Gamedev.js Jam 2026:
Challenges winners,
and expert feedback

1. 1. It was the robots
   The story in this game is deep and original. It almost feels like a short film or a sci-fi movie trailer you just want to keep watching 🎞️ The art fits the atmosphere really well and really pulls you into that post-apocalyptic tension, and it also works nicely with the game jam theme about machines. Figuring out how to bypass some of the security controls was actually pretty challenging and added a fun extra layer to the experience 😁 It does feel quite cinematic at times, almost like an interactive movie, which actually works really well for the tone. At the same time, it could be even more engaging with a bit more interaction or a wider variety of obstacles, since right now, the main challenge mainly comes from the surveillance cameras. Adding a few extra gameplay elements could make the experience feel even richer while keeping that strong narrative focus. As a small suggestion, lowering the background music a bit could help make the robot protagonist’s voice easier to hear. And honestly, the story has a lot of potential. It would be awesome to see it expanded into something longer beyond this 5-minute experience. Congrats on the work and thanks for choosing Phaser!
2. 2. Deus Ex Machina
   A really fun and addictive puzzle-platformer. It’s super easy to end up playing “just one more level” and suddenly realize a lot of time has passed 😀 The pixel art is really cute and full of charm, and the music is very nice too, fitting the visual style of the game really well. The title is spot on, and the “god in the machine” concept is a great creative idea. That said, the “machines” theme doesn’t feel as strongly present in the actual gameplay as the title suggests, so it could be interesting to push that aspect a bit more in future iterations. Congrats on the work, and thanks for choosing Phaser for the project!
3. 3. Bauhaus Builder
   The way this game combines Bauhaus art with fun gameplay is really cool. It brings back that childhood feeling of building with Lego pieces, but here you get to design your own vehicle instead 😄 It’s super fun to see the physics in action with something you’ve built yourself, and it leads to some pretty funny epic fails along the way 👌 It’s also a nice touch having a button to download a screenshot of your creation, which makes it easy to save and share your designs. The overall game design fits the game jam theme about machines really well, and the music adds a nice chill vibe to the experience. One small thing: when running the car you’ve built, in some pieces you can notice a border that seems like it shouldn’t be visible. It’s a minor visual detail, but fixing it would make everything feel a bit more polished. Also, while navigating from the editor back to the level select and main menu, there was a moment where both songs started playing at the same time, which seems like a small audio bug. One idea to add a bit more variety could be introducing even more different pieces depending on the difficulty, so progression feels a bit more gradual and interesting. Overall, it’s a really original and enjoyable game. Congrats on the work and thanks for choosing Phaser!
4. 4. ChillGPT Empire
   This game has a really fun concept and is a perfect nod to big AI tech companies. Names like Googlu, OK AI, Glade, Brok, and Deepwhale are simply amazing, haha 😄 It’s a creative and original twist on the classic tycoon game, and it fits perfectly with the game jam theme. The music is also pleasant and adds a fun, light vibe to the experience, making it easy to stay hooked while building your empire. Congrats on the work and thanks for choosing Phaser!
5. 5. Gearbox Symphony
   This musical puzzle game is really fun, and the way the difficulty slowly ramps up makes it more and more engaging as you play 🎵 The visuals are clean, well-designed, and just nice to look at. It also has a helpful tutorial at the start, which explains everything clearly so you can jump right in without any confusion. And the music is great—it fits each level really well and makes the whole experience even better. Overall, it’s super intuitive and enjoyable, and it keeps you hooked from beginning to end 😊 Nice job!
6. 6. Working in a Broken Factory
   This game is perfect for finally learning the difference between carbohydrates and proteins, haha. Jokes aside, it’s actually really fun and has a nice, intuitive visual and sound design that fits the game jam theme about machines really well 😀 It’s very easy to get into, and the pop-up instructions are great. They’re short and clear, and the visuals with animations and color highlights make everything easy to understand and help you get started without frustration. The different levels and progression work well, and the added challenges like beetles make it more engaging and a bit addictive as you go 🪲 Overall, it’s a really enjoyable game. Great job on it, and thanks for choosing Phaser!
7. 7. Energy Duel
   This game is really fun and gets you hooked pretty quickly. You just want to keep playing to beat the enemy 😄 The cyberpunk look is awesome and adds a cool tech vibe that fits perfectly with the game jam theme about machines. The music is also spot on and gives everything a strong futuristic feel that matches the visuals really well. It’s great that there’s a button to check the rules anytime too. Super handy if you ever get a bit lost during a match 👍 One thing that could make it even better is adding some extra sound effects when the players move or when they collect nodes. That would add more feedback and make the action feel even more satisfying. Overall, it’s easy to pick up, really fun, and super enjoyable to play. Great job and thanks for choosing Phaser!
