Game Jam Jaipur 2026 Draws 240 Devs as India's Indie Scene Expands
- Saswata Mondal
- Jan 15
- 4 min read
Discover the highlights of Game Jam Jaipur 2026: 240 devs, 76 games, and India's indie surge! Plus, gear up for Global Game Jam 2026 with Indian sites, tips, and registration details for aspiring student developers.
Image Credit: Outlook Respawn
Summary of the article -
Past Glory: Game Jam Jaipur 2026 (Jan 5-6) drew 240 devs (mostly students) for 48hr madness—76 games built, ₹1.75L prizes won by Spicy Vendor, Caravan Crossroads, Hawan. Mentors from Rockstar/ProShooterVR guided the indie boom!
Next Up: Global Game Jam 2026 (Jan 30-Feb 1), 40K+ worldwide, free, beginner-friendly 48hr jam with surprise theme. Kolkata site at Red Apple (150 spots, 18+, reg open: forms.gle/iF4Xdkk4UzXLezSu6) + Delhi, Chennai, Indore & 20+ India sites!
Why Join? Teams form on-site, mentors/food/WiFi included, portfolio boosters—register NOW (spots filling fast, ~16 days left)!
Scroll Down for full winners/mentors, India site table w/ links, prep tips, & how-to-join. Your first game ships soon!
Jaipur, January 10, 2026 – In a buzzing showcase of creativity, Game Jam Jaipur 2026 exploded onto Rajasthan's scene, pulling in 240 aspiring game developers who built 76 playable games in just 48 intense hours. This landmark event – Jaipur's first-ever game jam – signals India's indie gaming boom, proving students and beginners can shine alongside pros. Held as part of Rajasthan Digifest – TiE Global Summit 2026, it was organized by Outlook Respawn with partners DoIT&C Rajasthan and NODWIN Gaming.
If you're a student dreaming of game dev, this is your wake-up call: No fancy portfolio needed, just passion. Here's everything you need to know about Game Jam Jaipur 2026, from winners to tips for your next jam.
What Exactly is a Game Jam? (And Why Game Jam Jaipur 2026 Rocked It)
Image Credit: Outlook Respawn
A game jam is like a coding hackathon but for games: Teams get a surprise theme, then race to prototype a full playable game in 48 hours. No prior experience? No problem, beginners teamed up with pros, got free food, WiFi, workspaces, and 24/7 mentorship.
Game Jam Jaipur 2026 happened January 5-6, 2026, at Jaipur Exhibition & Convention Centre (JECC), Sitapura – a massive venue perfect for non-stop creation. Over 240 devs (mostly students) formed 76 teams around the theme "Caravans & Crossroads" – think trade routes, adventures, and Rajasthan's silk road vibes.
Prizes? A sweet ₹1.75 lakh pool. Judging covered:
Polish & Completeness
Gameplay & Fun
Art & Design
Technical Magic
Creativity & Innovation
Meet the Mentors and Jury Behind Game Jam Jaipur 2026
Guidance came from Indian gaming stars. Students raved about the hands-on tips – like pacing yourself and asking for help early.
Mentors | Role/Studio |
Aditya Subramanian | Programmer, Indie Dev (ex-Rockstar) |
Vikram Khazanchi | Independent Game Designer |
Mangesh Thombare | Lead Designer, ProShooterVR |
Mridul Pancholi | Indie Dev ('Appa') |
Jury | Role/Studio |
Megha Gupta | Director, Wala Interactive |
Anirudh Singh | Senior Concept Artist, Nodding Heads |
Avichal Singh | Co-Founder & Game Director, Nodding Heads |
Vignesh Raghuram | Editor-in-Chief, Outlook Respawn |
Game Jam Jaipur 2026 Winners: Who Took Home the Cash?
Crowd favorites nailed the theme with trading sims and strategy gems. Builds aren't public yet, but screenshots show vibrant prototypes.
