RE: https://masto.fletchmakesstuff.com/@fletch/116068934800479273
ITS FLETCH FEST! Looking forward to kicking it all off later today on stream!
Good luck to all of y'all making projects!! Don't know what Fletch Fest is? Read about how to participate here: https://fletchmakesstuff.com/fletchfest
help us celebrate human creativity March 13-24!!
A Decade Of Creativity: Celebrating Ten Years Of The Moray Game Jam
There is something truly special about the Moray Game Jam. While the global industry often feels focused on huge franchises, massive budgets and high-pressure launches, the annual gathering at UHI Moray in Elgin remains one of the most friendly, welcoming, and genuinely fun highlights of the Scottish games calendar.
This past weekend marked a significant milestone: the tenth year of the event, and as someone who has been involved in almost every single one, it was a joy to see that the magic is not only alive – but thriving.
From its inception in 2014, the Moray Game Jam has been about more than just writing code or creating assets under a 48-hour deadline. It has built a community that spans the country, bringing together students, hobbyists, and industry veterans in an environment that prioritises collaboration over cut-throat competition.
While it may not have the prominence of Dundee, Elgin is home to the UK’s most northerly games cluster, with local studios Hunted Cow (creators of Fallen Sword, Warhammer: Chaos & Conquest and Godzilla V Kong: Titan Chasers), now joined by games tech titans Code Wizards, both of whom provide backing, judges, speakers and sponsorship to the jam.
Launched in the light-filled Alexander Graham Bell Centre at UHI Moray, the venue itself seems to inspire the kind of innovative thinking that the Scottish games sector is known for.
The tenth anniversary spirit
Walking into the jam floor this year, the energy was as infectious as ever. The theme for this landmark year was Snow & Ice, in contrast to the weekend’s springlike weather. The beauty of the Moray jam lies in its accessibility. Whether it is a first-time jammer or a seasoned pro returning for their tenth stint, everyone is treated with the same warmth and encouragement.
It’s not just videogames, either. The jam offers board and card game creators the chance to take part, with a growing number of teams working on physical projects, alongside a fantastic mix of digital projects.
The weekend followed the classic, beloved format: a frantic Friday start as the theme was unveiled, a caffeine-fuelled Saturday of problem-solving, pizza and playtesting (as well as a new pub quiz as part of the programme), and the traditional Sunday Gaming Playground. The playground remains a personal favourite part of the weekend, as the local community around Elgin comes in to play the prototypes.
Seeing children and parents engage with games made right there in town is a powerful reminder of the golden thread of innovation that games provide. It is a moment where the More Than Games philosophy becomes visible, as the barriers between creator and player disappear.
Expert Insights And Workshops
Beyond the design, development (and pizza), the jam features a packed schedule of educational workshops and talks that offer deep dives into the technical and business sides of the industry.
This year visitors (and jammers) had the opportunity to learn about the future of agentic coding with Andrew Mulholland, explore modern retro games development with Alastair Low, and discuss the realities of art direction for major franchises with Louisa Gallie. I was also pleased to host a session on the More Than Games philosophy, exploring how game mechanics can solve real-world challenges in areas such as education, health and science. These sessions ensured that even those not participating in the jam itself left with new skills and fresh perspectives on all things ‘games’.
Recognising The 2026 Winners
The standard of entries this year was exceptional, making the judging process as difficult as it has ever been. From complex 3D environments to clever, minimalist card games, the diversity of output was a testament to the 48 hours of hard work and the incredible talent pipeline across Scotland.
The 2026 Moray Game Jam Winners:
(I also want to shout out Skitey Sundaes from Openly Game Men, which was my personal favourite of the weekend…)
This was thanks to the combined expertise of the panel of expert judges who brought a really diverse range of experience to the table. The 2026 panel included Laura Cress from the BBC, Alastair Low of Lowtek Games, Andrew Mulholland from Hunted Cow Studios, Gary McCartan of Potato Gaffs (formerly of Pocket Sized Hands), and Martin Thomas from Code Wizards. Their expertise across engineering, art, journalism, and studio leadership ensured that every project was evaluated with a professional eye.
Building A National Success Story
As the tenth anniversary celebrations draw to a close, it is clear that the Moray Game Jam has become a vital pillar of the Scottish games ecosystem. Speaking to the Forres Gazette about the milestone, David Patterson, Principal of UHI Moray, noted the significance of the event for the region.
“The Moray Game Jam is a highlight of the college calendar and to see it reach its tenth anniversary is a testament to the hard work of the staff and the enduring creativity of the participants,” Patterson said. “It is fantastic to see the Alexander Graham Bell Centre buzzing with such energy and innovation. The event not only showcases the incredible talent within our region but also highlights the vital links between education and the burgeoning games industry.”
This aligns perfectly with the goals of the Scottish Games Action Plan, proving that you do not need to be in a major city to produce world-class creativity. By fostering local talent and encouraging entrepreneurship in the North, the jam helps ensure that Scotland’s games success belongs to every community.
A huge thank you must go to the organisers at UHI Moray, the participants who have made the last decade so memorable, and the sponsors who keep the lights on and the pizza flowing. A special mention must go to Hunted Cow Studios, who have supported the event since its earliest days and remain a champion for development in the region. Events like this are the heartbeat of our industry, providing the safe spaces where the next generation of Scottish studio founders get their start.
If you missed out this year, make sure to keep an eye on the official channels for 2027. Whether you are a veteran or a complete newcomer, there is a desk waiting for you in Elgin. Here is to the next ten years.
#competition #elgin #gameJam #games #morayGameJam #UHIMoray
Wyverning Heights caught my eye because I thought it was hand-drawn; it is explicitly AI-generated as an experiment. It plays as 3D Snake with a ranged attack. There is a useful path display feature, but you can't tilt the view very far.
