GMTK Game Jam 2020: Ten Open-Source Standouts
This year's GMTK Game Jam—a 48-hour design-focused game-making competition—shattered participation records with 5,400 submissions from 18,300 participants on itch.io. The theme: "Out of Control." Entries explored it with remarkable creativity, often by making the controls themselves the central mechanic. Here are ten of the most memorable open-source games, in no particular order.
One caveat before diving in: read the controls for each game carefully. As several of these entries demonstrate, the twist is often in how you input commands, not just what you do with them.
Controls as a Physical Puzzle
A Key(s) Path
► Play (Web, Windows, macOS, Linux) · Source (Godot, GDScript)
In A Key(s) Path, you receive three movement keys—←, →, ↑—but with the ability to drag them into the game world and repurpose them as platforms. The puzzle emerges from figuring out which movement options you can sacrifice to progress. It's a clever spatial twist on platforming that rewards lateral thinking.
Shield Bearer
► Play (Web, Windows, macOS) · Source (Godot, GDScript)
In Shield Bearer, you play as a hovering protector shadowing a would-be adventurer through dungeons. The game inverts the usual hero dynamic: your job is not to quest but to keep the actual hero safe. A polished and creative read on the theme.
Retro Aesthetics, Unconventional Input
KEYHOARD JOTTEL
► Play (Windows) · Source (Game Maker)
With its 8-bit visuals, chiptune soundtrack, scanlines, and faux-CRT effects, KEYHOARD JOTTEL is a love letter to the 1980s. The metroidvania-style game casts you as a robot agent tasked with repairing and recharging your spaceship. The control scheme, as with many entries here, is not quite what it seems. The ←, →, ↑, and ↓ keys may not behave as expected—a fitting nod to the theme.
That Day My Dog Flew a Spaceship
► Play (Web, Windows, macOS, Linux) · Source (PICO-8, Lua)
Another PICO-8 entry, That Day My Dog Flew a Spaceship stands out for both its grooming-based AI training and its detailed pixel art. You guide your canine hero through asteroid fields, fires, and space pirates, all while trying to avoid a rough landing. The game's lighthearted take on AI control makes it a memorable entry.
When Simple Controls Go Wrong
Lost Signal
► Play (Web) · Source (Godot, GDScript)
Lost Signal frames your mission as simple: guide a small robot to freedom. The controls are anything but. Keys remain pressed once you hit them, and opposite keys cancel each other out. You'll need to plan multi-key sequences carefully, and some levels introduce timing-based challenges. It's a deceptively difficult coordination test.
Five Steps Ahead
► Play (Web, Windows, macOS, Linux) · Source (Unity, C#)
Procedurally generated levels and its core premise make Five Steps Ahead one of the toughest challenges here. You must predict the order in which falling blocks will appear to clear each stage. It's a game of anticipatory thinking that gets harder with every level.
Push the Button
► Play (Web, Windows) · Source (Unity, C#)
As a new hire at a company, your sole job is to keep your desk clear and press every button that lights up. Push the Button is a quirky, lighthearted take on office life that held a surprisingly long attention span for its simple premise. It won't tax your brain, but it's an easy pick for a few minutes of fun.
Match-Three and Mayhem
Boomcrunk
► Play (Web, Windows) · Source (Unity, C#)
Boomcrunk brings a moody, atmospheric spin to match-three puzzles. Clear trios of tiles to progress, and match golden tiles to secure a win. Its style sets it apart from the typical match-three fare.
Super Corgi Drifter
► Play (Web) · Source (PICO-8, Lua)
The best-named entry of the bunch, Super Corgi Drifter is a tidy PICO-8 showcase. You follow your energetic pup around a park, drifting behind it in a way that is surprisingly engaging. A lighthearted and polished mini-game.
Last Meow Standing
► Play (Web, Windows, macOS, Linux) · Source (Unity, C#)
An intergalactic cat on a mission against waves of space rodents: Last Meow Standing lives up to its title. The game punishes careless play—a single hit can send you reeling, so keep your wits about you. A satisfying arcade-style shooter with feline flair.
That's a sample of ten games from the thousands submitted. The full collection is available on itch.io, where the jam's page also links to all 5,400+ entries. For deeper insight into game design and jam methodology, the GMTK's creator runs a YouTube channel dedicated to analyzing mechanics and design choices—a useful resource for players and developers alike.
