List of ongoing visual novel jams

From VNDev Wiki
Revision as of 11:36, 1 July 2024 by MadamePhoton (talk | contribs) (→‎Otome Jam: Jam's over)

This is a list of VN jams and jams favored by VN devs, or jams producing a significant amount of VNs.

Jams are put under the starting month of the last event of the series.

The year of the jam reflects the year during which the jam has ended. The current calendar year of jams is highlighted.

Statistics are from itch pages during peak participation, shortly after jam closure or for older jams from itch jam info pages. Note that as people can remove their games from itch jams, later updates may not reflect numbers at the time of the jam, and that itch jam entry numbers may sometimes be off by 1 or 2 games (e.g. jam page says 10 games, but only 9 are visible).


January

Ace Jam

A jam for stories featuring asexual characters.

NaNoWinter

A NaNoRenO inspired jam, taking place in winter.

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
1st 2015 3 N/A https://itch.io/jam/nanowinter2015

Queer Vampire Game Jam

A month-long interactive fiction jam, focused on queer relationships and experiences with vampires as the focus.

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
1st 2024 60 261 https://itch.io/jam/queer-vampire

Visual Novel AI Jam

A jam about artificial intelligence characters.

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
1st 2024 --- 127 https://itch.io/jam/visual-novel-ai-jam-2023

February

Yandere Game Jam

A jam focusing on the anime trope of aggressive expressions of affection.

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
3rd 2024 33 120[1] https://itch.io/jam/yanjam24
2nd 2023 46 191 https://itch.io/jam/yandere-game-jam-2023
1st 2022 21 90 https://itch.io/jam/yandere-game-jam

Valentine's VN Jam

A love-themed visual novel jam.

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
1st 2021 51 259 https://itch.io/jam/valentines-vn-jam-2021

Aro Jam

A jam for stories featuring aromantic characters.

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
4th 2023 2 26 https://itch.io/jam/aro-jam-2023
3rd 2022 6 22 https://itch.io/jam/aro-jam-2022
2nd 2021 2 6 https://itch.io/jam/aro-jam-2021
1st 2019 2 26 https://itch.io/jam/aro-jam

March

NaNoRenO

The original visual novel jam, open for any VN started and finished in March.

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
20th 2024 151 453[1] https://itch.io/jam/nanoreno-2024
19th 2023 161 708 https://itch.io/jam/nanoreno2023
18th 2022 185 891 https://itch.io/jam/nanoreno-2022
17th 2021 88 394 https://itch.io/jam/nanoreno-2021
16th 2020 105 450 https://itch.io/jam/nanoreno-2020
15th 2019 88 330 https://itch.io/jam/nanoreno-2019
14th 2018 71 235 https://itch.io/jam/nanoreno-2018
13th 2017 68 439 https://itch.io/jam/nanoreno-2017
12th 2016 75 178 https://itch.io/jam/nanoreno-2016
11th 2015 34 39 https://itch.io/jam/nanoreno-2015
10th 2014 22 --
9th 2013 29 --
8th 2012 24 --
7th 2011 8 --
6th 2010 7 --
5th 2009 11 --
4th 2008 4 --
3rd 2007 8 --
2nd 2006 3 --
1st 2005 6 --

IntRenAiMo

A jam parallel to NaNoRenO with no restrictions, but without a formal home.

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
20th 2024 -- --
19th 2023 -- --
18th 2022 -- --
17th 2021 -- --
16th 2020 -- --
15th 2019 -- --
14th 2018 -- --
13th 2017 -- --
12th 2016 -- --
11th 2015 -- --
10th 2014 -- --
9th 2013 -- --
8th 2012 -- --
7th 2011 -- --
6th 2010 -- --
5th 2009 -- --
4th 2008 -- --
3rd 2007 -- --
2nd 2006 -- --
1st 2005 -- --

Ossan Jam

A jam for visual novels featuring old men. Formerly known as "Oji Jam".

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
2nd 2024 7 --- https://itch.io/jam/ossan-jam
1st 2023 7 41 https://itch.io/jam/ojijam

April

Amare Jam

A jam focusing on diversity in romance.

Blossom Jam

A casual jam with the theme of "Spring".

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
2nd 2024 32 --- https://itch.io/jam/blossom-vn-jam-2024
1st 2023 45 243 https://itch.io/jam/blossom-vn-jam-2023

VN CUP

A jam with judging and prizes.

Velox Fabula

A Ludum Dare-inspired jam with short durations and theme requirements. Has challenge editions, Velox Turbo and Velox Formido, with even shorter durations.

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
3rd 2024 16 -- https://itch.io/jam/velox-formido
2nd 2023 15 -- https://itch.io/jam/velox-turbo
1st 2023 19 -- https://itch.io/jam/velox-fabula

May

Otome Jam

A two-month jam focusing on romantic games with a female protagonist.

Josei Jam

A two-month jam focused on the broader range of otome-esque games, namely any game that's made with a female demographic in mind. It's a sister jam that runs parallel to Otome Jam.

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
2nd 2024 --- --- https://itch.io/jam/josei-jam-2024
1st 2023 66 177 https://itch.io/jam/josei-jam-2023

Transformation Jam

A two-month game jam featuring the uniting theme of transformation. Games that are already in progress are allowed to be submitted.

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
1st 2023 11 47 https://itch.io/jam/transformation-game-jam

Menhera VN Jam

A jam focusing on queer characters with mental health problems. Has judging and prizes.

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
1st 2024 --- --- https://itch.io/jam/menhera-vn-jam

Worst VN Jam

A jam focusing on making intentionally bad visual novels. Developers may also submit their visual novels to be fixed in companion Fixit VN Jam.

