Well, The results are in.
The game reviews have been tallied, and the Winner is Parse-O-Rythm, by Sup3r87 & Logan K. This hypnotic rythm game is beautiful, juicy, and has a fantastic soundtrack to play along with. It's clear right away once you start playing why everyone loved it, so definitely check this one out if you haven't yet.
Here are some other game jam entries that deserve a special mention:
2nd Place Winner
Passing Through is a charming little game that looks and sounds great, and did a really good job of using the theme in a creative way.
3rd Place Winner
Phaser Paradox at first looks like a straightforward shooter, but has a twist that both fits the theme and makes the gameplay unique. The overall concept being explored has some really interesting potential.
Honorary Mention
Match the names of all 52 girls with their pixel art portraits in 52 Girls by Todorrobot. Lots of attention to detail and a retro feel make the interactions more fun.
Honorary Mention
I have no idea how to pronounce it, but this game is just really fun to play around with. I spent a bunch of time playing it in the intro tutorial level and goofing around with the basic interaction before I even realized that there was an actual game attached to it. Weird and fun.
Honorary Mention
A super sophisticated and great looking city builder. Lots to explore, and I'm sure I've only seen a fraction of it so far.
Honorary Mention
More of a demo than a complete game, and accessing the gameplay is a bit of a puzzle, but it's definitely worth trying. I'd love to play this as a more complete game.
Honorary Mention
Insane virtual pet game, with plenty of unintended consequences. GameNub posted a time lapse video of the entire creation process here, which is also really interesting for other game devs.
The Theme is:
Unintended Consequences
What does this mean?
As usual, I really have no idea. In medicine, they're called "Side Effects". Economists and sociologists call them "Unanticipated Consequences". It's just stuff that happens as a result of your actions or decisions that maybe you didn't want, or didn't expect.
Here are some quotes to help get your creativity flowing:
"Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things, I am tempted to think there are no little things."
"Science is the knowledge of consequences, and dependence of one fact upon another."
"It is easy to dodge our responsibilities, but we cannot dodge the consequences of dodging our responsibilities."
"With genetic engineering, we will be able to increase the complexity of our DNA, and improve the human race. But it will be a slow process, because one will have to wait about 18 years to see the effect of changes to the genetic code."
"In an ideal world, you don't want creatures where they shouldn't be because there's always unintended consequences."
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 December 28th, 2023 12pm (noon) EST. Submissions will close and judging begins on January 11th, 2024 11:50pm EST.
Remember to come back and review all the games after you enter!
Come join the Flowjam Discord Channel or the Winter Flowjam 2024 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 December 28th, 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 January 11th, 2024 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.
