NC State University Collegiate Game Jam
A Four-Day Interdisciplinary Game Design Challenge
September 17–20, 2026
NC State University Collegiate Game Jam
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The NC State Collegiate Game Jam is a four‑day creative sprint where students from any major team up to build playable games and digital art from the ground up. Whether participants are artists, coders, designers, or storytellers, they dive into hands‑on workshops on project design and development, version control, game engines, and other popular tools. Teams tackle fast‑paced design challenges and refine their prototypes with one‑on‑one feedback from NC State faculty, Esports staff, and industry mentors. Beyond the competition for cash prizes, exclusive swag and bragging rights, participants expand their portfolios, level up their skills, and connect with a community of fellow creators—and have a blast doing it!
Date
September 17-20, 2026
Location
James B. Hunt Jr. Library
1070 Partners Way
Raleigh, NC
Join the waitlist
We've reached capacity for registrations, but you can still join the waitlist.
Mission & Values
Jam Together
Engage with peers across art, engineering and storytelling to prototype playful experiences that push creative boundaries.
Inclusive Community
Designers, artists, and developers from all majors welcome—no prior experience required.
Open Innovation
Collaborate with NC State faculty, Esports staff and industry mentors.
Mentorship & Networking
Participants will learn the basics of game engines, project scoping, engine-specific scripting, level design, asset pipeline best practices, and playtesting methods. Drop-in mentoring hours as well as a final showcase connect teams with industry experts.
Participation & Registration
Registration is capped at 120 participants to ensure personalized mentoring, and we've now reached that cap. Join the wailtist and we'll contact you if a spot opens.
Funding & Partners
This program is supported by a $24,500 grant from the NC State University Foundation. Sponsors contribute technical resources, prizes and mentorship, ensuring a robust experience for all participants.
Interested in Supporting Future Game Jams at NC State? Contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there prizes? Yes! In 2025, 1 in 3 Collegiate Game Jam participants received a cash prize for their teams' submission. Our Grand Prize-winning team received $1000.
What tools will I use? Whatever you find useful and want to learn more about! Unreal Engine 5, Godot, Blender, Unity, Visual Studio Code, Adobe Creative Cloud and other standard game development platforms are all encouraged and mentors will be on-hand to introduce participants to these tools.
Do I need experience? No, our workshops cover every skill level and team formation will allow peers to work on their first or hundredth game together.
What skills are valuable to Game Jam teams? Relevant skills extend far beyond technical game development know-how! Storytelling, creativity, art & design, project management, video editing, teamwork, and music making are just a few of the important and valuable skills that our Game Jam teams are looking for.
Can I participate remotely? No, the Collegiate Game Jam is an in-person event to facilitate hands-on learning and development.
Can I see past Collegiate Game Jam projects? Yes, eleven past Collegiate Game Jam submissions are available to play on the event's Itch.io page and you can browse past winners here. Each year, submissions from the Jam are also showcased in Libraries workshops and events.
Code of Conduct
NC State Collegiate Game Jam is committed to an inclusive, respectful, harassment‑free environment for all. Everyone must adhere to our Code of Conduct as described in the participant handbook.
Contact
Questions? Email us at ncstate_game_jam@ncsu.edu