where can I find the rules/guidelines?

For a more in-depth rules/faq about content, click here.

Okay… but what is a ‘yandere’?

Well, TVTropes defines Yandere as ““Yandere” is derived from the Japanese words yanderu, meaning to be sick (mentally or physically), and deredere, meaning affectionate or loving.” (TVTropes).
But to be a bit more simple, a ‘yandere’ character is a character who is obsessive about their love interest, most depictions are of a person who is violent to others they perceive as a love rival but kind to their love interest (this varies greatly, though, depending on the author, story etc.)
If you’re interested in ‘Yandere’, but want to explore a more nuanced character, you can take a look at the DereWiki for some sub-types and examples from media (mostly anime/manga) over here.

Can I get some examples?

Examples from Anime/Manga: Yuno Gasai (Mirai Nikki), Shion Sonozaki (Higurashi When They Cry), Lucy (Elfen Lied), Fiore (Sailor Moon series), Ryo Asuka (Devilman/Devilman Crybaby), Toma/Ukyo (Amnesia)
Examples from Western media: GIFfany (Gravity Falls), Harley Quinn (DC Comics), Adam (RWBY), Joe (You), Erik (The Phantom of The Opera), Marinette (Miraculous Ladybug)
Examples from Games: Vace (I Was a Teenage Exocolonist), Monika (Doki Doki Literature Club), Monika (Mad Father), Mary (Ib), Yuuya Kizami (Corpse Party), Tharja (Fire Emblem), Astarion (Baldur’s Gate 3, ending determinate), Yoosung Kim (Mystic Messenger, ending determinate), and lots of VN character on this platform under the #yandere tag!

🔪🩸🔪🩸🔪🩸🔪🩸🔪🩸🔪 Thinking of participating? 🔪🩸🔪🩸🔪🩸🔪🩸🔪🩸🔪

Do you have any resources/tips?

I have put together a small resources/tips post here, which mostly focuses on Ren’Py (lot of submissions are Ren’Py VNs!)

Where can I find team members?

You can create a community post here, or join the discord server, to find people for your team.

Where can I ask for help with my entry?

For submission help: you can create a community post or post on the discord server
For coding/programming: you can ask here or on the discord server, but asking on an engine-specific forum/reddit/discord server is probably best

Can I use A.I.?

NO. Generative A.I. tools for any media (image, text, sound/voice) are NOT permitted in this game jam.

What if my word editor or editing program has A.I. features?

If you can turn them off, or not use these features, don’t use them/turn them off.
If you can handle finding and using a non-A.I. replacement software, then that’s great! But it is your decision on how comfortable you feel using software with these features, and how well you can avoid them from impacting your work.

Does text-to-speech or spell-check count as a Generative A.I./A.I. assist tool?

This really depends on if the software with this feature is actively using A.I. in their processes. For example, recently Grammarly has pivoted to A.I., so this requires you doing your own work to check if your usage may break the rules.
Text-to-speech usually doesn’t use ‘generative’ A.I., but if your voice-over is A.I. generated then obviously that would break the rules, so please NO A.I.!

What will happen if I use A.I. tools or assets in my entry?

Your entry will be removed/disqualified, and you will be banned from further participation.

What if I am in a team, and a team member uses A.I. generated assets without disclosing?

This is a complex issue, and I’d expect the team/team leader to notify me as soon as possible.
It is likely that I will ask the submission to be rescinded/will remove it myself, and will only allow re-submission once A.I. assets are completely removed. I would also like to know which team member used A.I. so that I may ban them from the jam in future.

Can you even tell if any of my assets are A.I.?

Well, at this point, it’s getting harder. So I do rely on people being decent or self-declaring.
Even so, as it stands if I suspect A.I. I will remove the entry and reach out if unsure.

But, I can’t draw/write/program/design etc.? What else can I do?

Well, you can either try to find some other humans for your team, or simply gitgud. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

How can I show my game is human made?

You can either declare it at the top of your page, use itch.io’s game page declaration (when you’re editing the game page), use the no-ai tag, and utilise images/stamps such as these created by Aimee Cozza (have seen some people on itch.io use their images!)
If you use a stamp/icon/image made by someone else, make sure to check their usage guidelines (e.g. needs credit/linking back etc.) similar to any other asset you may use from others in your projects from sites like itch.io or pixabay etc.

🔪🩸🔪🩸🔪🩸🔪🩸🔪🩸🔪 Further or Misc questions 🔪🩸🔪🩸🔪🩸🔪🩸🔪🩸🔪

Do you have a Discord server?

Yes, you can join it using this link.

How do I post about this jam on social media? Is there a hashtag or an account I can follow?

Currently, there is no longer any social media accounts for Yandere Jam (mostly due to it being a 1-person hosted jam and I have limited energy ^^;)
If you’d like to share your entries/creations/progress, you can use the hashtag #yanjam26 on Bsky or other platforms (I only ever check Bsky/tumblr occasionally). Also on discord ^^.

Is there a mascot for the game jam?

Not currently. Character(s) for the banner change from year to year so far. Maybe I’ll settle on one character soon?

Okay this is all great, but I still have questions/need help

Feel free to make a community post, or post to this mega-help thread, or join our discord server here!

Can I submit late/How do I submit late?

This jam allows late submissions up to a 6-7 days after the deadline. To submit late, you will need to reach out to me with a link to your game (or make a community post with the title ‘late submission’ and the relevant link in the body text.)