Intriguing, but not quite meaty enough.
https://jere.itch.io/wyverning-heights
#7drl #roguelike #gamejam #gamedev
Lexicon seemed cool, but was too obscure for me; I didn't really understand what was going on. The screen also felt cramped, but I liked the observation mechanic. Would definitely like this one ironed out.
https://akirassasin.itch.io/lexicon-7drl26
#7drl #roguelike #gamejam
I couldn't help but compare Ex Libris to A Long Day in Hell (see upthread). I liked the concept, but the room generation wasn't that inspiring; you couldn't talk to the other people (but you could pet cats to decrease your stress :3). As my corruption increased, the book contents got zalgofied - you can't read all the books.
I didn't win after two tries.
Next was Nonogueram, which is exactly what it says on the tin. You choose a path through a random graph of difficulties, item shops and healing stops. The hard puzzles were pretty hard in the beginning, but were starting to solve themselves soon with the items.
I wish you could drag the screen.
https://jawdandev.itch.io/nonogueram
#7drl #roguelike #gamejam #nonogram
Have you ever thought about making your own point & click #adventuregame ? Then have a go at it in the #MadeWithVisionaire Jam 2 in April.😃
Make a game in two weeks (well actually it's 16 days) with the Visionaire Studio engine.
There is a free version of the engine available that let's you build games with up to 25 scenes - enough for a jam game.
No coding knowledge necessary, the engine is geared towards non-programmers.
Everybody is welcome!
https://itch.io/jam/made-with-visionaire-2
#pointandclick #gamejam
Clockwork Depths is a first-person #steampunk #DungeonCrawler. The first floor was a tutorial, the second introduced traps, the third floor was filled with conveyors, the fourth with (unfortunately stuttery) timed vents, the fifth with those combined (in an annoyingly loopy layout), the sixth was a maze.
You can only move forward and backward, but turning does not take time, and enemies could attack diagonally. Judging where the gridlines went was a little tricky. I died on the final floor.
https://tndwolf.itch.io/clockwork-depths
#7drl #roguelike #gamejam
First was Ping Bat, chosen for the concept, but being real-time it was pretty stressful. I survived 4 nights. The glowing graphic style and ping sounds were pretty cool.
https://gruebite.itch.io/pingbat
#7drl #roguelike #gamejam
I'm playing the Seven Day Roguelike Challenge submissions! See my list (yeah, I marked half of all entries to be played): https://itch.io/c/7119559/7drl-2026
#7drl #roguelike #gamejam
It's nice to achieve small #milestones. I came online in time to catch 5K downloads on #itch.io, not too shabby for 2 years there. Most are from #bundles! If you want people to see your games, I heartily recommend them. Make your own if there aren't any!
#gamejam #indiedev #littlesuccesses
With that, BIG shoutout to Beth and Angel!
@beth-and-angel-make-games.itch.io
@unbirthdayangel.bsky.social
#GoedWareGameJam #16 is live but you can still jump in & join the fun!
5 full dev days left, 300+ already joined!
Create, learn, enjoy, prizes, positive supportive community.
🎦 https://youtube.com/watch?v=7AKrOD85NEg #gamejam #itchio #indiegamedev #gamedev #indiegames #gamedevlife
Most attendees at this week's GDC want healthier communities for kids. Please share this opportunity with the game designers in your circle.
🧡 A game jam to challenge the #toxic beliefs & attitudes harming our teens.
▪️ $10K in prize money.
▪️ Winners own their games.
▪️ Register by March 23.
#GDC #gamedev #indiedev #gamedesign #publichealth #education #gamejam #media #journalism
🎮 Letzte Anmeldungschance für unseren Blender-Workshop vom 13. - 15. März 2026 🎮
Auf unserer Road to Game Jam hast du die Möglichkeit, dich optimal auf den TUXEDO Game Jam vorzubereiten. Bevor du gemeinsam mit anderen an einem Wochenende einen Spieleprototypen entwickelst, lernst du in unserem Blender-Workshop alles, was du dafür brauchst.
Sichere dir jetzt deinen Platz, bevor es zu spät ist!
👉 Anmeldung & Infos: https://www.tuxedocomputers.com/de/Road-to-Game-Jam-2026-Blender-Workshop.tuxedo
Wir freuen uns auf dich! 🚀
The 16th #GoedWareGameJam is live but you can still jump in and join the fun!
6 full dev days left, 300+ already joined!
Create, learn, enjoy, prizes, positive community.
🎦 https://youtube.com/watch?v=7AKrOD85NEg
🔗 https://itch.io/jam/goedware-game-jam-16
#gamejam #itchio #indiegamedev #unity #godot #gamedev #indiegames #fun
Check and like & share the theme reveal trailer: https://youtube.com/watch?v=7AKrOD85NEg
#trailer #theme #itchio #gamejam
The 16th #GoedWareGameJam is LIVE! 🎮
Theme: YOU CAN'T SAVE THEM ALL
300+ devs already in.
All skill levels & game engines welcome!
7 days left to create, share & learn!
Positive community.
Join us here: https://itch.io/jam/goedware-game-jam-16
#gamejam #indiegamedev #gamedev #indiegames #gaming #indiedev #itchio
The 16th #GoedWareGameJam has started! Theme: YOU CAN’T SAVE THEM ALL! You can still join, 7 days left, 300+ already did! Create, learn, enjoy, prizes, positive community.
🎦 Trailer: https://youtube.com/watch?v=7AKrOD85NEg #gamejam #itchio #indiegamedev #unity #godot #unreal #scratch #gamedev