Rank | Team | Game | Prize |
1st | Elder Monk Interactive (MIT ADT Pune) | Spicy Vendor (Trading sim) | ₹1 Lakh |
2nd | Phoenix | Caravan Crossroads (RTS trader) | ₹50K |
3rd | Daligo | Hawan (Ritual adventure) | ₹25K |
Why Game Jam Jaipur 2026 is a Game-Changer for Indian Students
India's gaming scene is exploding from outsourcing to originals. Events like this build skills, networks, and portfolios. 240 devs, many college kids, shipped games under pressure – boosting Rajasthan beyond metros like Bangalore.
Student Perks:
Free entry (apply via gamejamjaipur.in)
Team matching if solo
Meals, sleep zones, power backup
Career chats with pros
Tips to Prep (From Organizers):
Stick to tools you know (Unity? Godot?)
Practice small prototypes now
Focus: Prototype > Polish
Next up: Global Game Jam 2026 eyes 500K lifetime participants!
Missed Game Jam Jaipur 2026? No Worries,Gear Up for Global Game Jam 2026!
Hey students! Game Jam Jaipur 2026 was epic (240 devs, 76 games, ₹1.75L prizes), but the indie fire keeps burning. The next massive event is Global Game Jam (GGJ) 2026. the world's largest 48-hour game-making marathon with 800+ sites worldwide, expecting 40K+ participants and crossing 500K lifetime jammers.
Dates: Jan 30–Feb 1, 2026 (most Indian sites; official window Jan 26–Feb 1).
Free entry, beginner-friendly, teams form on-site, no experience needed!
Why GGJ 2026 is Perfect for You (Like Jaipur Jam 2.0)?:
48 hours: Surprise theme revealed live (Jan 24–25 via YouTube/Twitch).
Build & showcase: Prototype games, judged locally + global gallery.
Perks: Mentors, food/snacks, WiFi/power, networking with pros/students.
Prizes? Vary by site (e.g., Hyderabad: up to ₹10K).
Global Game Jam 2026 Indian Sites: Pick Yours! (No Jaipur Yet, But Nearby Indore/Delhi)
Dozens across India—register NOW (opens Dec 1; spots fill fast!). How? 1)
Sign up at globalgamejam.org as "Jammer". 2)
Choose site & apply (some have forms). 3) BYOD (laptop!).
City | Site/Host | Dates/Times | Capacity/Age | Key Info & |
Kolkata | Red Apple Technologies | Jan 30 4PM–Feb 1 4PM | 150 / 18+ | Student-heavy, food/coffee, wheelchair access. GGJ Kolkata |
Delhi-NCR | JS Institute of Design (Hybrid) | Jan 29–31 (daytime) | Varies / All? | College vibe, no overnight first days. GGJ Delhi |
Chennai | ICAT College of Design | Jan 30 6PM–Feb 1 5PM | 80 / 18+ | Mentors, pizza/snacks, all skill levels. GGJ Chennai |
Indore | College Campus (TBA details) | Jan 30 Eve–48H | Varies / All | Secure campus, growing dev scene. GGJ Indore |
Hyderabad | Backstage Pass Institute | Jan 30–Feb 1 | Varies / All | Cash prizes! GGJ Hyd |
Mumbai | Powered by Underdogs | Jan 30–Feb 1 | Varies | Community-driven. GGJ Mumbai |
Student Prep Tips for Global Game Jam 2026 (Crush It Like Jaipur Winners!)
Prep Week (Jan 19–23): Free workshops/tutorials, sign up now!
Tools: Unity/Godot (free), practice 1-hour prototypes.
Team: Solo? Match on-site (programmer/artist/designer/sound).
Pack: Laptop, charger, snacks, sleeping bag (some 24/7).
Judging: Fun, innovation, theme fit, no polish needed.
Post-Jam: Upload to itch.io/global gallery for portfolio boost.
Online Backup? Brackeys Game Jam 2026.1 (Feb 15–Mar 8, 1-week online).
Rajasthan students: Head to Indore/Delhi (short trip) or push for a local site!
Follow #GGJ26 on X. Register today.
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