
Theme: Climate action games. Global online game jam.
Format and location: Online; Online / itch.io
Period: 01.07.2026 — 12.08.2026
Registration or submission deadline: 12.08.2026
Current status: Open
Kazakhstan eligibility: Yes — direct
Target audience: Game designers, storytellers, climate communicators
Age and other criteria: Open to all
Team: Solo / team
Primary language: EN
Fee: Free
Awards: Selected projects may be included in the Steam anthology
Climate Jam 2026 is an event in the "climate, resources, and sustainable development" category. The stated thematic formulation is: Climate action games. Global online game jam.. The practical value of participation should be assessed not only by the size of the prize but also by the quality of the task, access to experts, the suitability of the result for a portfolio, the cost of preparation, and the likelihood of completing a strong submission in the available time. The status in the catalog is Open, and the editorial priority is B — for game dev. This helps determine the order of work but is not a rating of the organizer and does not guarantee selection or victory.
For this theme, the central product question is: what observable environmental or infrastructure indicator changes thanks to the solution and at what scale. A strong team will be able to answer this in one sentence and then prove the answer with a working result. The most appropriate type of final artifact: an analytical prototype, a map or dashboard, a scenario model, and an explanation of the cause-and-effect relationship between the action and the indicator. This is an editorial recommendation derived from the theme; the official mandatory format should only be taken from the event website.
In the card, eligibility is marked as Yes — direct. The basis that was recorded: Global online game jam.. These two lines must be read together. The phrasing "Kazakhstan is not excluded" is weaker than a direct invitation to participants from all over the world, and the word "international" by itself does not always mean the absence of restrictions on citizenship, residency, place of study, age, or sanctions compliance. If the meaning contains "conditionally," if the evidence is indirect, or if the legal rules have not yet been published, it is worth getting a written response from the organizer before spending time.
The recommended request to the organizer should state the country of residence and citizenship, the proposed team composition, age or student status, the method of receiving the prize, and the chosen format of participation. It is better to save the response along with a screenshot of the version of the rules. Separately, check whether the platform applies its own restrictions, whether a Kazakhstani bank can receive the payment, whether a tax form is required, and whether it is permitted to participate on behalf of a company. These are not additional rules for this hackathon, but a standard risk check for an international application.
Stated audience: Game designers, storytellers, climate communicators. Recorded criteria: Open to all. Information about team composition: Solo / team. Before registration, each participant must independently confirm compliance with age, student status, residency, and other personal conditions. If permission for solo participation is not stated directly, it should not be considered permitted. If the maximum team size is unknown, do not register extra people until you receive an answer from the organizer.
For the task in the field of "climate, resources and sustainable development", the rational distribution of roles is as follows: data/geo-engineer, product developer, subject matter analyst, and visualization designer responsible for the calculation methodology. One person can combine several functions, but there must be clear owners of the product, technical result, quality assurance, and final submission. It is useful to agree in writing in advance on the contribution, the right to present the project, access to the repository, the use of the result after the event, and the distribution of a potential prize. Such an internal agreement is a recommendation and does not replace the platform's terms.
The working language is specified as EN. Even if the team communicates in Russian or Kazakh, prepare a unified glossary of terms in advance and designate a person capable of confidently answering the jury's questions in the required language. For an English-language submission, it is better to use short sentences, labels on diagrams, and subtitles for the demonstration. The goal is accuracy, not complex style.
The confirmed format is Online, location is Online / itch.io. Start: 01.07.2026; end: 12.08.2026; deadline: 12.08.2026. Transport information: Not required. Presence of an online component by card: yes; signs of mandatory in-person presence: no. These signs are derived only from the field text and do not override event-specific rules.
For an online format, it is important for a team from Kazakhstan to convert the deadline to their time zone, check the time of mandatory sessions, the upload speed of large videos, and the availability of all APIs. Create a technical buffer of at least a few hours and do not leave registration until the moment of submission. For an in-person or hybrid format, first calculate the full budget: visa, flights, accommodation, insurance, local transport, food, and refundable deposits. The wording "travel support" does not mean automatic coverage of all expenses. The value recorded for this event: Not required.
The participation cost is recorded as Free. Prize information: Selected projects may be included in the Steam anthology. Before making a decision, separate cash payments, grants, cloud platform credits, subscriptions, equipment, mentorship, and marketing wording about total value. Clarify the number of awarded teams, currency, deadlines, taxes, receipt restrictions, and the need to be present at the ceremony. If TBA, page discrepancies, or a re-verification requirement appear in the field, the amount cannot be used as guaranteed income.
Even without a cash prize, an event can be useful if it provides a strong case, public demonstration, feedback, or access to a community. But paid services, travel, and several weeks of work have an opportunity cost. It is better to make a decision about participation based on three questions: is it possible to fulfill the mandatory requirements; is it possible to assemble a convincing result on time; will the created artifact be useful after the winners are announced.
For this direction, the following sequence is useful:
This strategy is not an official evaluation criterion. Its purpose is to help turn the broad topic Climate action games. Global online game jam. into an honest, verifiable, and completed prototype.
Recorded risk: Cash is not declared; this is a game jam, not a classic tech hackathon.. Next recommended step: Submit by 12.08; disclose AI use.
The basic card fields are filled, but before registering, you still need to check the exact hours, the current version of the rules, and any changes made after the data collection date.
Practical go/no-go criterion: you should apply if the team documentarily meets eligibility, has access to the required stack, can complete a verifiable scenario, and accepts the financial and logistical risks. You should pause participation if the admission of Kazakhstan, submission rights, mandatory in-person presence, cost of critical services, or the payout procedure for a significant prize is unclear.