Welcome to the Horror Game Jam!

Welcome jammers! This jam is focused on creating immersive, atmospheric horror experiences. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned developer, challenge yourself to build a chilling game within the given timeline.

🌾 Theme: The Farm

🚜 Background

You inherit an old farm from a relative you never knew existed.

At first, it seems abandoned. The fields are overgrown, the farmhouse is covered in dust, and the barn hasn't been used in years.

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But something doesn't feel right.

• The animals are still being fed.
• The lights inside the farmhouse turn on by themselves.
• And every morning, you find fresh footprints around the property.

You begin searching through the farmhouse, barn, fields, and surrounding land to discover what happened to the previous owner.

The deeper you explore, the more you realize this farm wasn't abandoned.

Someone—or something—has been keeping it alive.

Please note: The content provided in this background is intended to help jammers understand the theme. You're free to interpret it in your own way.

✨ Key Features

• Farm exploration: Explore the farmhouse, barn, fields, sheds, basement, and surrounding property. Use open farmland for isolation and small interiors for claustrophobia.
• Blending narrative and gameplay: Let the player's investigation drive the story forward by searching rooms, interacting with objects, finding keys, and solving puzzles.
• Collect key items & clues: Use old photographs, handwritten notes, farm records, tools, and missing-person posters to piece together the farm's history.
• The farm changes: What appears normal during the day may become completely different at night. Objects move, animals disappear, and lights flicker.

🧩 Hints & Storytelling

• Provide useful clues: Use repeated objects, footprints, phone calls, or a cracked barn door to quietly guide players.
• Explore theme tension: Focus on the mystery of who is maintaining the property.
• Environmental storytelling: Let the environment reveal secrets rather than relying heavily on dialogue.
• Contrast safety & danger: Contrast safe daytime exploration with threatening nighttime changes.
• Transition CG (Optional): Use short cutscenes or images to show key events or passage of time.
• Make the farm feel alive: Creaky sounds, watching animals, and distant moving lights create tension.

"The longer you stay on the farm, the harder it becomes to tell whether you're investigating its secrets—or becoming part of them."

⚡ Special Task (Optional)

To give your game an extra challenge, incorporate the following optional mechanic or item into your project:

*Note: Completing the special task is optional, but will be considered favorably during voting under Theme Integration.*

🛠 Horror Game Kit 1.5 & Rules

You are welcome to use pre-made starter kits! Recommended: Horror Game Kit 1.5 (Includes pre-built interaction systems, lighting, flashlights, and key-lock mechanics).

How to Join:

1. Click the "Join Jam" button at the top of this page.
2. Work on your game individually or as a team during the jam period.
3. Submit your playable build on itch.io before the deadline.

Rules:

• NSFW Content: Explicit sexual content is prohibited. Gore/horror allowed with proper warnings.
• Asset Usage: Pre-made assets permitted with proper licensing/credit.
• Fresh Build: Core design and logic should be created within the jam window.
• Platforms: Windows builds or WebGL (browser) builds are strongly encouraged.

⭐ Rating Criteria & Submission Guide

Entries will be rated on: Atmosphere & Visuals, Theme Usage, Audio Design, and Gameplay & Pacing.

How to Submit Your Game to Itch:

If you're new to publishing on itch.io, watch this step-by-step guide: