Game jams are exciting, but they’re also chaotic. Many participants lose valuable time, over-scope their ideas, or spend days polishing features that players never experience.
Over the past five years, I’ve completed more than a dozen game jams and developed a simple five-phase framework that brings structure to the entire process, from choosing an idea to publishing the final build.
This talk walks through each phase of the framework, covering planning, execution, polishing, submission, and post-jam visibility. Rather than focusing on specific tools or engine features, the framework is built around habits and decision-making that work regardless of experience level.
Whether you’re entering your first game jam or your fifteenth, you’ll leave with a repeatable process that helps you finish stronger games with less stress.
Every game jam begins with ambitious ideas, but finishing a polished game requires a lot of decisions under intense time pressure. This session breaks those decisions down into a practical five-phase framework that attendees can immediately apply in their next jam.
Phase 1 - Planning: Turn the jam theme into a unique, achievable game idea, brainstorm effectively, control the scope, and use a one-page “Mini GDD” to organise ideas before opening the engine.
Phase 2 - Execution: Learn how to stay productive under pressure by following a clear plan, prioritising the core gameplay loop, keeping mechanics simple, choosing technology that fits the deadline, and knowing when “good enough” is the right decision.
Phase 3 - Polishing: Learn how to make a game feel finished by adding impactful feedback, creating intuitive tutorials, and using game juice to make every player interaction feel satisfying.
Phase 4 - Finalising: Avoid last-minute disasters by testing exported builds, planning around the deadline instead of racing it, and learning why I treat uploading several hours early as a non-negotiable rule.
Phase 5 - Post-Jam: Give your game the first impression it deserves by presenting it effectively with compelling screenshots, GIFs, and descriptions that encourage players to give it a chance.
Throughout the session, I’ll share real examples from my own game jams, highlighting both successful decisions and mistakes that taught valuable lessons, alongside practical techniques attendees can immediately apply in their next jam using Godot.
Winning a jam is never guaranteed, but consistently finishing polished, enjoyable games is something you can prepare for. This talk is about building the habits and workflow that help you do exactly that.