Well, The results are in.
The game reviews have been tallied, and the Winner is Shroud of the Fifth, by Recryptech. This is a really polished and gorgeous platformer that's just fun to explore.
This is of course Recryptech's second Flowjam win, marking the second time we have had a repeat winner.
The competition was intense, and there were some fantastic entries.
Here are some that deserve a special mention:
2nd Place Winner
A sophisticated & cute card battle game with heros to upgrades, loads of cards, and a lot of charm.
3rd Place Winner
Travel through space delivering mysterious cargo to an even more mysterious monolith, while avoiding the authorities in this great looking game.
Honorary Mention
Unleash vengeange on the elemental cartel in this top down shooter with an array of weapons. Looks fantastic, the controls are polished, and the gameplay feels well balanced.
Honorary Mention
Beat the outlaws at "Low Noon" a unique card battler with lots of strategy elements.
Honorary Mention
A paranormal point & click mystery game loaded with fantastic & atmospheric art.
Honorary Mention
Play as a wizard blasting through well-defended bases, using element spells and power ups.
Honorary Mention
A cute but tricky little platformer with lots of precision jumping.
Honorary Mention
Play as 5 different elements, each one with its own unique ability and gameplay style.
The Theme is:
The Five Elements
What are the 5 elements?
As usual, I really have no idea. I suppose that the Chinese Wuxing Philosphers had their ideas about it, as did the ancient greeks. Luc Besson made a fantastic Sci-Fi classic on the subject as well.
Here are some quotes to help get your creativity flowing:
“The two most common elements in the universe are Hydrogen and stupidity.”
“Move swift as the Wind and closely-formed as the Wood. Attack like the Fire and be still as the Mountain.”
“Ah, Mastery of the Five Elements!"
"Is that the one we want?" I asked.
"No, but a good one. How to tame the five essential elements of the universe - earth, air, water, fire, and cheese!"
"Cheese?”
- The Flowjam began on July 17th, 2023 12pm (noon) EST, so get started now!
- Submissions will close and Judging begins on July 31st, 2023 11:50pm EST
- The submit game button will appear RIGHT HERE, so come back to this page when you're ready to submit
- You can continute to edit your game even after you submit, until the jam is over
What's a Flowjam?
Flowjam is a competition where everyone gets a limited time (two weeks) to create a complete game from start to finish, based around a single theme.
The theme will be announced when the game jam begins, make sure to wait until the theme is announced to create your game!
This year the Flowjam will begin on July 17th, 2023 12pm (noon) EST. Submissions will close and judging begins on July 31st, 2023 11:50pm EST.
Remember to come back and review all the games after you enter!
Come join the Flowjam Discord Channel or the Summer Flowjam 2023 Forum thread to discuss ideas, encourage each other, ask questions, or whatever else.
What can I win?
The winning developer will receive a Steam Deck 64GB
Why should I participate?
Making games is fun! Also, this is a chance to challenge yourself to try new ideas, improve your skills, and possibly win a new game console :)
Who can enter?
Anyone, from anywhere. Feel free to collaborate and help each other, but only one prize will be awarded. Entrants outside the U.S. will be responsible for any Customs or other fees incurred.
The Rules
- Don't create your game until the theme is announced! - on July 17th, 2023 12pm (noon) EST - the game creation time is listed under each game.
- Your game can include any art or music you have legal permission to use, but anything not created by you during the jam should be listed in the game's description.
- Submissions will be closed on July 31st, 2023 11:50pm EST
- All entrants can vote on the game submissions to select the winner, and Grazer will have the final say on the official winner in case of a tie.
- Only games created using Flowlab can be submitted
- No purchase necessary - free accounts are welcome and encouraged to submit games!
Judging Criteria
- Theme How well the game adhered to and used the theme
- Fun How fun the game is to play
- Art How does the game look and sound
- Creativity How unique are the graphics, the mechanics, and the overall design
Tips to make your entry more appealing
- Screenshot or make an Interesting Cover for your game. This will lead more eyes to your submission. (P.S.: Make sure the most important things like the title of your game and the main subject aren't cropped.)
- If your game doesn't have a tutorial, leave all the controls in the description in a clear way.
- Add background music and sounds. Audio is extremely important to the feel of your game.
- Add a menu or title screen to make the game feel more polished and complete
- Add a background. You can change the background color on the "Game Levels" Panel.
- If you have an upgraded account, you can use the "Edit Page Theme" button to make it more personal.
