
To build up excitement for Norwich Games Festival, Game Anglia will host an online no-crunch game jam ahead of the Festival. The created games will be exhibited for the duration of Norwich Games Festival. A selected group of professionals from video games industry will judge the games and winners will be announced at a live award ceremony on during the Festival on Saturday 30 May.
“I had a lot of fun developing my game for the NGF game jam. It was cool seeing people play my game in real life and I got a lot of great feedback from players as well as other jammers which I'll be sure to implement in all my future projects.” - MisterSnappy (Heavenly Ascent) NGF 2024 Game Jam
The game jam will happen over two full weeks and two weekends. Everyone can work on and finish a game, no matter if you're a weekend warrior, participating in the evenings after university or college, or you are jamming every day.
Create and finish a game your way, while taking regular breaks and working at a sustainable pace. This no-crunch game jam aims to support physical and emotional wellbeing and encourages rest and having fun. You have two weeks, so pace yourself and keep healthy.
Theme announcement, finding team members, and regular check-ins will be happening on Game Anglia's Discord.
“The moment I heard about the game jam for the Norwich Games Festival, I was all in! The entire experience was a blast! It was a straightforward project, but I believed it would make a great impact at the Games Festival. I hope everyone who played the game had as much fun as I did making it!” - Duncan McHardy (Beyond the Stars) NGF 2024 Game Jam
Address the theme announced on the morning of the game jam
Be playable with a mouse and keyboard as no controllers will be present for the showcase
Be suitable for players aged 7 years old and above (rating PEGI 7)
Have detailed instructions on how to play game present on the game's page or present in the game. They should be targeted at the public (i.e. folks who may have never played a game before)
Be playable on itch.io. We will not showcase games that are not playable in-browser, on itch, even if submitted as web pages.
This is to ensure that everyone visiting the Norwich Games Festival can play the games.
Your team should be no more than 5 people, and you can participate as a solo developer
The development of your game must not start before the game jam start date
You can use Asset Store assets and pre-made frameworks (e.g. a start menu framework), but not continue work on games you were already developing
Do not use any AI-generated assets
Your game must address the theme in some way. If the judges do not believe your game addresses the theme at all, we may choose not to showcase your game.

Theme announcement, finding team members, and regular check-ins will be happening on Game Anglia's Discord.
itch.io/jam/norwich-games-festival-jam-2026All eligible games will be showcased at the Norwich Games Festival, between 26 - 30 May.
At least 1 member can be present at Norwich Games Festival for the awards ceremony on the 30 May 2026. If no team member can be present for the awards ceremony, we reserve the right to not showcase your game and not consider it for an award.
A selected group of professionals from the video games industry will judge the games, and winners will be announced at a live award ceremony during the Festival on Saturday 30 May 2026.
Judges' Choice – The best game voted for by a panel of games industry experts.
Game of the Show - The best game voted for by attendees of Norwich Games Festival.
Best Use of Theme - The game which most matches the game jam's theme, voted for by a panel of games industry experts.
In the run-up to Norwich Games Festival 2026, game designers and developers have been busy creating brand new, incredible games that you get to play for the very first time at NGF!