SLAPJAMIs AI allowed in game jams? The rules of 27 jams, side by side
Is AI allowed in game jams? It depends on the jam, and the biggest jams disagree. Of the 27 jams we checked on September 29, 2026, eight ban or limit generative AI, seven allow it, three don't mention it, and nine require it. The two largest land on opposite sides: GMTK Game Jam (10.5k entries) disqualifies AI art and audio, while Global Game Jam 2026 (9,874 games from 39,197 jammers) allows AI with no restrictions. Next in size, Brackeys Game Jam (2,244 entries) bans AI content and Ludum Dare 59 (1,637 games) allows it with category opt-outs. The jams built around AI are still small: the AI Browser Game Jam's August round had 126 entries. Rules change between editions, so check the page for the edition you're entering, not last year's forum thread.
Which jams allow AI?
Click a jam name for its rule page. Every quote is copied from that page.
Jams that ban or limit AI
| Jam | AI? | In their words | Edition checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| GMTK Game Jam | No AI art or audio | "You must not use generative AI to make art or audio assets for your game, or your Itch.io page." | July 2026 |
| Brackeys Game Jam | Banned | "No AI-Generated content." | August 2026 |
| Pirate Software Game Jam | Banned | "No AI-Generated Content of any kind." | July 2026 |
| Kenney Jam | Banned, code too | "Not allowed": "Generative AI or AI assisted (code, art or audio)" | July 2026 |
| Godot Wild Jam | Banned, code too | "No vibe code, no AI-generated art, no AI-composed music, no AI-written dialogue, no AI assets of any kind." | September 2026 |
| Mini Jam | No AI images or sound | "usage of the wide majority of available generative AI tools, such as those that generate images or sound is prohibited." | September 2026 |
| Scream Jam | Banned | "All generative AI technologies are banned from use in this jam." | October 2026 |
| Boss Rush Jam | Banned, costs prizes only | "No use of AI-generated content." | January 2025, no 2026 edition found |
Jams that allow AI
| Jam | AI? | In their words | Edition checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Game Jam | Allowed, IP rules apply | "will not have any restrictions around AI usage within the jam, including generative AI" | January 2026 |
| Ludum Dare | Allowed, opt out | "Yes, AI powered tools can be used, but you may have to opt-out of certain categories." | April 2026 |
| Micro Jam | Allowed | "Yes, AI is allowed." | September 2026 |
| GameDev.tv Game Jam | Allowed | "Yes - just use them ethically and legally." | May 2026 |
| GitHub Game Off | Allowed | "AI-assisted development is allowed." | November 2025 |
| Bullet Hell Jam | Allowed, discouraged, must disclose | "we strongly discourage the use of AI." and "you must clearly disclose it in your game's description." | May 2026 |
| All Tools Allowed | Allowed, must disclose | "No disclosure means no entry." | September 2026 |
Jams with no AI rule
| Jam | AI? | Edition checked |
|---|---|---|
| js13kGames | Not mentioned in its rules | August 2026 |
| 7DRL Challenge | Not mentioned in its rules | March 2026 |
| Nordic Game Jam | Not mentioned in its FAQ | April 2026 |
Silence is not a yes. Ask in the jam's community before you build on it.
Jams built for AI
| Jam | AI? | In their words | Edition checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slapjam | Required, credit your tools | "Made with AI." | September 2026 |
| AI Browser Game Jam | Required | "Development must be heavily AI-assisted, majority of the game was AI generated." | August 2026 |
| Vibe Jam | Required | "At least 90% of the code has to be written by AI." | April 2026 |
| Ultimate AI-Powered Game Jam | Required, one major component | "You MUST use Generative AI tools" | September 2026 |
| Player2 NPC Jam | AI NPCs required | "Your game must use the Player2 web API correctly" | January 2026 |
| Supercell Global AI Game Hack | Required | "Create a brand-new game using AI at least in the development process." | February 2026 |
| Tripo 3D Game Jam: Portal Pass | Tripo required | "The primary 3D assets used in the game scenes must be generated by Tripo" | January 2026 |
| GDC 2026 AI Game Jam | Jabali Studio for prizes | "entries must meaningfully use Jabali Studio" | March 2026 |
| Jabali AI Game Jam | Jabali Studio required | "Games must be playable and published through Jabali Studio." | September 2026 |
The rules keep moving, mostly toward stricter: Brackeys, Boss Rush, Kenney Jam and Mini Jam all added bans between 2025 and 2026, GMTK's 2024 request became a disqualification rule, and Scream Jam went from most generative AI prohibited to all of it banned.
