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ABOUT THE GLOBAL GAME JAM

The Global Game Jam organizes the world’s largest game jam, an annual non-competitive game creation event that brings together the world’s game development community to create games around a common theme.

Each year, tens of thousands of participants – or jammers – create teams to develop a game over 48 hours, while learning new skills, trying new tools and meeting new people.

POLAND

THE PHILIPPINES

SAUDI ARABIA

USA

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ABOUT GGJ NEXT

GGJ Next® is an annual game jam event operated by the Global Game Jam to serve middle and high school youth who are interested in learning the creation of video games.

In 2026, GGJ Next has again partnered with Games for Change as its Student Challenge Jam partner.

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For Adults (age 16+)

48 hours straight

Must be during GGJ Jam dates (late January)

Games must include GGJ theme

Upload games to GGJ platform

GGJ does not provide funding

GGJ NEXT

GGJ

For Youth (age 10 -18)

Minimum 4-6 hours, can be spread out (some sites run longer)

Anytime between Nov 15, 2025 and March 15, 2026

Games are around a G4C social impact theme

Submit games to G4C portal

GGJ has stipends available

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G4C STUDENT CHALLENGE OVERVIEW�

The G4C Student Challenge is a game design competition that invites youth to create games inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The challenge is also platform for amplifying student voices, empowering young people to imagine creative solutions to social problems, and to see themselves as engaged citizens and changemakers.

There are multiple G4C Student Challenge Award Categories, with game of the year winning a $10,000 USD Scholarship.

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RUNNING A GGJ NEXT JAM

VERY BASIC OVERVIEW

Host a jam for kids (ages 10-18) between Nov. 15, 2025 and March 15, 2026

Have youth make games around one of 3 social impact themes

Submit those games to the G4C Student Challenge

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RUNNING A GGJ NEXT JAM

Organizer is responsible for finding space.

Must have access to basic technology for G4C submissions

If doing digital games, must provide access to needed hardware and software.

If doing a tabletop game site, must have basic materials for creating games.

Stipends available to cover space and materials cost.

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RUNNING A GGJ NEXT JAM

Organizer is responsible for recruiting participants.

Sites should be in-person.

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Organizer will lead the sessions.

GGJ Next can provide resources:

G4C Game jam guides
G4C Lesson plans
Access to mentors/support from GGJ Network

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JAM FORMAT

Jam should be a minimum of 4 hours.

Most are 4-6 hours

Some sites elect to run their jam longer

Can be split up across multiple days

Can be run as a weekend event, during the school day, part of afterschool program, etc.

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JAM FORMAT

Students can submit:

Digital games
Tabletop games
A game trailer
A character design

Participants are expected to upload to the G4C Submission Portal.

If a site is receiving a stipend, this is required.

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JAM FORMAT

While the Student Challenge is a competition, the primary goal is to get students engaged, fostering an interest in making games and tackling social challenges.

The objective of this jam is to get students excited about game development and learn about the process!

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NEW IN 2026

Make sure students from your jam site select that they learned about the jam through “Global Game Jam/GGJ Next” to be considered for this recognition.

GGJ will be recognizing a best GGJ Next game for both the Junior and Senior Divisions from each participating GGJ Next country.

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JAM FORMAT

For students ages 10-18.

Junior Division (ages 10-13)
Senior Division (ages 14-18)

Your jam site can have students in both divisions.

Teams must be between 1-4 students.

Submissions to the character design category are individual submissions.

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HOW TO RUN A GGJ NEXT SITE

Go to globalgamejam.org to register a GGJ Next site.

Step 1. Select “Host a Jam Site.” Complete site application.

*Make sure you select “GGJ Next” as your audience.

Step 2. Complete the GGJ Next Google Form on the GGJ site.

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HOW TO RUN A GGJ NEXT SITE

A member of the GGJ Next team will reach out to coordinate next steps.

Jam date must be completed no later than March 15.

You must have access to an in-person site that you can use (stipends can be used to cover costs).

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HOW TO RUN A GLOBAL GGJ NEXT SITE

GGJ has stipends available to support sites in running GGJ Next jams.

Sites should have 10+ participants to request a stipend.

To receive a stipend, participants must submit games to the G4C portal.

GGJ will provide resources to walk you through this process to make submitting as easy as possible.

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G4C STUDENT CHALLENGE

Games must center around one of three G4C themes.

Games do not need to incorporate the GGJ 2026 theme.

Lesson plans and resources are available for facilitators on each theme.

Go to the G4C Learn Site

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G4C STUDENT CHALLENGE IMPACT THEMES

2026

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THEME: OUTGROW HUNGER

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THEME: OWN THE ROAD

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THEME: ALL IN FOR NATURE: REEFS & RAINFORESTS

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G4C STUDENT CHALLENGE BEST PRACTICES

For sites working with younger students (ages 10-13), we recommend you as the site leader select 1 theme and have all students make games around that theme.

Sites working with older youth (ages 14-18) can decide if they want to focus on just 1 theme for their site or allow students to select from the 3 themes.

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G4C STUDENT CHALLENGE AWARD CATEGORIES

A single game can be submitted for multiple award categories, e.g. Best Outplay Hunger Game, Made with Unity and Best International Game.

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SUBMITTING YOUR GAME TO G4C

Official G4C Student Challenge Deadline: March 30, 2026

Unofficial Deadline: The end of your GGJ Next Jam!

You should have your students submit their games to the G4C portal as the last step in your GGJ Next Jam.

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SUBMITTING YOUR GAME TO G4C

Once you have registered and been approved as a GGJ Next site, you will receive step-by-step instructions from us on uploading to the G4C portal.

You can also access the portal from the G4C Student Challenge site

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G4C STUDENT CHALLENGE HANDBOOK

Any information you need about the G4C Student Challenge can be found the Competition Handbook.

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Games must be playable on a web browser and accessible via a URL

Games must be created using a free or open platform (ex: Scratch, Unity, Construct, Co-Spaces, Game Maker, Twine, Godot, etc.).

You can upload to the GGJ Next itch.io page to post your game. (But also need to submit to the G4C portal.)

G4C STUDENT CHALLENGE REQUIREMENTS

DIGITAL GAMES

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See the G4C Competition Handbook for how to submit:

Game Trailer
Tabletop games
Character design

G4C STUDENT CHALLENGE REQUIREMENTS

ALL OTHER FORMATS

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Through the GGJ Next site, you’ll be able to download the full text of the submission in advance.

GGJ’s Translation Committee is working to provide translations in multiple languages.

Students must submit answers in English, but can use a translation tool like Google translate their own text.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

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Students can submit games in any language; however, for games to be eligible for the competition, English-speaking judges need to be able to play and understand students’ games.

If your game is in another language, please provide additional resources to enable English-speaking judges to understand and play your game.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

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DO NOT LET THE LANGUAGE BARRIER BE A BARRIER.

Games will not be judged on spelling/grammar.

Using tools like Google Translate should be sufficient.

GGJ Next can provide language support to GGJ Next jammers and organizers to ensure their games can be submitted.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

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March 30, 2026: Submission Deadline

Games must be submitted to the Games for Change Submission Portal

GGJ Next Sites should submit at the end of their jam!

Nov. 15, 2025 – March 15, 2026:

Window to host GGJ Next–G4C Jam

Timeline & Key Dates

Mid-May: Finalists Notified

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