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
1st 2024 54 183 https://itch.io/jam/worstvn2024

June

Trans Representation Jam

A jam focused on trans representation.

Battle Action Fantasy (BAF) Jam

A jam around chuunige and shonen battle action fantasy tropes.

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
2nd 2024 1 13 https://itch.io/jam/baf-jam-2024
1st 2023 12 107 https://itch.io/jam/baf-jam-2023

TyranoBuilder Jam (TyranoJam)

A visual novel jam with an engine restriction, and themes.

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
3rd 2018 17 97 https://itch.io/jam/tyranojam18
2nd 2017 44 320 https://itch.io/jam/tyranojam17
1st 2015 33 41 https://itch.io/jam/tyranojam15

YaoiJam +

For finishing existing Yaoi Game Jam compatible projects previously submitted to other jams.

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
3rd 2022 0 37 https://itch.io/jam/yaoijamplus2022
2nd 2021 3 26 https://itch.io/jam/yaoijamplus2021
1st 2020 5 24 https://itch.io/jam/yaoijamplus

Fixit VN Jam

Companion jam to Worst VN Jam, where developers remix intentionally bad visual novels into better ones.

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
1st 2024 --- --- https://itch.io/jam/fixitvn

Mythology VN Jam

A jam focused on mythology.

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
1st 2024 --- --- https://itch.io/jam/mythology-vn-jam

July

O2A2 VN Jam

A minimalist jam with restrictions on resources (use only one of any asset). Has a queer edition with focus on LGBTQ+ developers.

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
6th 2024 --- --- https://itch.io/jam/o2a2-2024
5th 2023 154 316 https://itch.io/jam/o2a2-2023
4th 2023 103 173[1] https://itch.io/jam/o2a2-vn-2023-queer
3rd 2022 106 186 https://itch.io/jam/o2a2-2022
2nd 2021 96 182 https://itch.io/jam/o2a2-again
1st 2020 20 46 https://itch.io/jam/o2a2

Summer Novel Festival (SuNoFes)

A two-month low-stakes jam focused on narrative games.

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
10th 2024 --- --- https://itch.io/jam/sunofes24
9th 2023 67 169 https://itch.io/jam/sunofes23
8th 2022 115 965 https://itch.io/jam/sunofes22
7th 2021 69 678 https://itch.io/jam/sunofes21
6th 2020 62 368 https://itch.io/jam/sunofes20
5th 2019 4 79 https://itch.io/jam/sunofes19
4th 2018 9 78 https://itch.io/jam/sunofes18
3rd 2017 17 196 https://itch.io/jam/sunofes17
2nd 2016 10 60 https://itch.io/jam/sunofes16
1st 2015 12 13 https://itch.io/jam/sunofes

Yaoi Game Jam

A two-month game jam focused on M/M relationships for a female audience.

Nonbinary Game Jam

A jam for stories featuring nonbinary characters.

Bishoujo Jam

A jam focusing on pretty anime girls and a male protagonist.

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
2nd 2022 4 29 https://itch.io/jam/bishoujo-jam-2022
1st 2018 1 67 https://itch.io/jam/bishoujo-jam

Shoot For The Stars Jam

A VN jam focused on the topic of stars and space.

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
1st 2020 12 22 https://itch.io/jam/shoot-for-the-stars-jam

Search For The Truth Jam

A VN jam for Ace Attorney style visual novels.

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
1st 2018 3 39 https://itch.io/jam/search-for-the-truth

Yuri Visual Novel Jam

Not to be confused with the annual Yuri Game Jam.

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
1st 2023 0 9 https://itch.io/jam/vn-yuri-jam

August

Object Head Jam

A jam focused on the object head aesthetic.

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
1st 2021 8 65 https://itch.io/jam/object-head-jam-2021

BL Jam

A jam emphasizing M/M relationships.

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
1st 2018 2 24 https://itch.io/jam/blgamejam

Monstrous Desires Jam

A visual novel jam focused around romantic stories featuring monsters.

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
1st 2024 --- --- https://itch.io/jam/monstrous-desires-2024

September

Spooktober VN Jam

A jam with a broad theme of Halloween, horror and mystery, with judging and prizes.

Mushroom Jam

A jam focused on various types of fungi.

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
1st 2023 28 271 https://itch.io/jam/mushroomm

Ren'Py Jam

A jam mainly for visual novels, with an engine restriction.

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
1st 2018 27 115 https://itch.io/jam/renpy-jam


October

Yuri Game Jam (YuriJam)

A jam emphasizing relationships between women.

Bara Jam

A jam themed around a hypermasculine anime aesthetic.

Once Upon A Time VN Jam

A jam themed around fairy tales.

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
1st 2023 33 280 https://itch.io/jam/once-upon-a-time-vn-jam

November

BirdJam

A jam for stories featuring birds.

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
1st 2022 40 200 https://itch.io/jam/birdjam

ViNoWriMo

A visual novel writing jam parallel to the NaNoWriMo event.

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
1st 2020 20 138 https://itch.io/jam/vinowrimo

December

Winter VN Jam

The Winter VN Jam is a low-pressure jam with a broad theme of winter, the cold, and snow.

Black Visual Novel Jam

A visual novel jam focused on Black creators and voice acting.

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
1st 2022 2 56 https://itch.io/jam/black-visual-novel-jam-

Finish Your Visual Novel (FYVN Jam)

A jam where you challenge yourself to finish your in-progress VN project by the end of the year.

Nr. Year Entries Joined Link
2nd 2021 10 25 https://itch.io/jam/finish-your-visual-novel
1st 2020 12 56 https://itch.io/jam/finish-your-vn