8. 8. Freddy - rebel machine slayer
   It is great how you managed to bring the “machines” theme to life in this game 😀 The clear instructions for the player are perfect for guiding them and making it easy to get engaged with the gameplay. The core mechanic of connecting colored cables is really interesting, and the different elements that get in the way of the mission make the game both fun and challenging. The music is also perfect for adding a bit of tension to the experience. Hopefully you expand it in the future with more levels. Congrats and thanks for choosing Phaser!
9. 9. Neko Jam
   A simple and adorable game! The pixel art style is really charming and makes it very pleasant to look at. The little cat is absolutely super cute 😺 The way you have to press space at the exact right moment to crush the iron blocks in time with the music is especially satisfying and really well done 👌 As a potential idea for expansion, adding new levels, different songs, and new elements on the conveyor belt could make the experience even richer and more varied 🙂 Overall, it’s a really charming and enjoyable game with a lot of potential. Congrats on the great work and thanks for choosing Phaser!
10. 10. Micro Machines
    The game is really fun and has a nice retro vibe, with cute and varied tracks that change each level and super adorable characters 😺 At first, the controls feel a bit tricky since the tracks are pretty narrow, so it’s easy for other racers to fly past you or bump you off 😅 But after a bit of playing, you get used to it, and it becomes way more fun and satisfying 🏎️ Overall, we had a great time playing it and really enjoyed it. Nice job and thanks for choosing Phaser! 😊
11. 11. Dr. Moby's Wandering Machine
    This is a solid concept that fits the game jam theme about machines 🤖 The puzzles are varied enough to keep things interesting, and the mystery at the start helps create curiosity around MACH-0 and what’s going on. As a small improvement, the music can feel a bit repetitive and sometimes slightly tense, which might make it harder to stay focused while solving puzzles. Also, the text at the beginning of the game feels a bit slow. It would be nice to either speed it up or add a way to skip it so players can get into the gameplay faster 👍 At times, the overall pacing can feel a bit slow as well, which slightly affects the flow of the experience. Other than that, it’s a good game overall. Nice work and thanks for choosing Phaser!
12. 12. Block Yard
    A good puzzle game! Very original and entertaining, and it can easily hook you in if you enjoy solving challenges 😉 The variety of pieces you introduce to increase the difficulty is really interesting, and it makes each level feel more demanding in a good way, which helps keep things engaging. One thing to note is that the difficulty can ramp up quite quickly at times, so a slightly smoother progression curve could make the experience feel even more balanced and accessible for new players. It’s also great that the game includes a Hint option, which is really helpful in case the player gets stuck and needs a little nudge in the right direction 👍 Guiding the player with tips and instructions, along with features like this, are great choices to avoid frustration and help players keep moving forward. Great job and thanks for choosing Phaser!
13. 13. Spare Knight
    This tactical roguelike is really fun and enjoyable to play. The graphics and music make the whole experience really pleasant, and the hand-painted art style stands out a lot and gives it a unique feel 👌 The combat system is easy to get into and feels intuitive, since you mostly just need to click at the right moment. The tutorial at the start is also really helpful, making it easy to jump in without any confusion 🙂 The different enemy types and their designs add nice variety to each run, and the hidden enemies are a cool surprise. One small thing though: when you open the settings window, it looks a bit out of place compared to the rest of the UI, and some of the text gets a bit hard to read or adjust properly. Cleaning up the layout there would make it much smoother to use. Congrats on the work and thanks for choosing Phaser!
14. 14. Overclocked: Toaster Survivors
    We loved the idea of a "Toaster Survivors"! 😄 Such a fun nod to "Vampire Survivors". It’s entertaining and features a really cute main character design. The music fits the vibe of the game perfectly and gets you in the right mood to face waves of enemies. Great job and thanks for choosing Phaser!
15. 15. Save Me, Commander!
    Haha, great nod to Richard 😄 At times, the game can feel quite challenging when trying to avoid getting blown away by the tanks. When the tanks catch you, the “blown up” effect and sound can also be a bit startling 💥 One small thing is that the character’s voice can become a bit repetitive if you click many times in a row. The pixel art style looks good, and the music helps build that tense atmosphere that pulls you straight into the mission. Overall, a fun and intense experience. Great work and thanks for choosing Phaser!

