Game Off 2026: The Theme Is SHIFT

Game Off is back. GitHub's annual month-long game jam returns for 2026, and this year's theme is SHIFT.

What Is Game Off?

Game Off is a month-long game jam hosted by GitHub, open to developers of all skill levels and backgrounds. Whether you're a seasoned game developer or writing your first line of game code, the jam invites you to build something new around a single creative prompt. Entries are submitted as open source projects on GitHub, so the community can explore, learn from, and build on one another's work.

This Year's Theme: SHIFT

SHIFT is deliberately open-ended, and that's the point. It can mean a change in perspective, a literal shift key, a gear shift, a paradigm shift, shifting sands, or a shift in time. How you interpret the theme is entirely up to you—the most interesting entries often come from unexpected readings.

A few ways to think about it:

• Mechanics: a game built around shifting between states, dimensions, or characters
• Narrative: a story about transformation, upheaval, or a turning point
• Aesthetics: visual or audio design that shifts as you play
• Meta: tools, workflows, or engines that shift how games are made

How to Participate

1. Register and read the rules on the official Game Off page.
2. Form a team or go solo. Collaboration is encouraged, and open source makes it easy to split work.
3. Build your game during the jam window, using any engine or language you like.
4. Publish your source in a public GitHub repository with a permissive license.
5. Submit before the deadline and share your progress with the community.



Why Join?




Game jams are one of the fastest ways to grow as a developer. You'll ship something real under a deadline, learn from other participants' code, and connect with a community that spans the globe. Past Game Off entries have gone on to become full commercial releases, portfolio pieces, and learning resources for others.




Stay in the Loop




Follow the GitHub Blog and the official Game Off channels for the full schedule, submission guidelines, and community updates. Whether you're shifting gears or shifting paradigms, we can't wait to see what you build.




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Lee Reilly is a Senior Program Manager in GitHub Developer Relations, where he runs hackathons, game jams, and developer programs. He's an open source advocate and occasional shipper of things.

via GitHub AI Blog