Game Off 2022: Build a Game Around a Cliche

The annual Game Off jam is back, and this year's theme is cliché. If a phrase feels overused and lacks original thought, it qualifies: "a blast from the past," "opposites attract," or "skating on thin ice" all fit the bill.

Pick one cliché — or several — and build your game around it. A few ideas to get you started:

  • A shoot ‘em up starring a loose cannon.
  • A dating sim about how opposites attract.
  • A clicker game about plucking low-hanging fruit.
  • A racing game set on thin ice.
  • A football game where you move the goalposts.
  • A beat ‘em up requiring you to throw in the towel.
  • Film clichés like ammo that never runs out or exploding cars.
  • Video game clichés like conveniently-placed exploding barrels.

Stuck for ideas? There's a list of almost 4,000 clichés available to browse. Entries must be submitted via itch.io before December 1 at 13:37 PT.

How to participate

  1. Create a game based on the theme.
  2. Sign up for a free GitHub account if you don't already have one.
  3. Join the jam on itch.io (you can sign in with your GitHub account).
  4. Push your code and shareable assets to a new public GitHub repository before the deadline.
  5. Submit your game through itch.io.

Voting and judging

Voting opens to all participants shortly after the jam concludes. The categories are Overall, Gameplay, Graphics, Audio, Innovation, and Theme Interpretation. Standout entries will be highlighted on the GitHub Blog.

New to game development?

Plenty of open source engines make this an accessible challenge. The engine and language are entirely up to you; any platform works, from Web and desktop to mobile. Community-supported options include:

Each of these projects provides thorough documentation and tutorials. Unusual platforms are welcome — previous jams have included NES and Commodore 64 entries.

Looking for a teammate or advice on engines? Try the Game Off community on itch.io or the community-run Discord server.

New to Git or GitHub?

Good luck, and happy building!