Can I use AI for code when AI art and audio are banned?
The most asked question in jam forums, and most rule pages don't answer it. The jams above split three ways. Kenney Jam and Godot Wild Jam name code and ban it ("No vibe code"). GMTK bans art and audio and asks you to skip the rest: "In general, we ask that you do not use artificial intelligence for the GMTK Game Jam." Brackeys, Pirate Software and Boss Rush ban AI-generated content without defining it, and Mini Jam names image and sound generators only. If the page doesn't answer, ask the organizers in the jam community and keep their reply. Ludum Dare says "AI assistant and “co-pilot” tools can be used without restriction"; the only catch is opting out of rating categories a generator did most of.
Do I have to disclose?
On some jams, yes. Bullet Hell Jam: "You'll be asked about this upon submission, and we will be checking." All Tools Allowed: "No disclosure means no entry." Slapjam: "Credit your tools." itch.io added a Generative AI disclosure field in November 2024, and founder leafo wrote: "This field is now required for all asset creators on itch.io." For games it's a request, so tick it anyway. An undisclosed tool found later is a much worse conversation.
Can organizers tell?
Not always, and they say so. GMTK: "we are only able to actively police the use of generative AI for art and audio assets." Godot Wild Jam admits the code part "can be impractical, perhaps even onerous, to enforce." and disqualifies anyway: "The entry will only be re-qualified if the creator can prove the authenticity of their work." Ludum Dare allows AI for the same reason: "it’s just not realistic to stop it or police it." So the burden of proof is yours. Keep your source files, your sketches and your commit history.
Is AI fair, or is it cheating?
Both sides have a point. Against, Godot Wild Jam's policy post: "the Godot Wild Jam is about learning and growth; using Generative AI to create assets goes against that missive." For, Ludum Dare's FAQ: "Whether we like it or not, AI is used by professionals across the gaming industry. Banning it wouldn’t accurately reflect the real world." Our take: a jam is a set of constraints you agree to. Using AI in a jam that bans it is cheating. Using AI in a jam that requires it is the assignment. Pick the room you want to be in, then read its rules before the theme drops.
AI game jams coming up in October 2026
Dates are UTC.
| Jam | AI? | Dates | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Micro Jam 066: Toxic | Allowed | October 3-5 | "Best Games Made With Ziva" prize; Ziva and Easel sponsor the jam |
| Ultimate AI-Powered Game Jam #5 | Required | October 9-12 | One major component must use AI |
| Scream Jam 2026 | Banned | October 16-23 | The one jam here where AI is out |
| AI Browser Game Jam 5 | Required | October 17-31 | Same rule as round 4 |
| All Tools Allowed #3 | Allowed, must disclose | October 23-26 | Say what you used, or you're not in |
Slapjam: AI required, credit everything
Slapjam runs from September 28 at 15:00 UTC to September 30 at 15:00 UTC, 2026, with results on October 7. You make a mobile portrait HTML5 game on itch.io, judged on Fun, Visual Appeal and Theme Following. First prize is $250 plus a month of Ziva Ultra, a month of AutoSprite Pro and a year of PixelLab Tier 2.
The rule fits on one line: "AI everything. Use any AI tools you like for code, art, audio and design. Tell us what you used on your submission page." Every "Can I…?" gets the same answer: "Probably yes. If the rules above don't forbid it, it's allowed".
If you're in, start with the guide to making the best AI game, keep the Godot to itch.io export walkthrough open for shipping day, and if you're picking an agent, read our Ziva review. Ziva is a Gold sponsor of Slapjam.