Hey everyone, welcome!
This is the first game jam I’ve hosted, and I started it because I wanted to see what a “PS2 game” means to different people.
Maybe it’s an unsettling town you never quite understood. A ridiculous combat system you spent an entire summer mastering. A menu soundtrack that somehow stayed in your head for twenty years. Whatever your answer is, I’d love to see you turn it into a game.
You don’t have to recreate something that already exists. Give us something we wish we’d discovered back then.
Getting started
- Join the jam and read the official rules linked below.
- Pick a manageable idea. One interesting encounter or a short adventure is a great starting point.
- Get your core mechanic playable early. Save some time for another person to try it without you explaining every button.
- Introduce yourself in the comments! Tell us your engine, whether you’re working solo or looking for teammates, and what’s inspiring you.
Any engine and genre are welcome, including beginners and teams. No PS2 hardware or Rune Labs software is required. Build substantially during the jam; existing tools and properly licensed assets are allowed. Credit third-party work, respect IP, and disclose meaningful generative AI use.
Dates and prize
- Development starts October 30, 2026.
- Submissions close November 21.
- Community voting runs November 21–28.
- The highest-ranked eligible entry receives a $100 USD digital gift card, subject to regional availability. Organizer entries are ineligible for prizes.
Use the official countdown for exact cutoff times in your timezone.
Before submitting
- Test your uploaded browser build or download.
- Include controls, supported platforms, installation instructions if needed, credits, and applicable AI disclosure.
- Submit the project to the jam itself. Uploading a project page alone isn’t enough.
- Leave time for upload problems. Game-file uploads lock during voting.
Share your experiments, awkward placeholder animations, and small victories. Someone else’s rough prototype might give you exactly the encouragement you needed to keep going. When voting opens, play thoughtfully and rate honestly.
So, what are you making? And what’s the most wonderfully weird PS2 game you remember?
Let’s make something worth clearing a memory card for.
— Yager / RUNE LABS