Winter Game Jam 2026 was a five-day in-house development sprint held in the Digital Futures Lab alongside Global Game Jam. Five teams worked to interpret the global theme of “Mask”, collaborating intensively to design and build original playable games that were showcased at an awards ceremony on 11 February 2026.
The winners were crowned based on their adherence to the theme, but also their ambition when it came to the use of arcade-friendly features such as a high score, leaderboard, and endless mode. These features create a more replayable game, which merges well with the core gameplay loop of a first-person shooter.
Step into a shooter where the goal isn’t to harm, but to protect. In this backwards FPS, players prevent a superflu outbreak by shooting masks or spraying anti-viral agents onto infected NPCs before they reach a critical building. Featuring 3D environments with 2D sprite characters, an endless mode, and a global leaderboard, the game challenges your reflexes and strategic thinking to keep your community safe… by force.
See on GGJ Website
Who committed the masked crime? Players navigate a 2D detective world where assailants rotate randomly each playthrough. By collecting clues through narrative-rich conversations and strategically using special items — while managing a limited social battery — players deduce both the perpetrator and their motive. Each case challenges your deduction skills and attention to detail, keeping the mystery fresh every playthrough.
See on GGJ Website
Run your very own mask shop in this shop simulator with a creative twist, where precision and memory are key. Customers request masks of specific shapes and patterns, and players must reproduce them as accurately as possible. The unique pattern-matching mechanic evaluates how well your hand-drawn designs match the requested style, turning every order into a test of skill, speed, and artistic flair.
See on GGJ Website
Explore a rich, Zelda-inspired world in this 3D action-adventure game where masks unlock your powers. Dash with the rabbit mask, shrink with the mouse mask, and revisit areas that were previously unreachable. Each mask not only grants new abilities but reshapes the way you navigate the environment, combining puzzle-solving with thrilling exploration.
See on GGJ Website
Immerse yourself in a visually striking WWII-style FPS where your vision is obscured by a thick mask. Battle waves of enemies through a battlefield shrouded in dense green mist, requiring heightened awareness, strategy, and quick reflexes. The game combines intense combat with an atmospheric aesthetic that keeps you on edge at every moment.
See on GGJ Website
May 2026 · Details coming soon
Summer Game Jam 2026