The theme for Climate Jam 2026:

We’re inviting game creators from around the world to make games that explore solutions to address a rapidly changing planet.

Together we can make a difference!

July 1st – August 10th, 2026

Final Climate Jam Submission Deadline:

Days

Hours

Minutes

Seconds

Join Climate Jam 2026 on itch.io

What is a Game Jam?

Game jams, similar to hack-a-thons, are an event format where people come together to collaborate on creating game prototypes in a compressed time frame. For Climate Jam, we’re inviting game creators from around the world to make games that explore solutions to address a rapidly changing planet. Together we can make a difference!

Six Weeks

Four Sprints

IndieCade’s Climate Jam® 2026 will be presented in a six week, structured format; join us and work step-by-step towards a polished, releasable project! The week following the final jam deadline will be dedicated to show-and-tells and voting on the final games.

1. Ideation

July 1st – July 7th

2. Pre-Production

July 8th – July 14th

3. Full Production

July 15th – July 28th

4. Polish, Promotion, & Marketing

July 29th – August 10th

1. Ideation

Brainstorm and work out what you will make for Climate Jam 2026. Do not start creating your game, but work out your ideas with brainstorming, some research, and early prototyping. What are you going to make? What is the gameplay? How will the player engage? What is the fun-factor? What will it look like? Consider concept art, storyboards, mood boards, show us your aesthetic plan. Ideas about game mechanics. Provide a rough plan on how you’ll create it in the time provided. Determine how your game will engage with the themes of the jam.
2. Prototyping

Create a prototype for your game. It can be buggy, messy, and have all sorts of placeholders, but you should have the beginnings of a playable experience by the end of this sprint! This is a time where you test out the simplest versions of your core mechanics, experiment, throw stuff out. Your original concept might radically change during this sprint, and that’s okay.
3. Production

Implement what you’ve learned from Ideation and Prototyping, solidify mechanics, and flesh out your projects into fully playable games. As you build out your projects, keep in mind how each individual choice you make in game mechanics, aesthetics, and writing might further complement and engage with the themes of the jam.
4. Polish, Promotion, and Marketing

Debug and polish your project for release. Make promotional materials, upgrade your project page and create a marketing plan. Prepare additional submission materials and statements for the reviewers and for internal Climate Jam use.

JOIN

THE

MOVEMENT

This is our 9th annual Climate Jam and the 7th online one. AND we’re growing!

Started in 2018

219 games and counting!

We can’t wait to see what you make this year!

Climate Jam 2026

Climate Jam 2025

Climate Jam 2024

Climate Jam 2023

Climate Jam 2022

Climate Jam 2021

Climate Jam 2020

Climate Jam 2019

Climate Jam 2018

Other Resources

Jam Essentials

Climate Jam is a virtual jam hosted on itch.io just follow the link and hit “Join Now.”

Join us on Discord!

We ask that you follow our Code of Conduct in all of your IndieCade interactions, virtual or otherwise.

Mentors and Contributors

We are looking for some great mentors available to provide inspiration and knowledge about climate topics and game design.

Want to be a game design or climate mentor or contributor? Contact us at horizons@indiecade.com with subject line: “Climate Jam 2026 Mentor Interest”.

Global Event

This jam is open to everyone world-wide! Speak another language and want to help us reach more people or translate content? Let us know. Contact us at horizons@indiecade.com with subject line: “Climate Jam 2026 Translation”.