MechJam VIII 2026
MechJam
📌About the Event
MechJam VIII 2026 is an international online game jam where participants create a video game or physical game featuring mechs or mecha. Developers may choose any genre—from action and platformers to simulations, text adventures and tabletop games—as long as a mech forms part of the project. Participants can compete individually or collaborate in teams and use any game-development engine.
ℹ️ Event Details
- Event type: International game development competition and game jam
- Mode of conduct: Completely online through itch.io
- Main task: Create a new video game or physical/tabletop game featuring mechs or mecha.
- Permitted genres: All genres are accepted, including action, platformer, simulation, adventure, strategy and text-based games.
- Participation format: Individual or team participation
- Development tools: Participants may use any game engine.
- Themes: Optional secondary themes will be revealed when the jam begins.
- Theme requirement: Secondary themes are optional and do not affect voting; including a mech or mecha is the only compulsory creative requirement.
📅 Important Dates
- Jam begins: June 18, 2026
- Submission period opens: June 18, 2026, at 7:00
- Final submission deadline: July 2, 2026, at 7:00
- Development duration: Approximately two weeks
🎯 Eligibility & Rules
- Eligibility
- The competition is suitable for game developers, programmers, artists, writers, musicians, tabletop-game creators and students interested in game development.
- Beginners and experienced creators may participate.
- Participants may enter individually or form a team.
- Any game-development engine or suitable creation tool may be used.
- Both video games and physical games are accepted.
- No age, academic qualification or nationality restriction is stated on the official page.
- Submission Rules
- Every submission must feature a mech or mecha.
- The project must be created within the official game-jam period.
- Projects made before the jam cannot be submitted.
- Entries must be available free of charge during voting so community members can access and rate them.
- Participants may charge for their game after the voting period.
- Spam or unrelated submissions will be removed.
- Third-party assets are permitted only when they have been legally obtained and the original creator is properly credited.
- Copyrighted or stolen material must not be used.
- AI-generated assets are prohibited.
🏆 Benefits for the Participants
- Participants can receive community ratings and placement in the official itch.io rankings.
- Entries gain exposure among the international MechJam and indie game-development community.
- Participants can use their completed game as a portfolio project.
- The organisers maintain a Discord community where participants can share progress, meet collaborators and obtain support.
- Submitted games may receive exposure through community play sessions or an organiser livestream, although physical games may be harder to demonstrate in that format.
- Participation offers practical experience in rapid game development, teamwork, programming, game design, art, sound and project management.