1. 1. Not a Trolley Problem. JAM
   A satisfying, horrifying idle-clicker with an ethical dilemma at its core. This game will keep you up at night.
2. 2. BUILDOBAN
   A clever twist on Sokoban: regular gameplay may encourage thinking outside the box.
3. 3. Codepath()
   We all have a soft spot for programming games. This one has a lot of heart.

Honorable mentions:

• Rage Against The Sapiens
• Heck Tech
• Draft Punks
• Robo Dance
• In the Hall of the Gear Machines
• No...Wrong!
• GOODJOB
• Weeds & Wires
• Deus Ex Machina
• BUG IN THE MACHINE

Shout-outs:

• Factoree
• Broken Clockwork
• ECHO_DECODER
• Krow inc.
• Magnet Knight
• Manual Override
• Ampersum
• Armshift
• Dr. Mobys Wandering Machine
• It Was the Robots
• Clockwork
• Doodle Machine War
• Assembly Error
• All Hail the King Machine
• Jack n Junk
• Machine Pets
• Clockwork Climb
• WORDIS
• Marduga

Each expert picked their favourite top5 games from all the entries submitted this year.

Paweł Jarosz (Defold)

1. 1. Robo Dance
   Robo Dance is an excellent jam entry and one of the clearest examples of a simple idea executed with exceptional polish. The combination of rhythm, turn-based tactics, and puzzle planning feels fresh, readable, and immediately engaging. The visuals, animations, UI feedback, and soundtrack all work together extremely well, making the whole game feel much more complete than expected from a jam project. The strongest part is how satisfying it is to queue actions and then watch the sequence play out in sync with the beat. Overall, this is clever, polished, memorable, and absolutely deserving of its high placement.
2. 2. Rage Against The Sapiens
   It is a fantastic interpretation of the Machines theme, so no wonder it won in this category! It is also one of the most complete-feeling entries in the jam. The premise is immediately clear: everyday appliances becoming characters in a small rebellion against humans. What makes it stand out is not only the theme fit, but the amount of personality packed into the writing, character animations, music, and presentation. The art is charming, the tone is consistent, and the game has a strong sense of direction from start to finish. It's very funny and fun to play.
3. 3. Parcel Master
   This is a clean, elegant, and surprisingly addictive puzzle game built around a very readable core mechanic. It does a great job of making the player understand the rules quickly, then gradually increasing the mental load until each successful delivery feels genuinely satisfying, therefore the level design is absolutely brilliant here. The pixel art is crisp, the interface is clear, and the calm audio gives the game a polished, approachable feel even when the later levels become demanding. I especially liked how the conveyor logic creates moments where the player has to remember, predict, and react under pressure without the game becoming chaotic. This is a very strong jam puzzle game: simple to learn, hard to master, and polished enough to feel like it could easily grow into a full release someday.
4. 4. Orbitron Core
   Orbitron Core is a great example of a game that understands the value of a strong core loop. The concept is extremely easy to grasp: protect the central machine core, orbit around it, reverse direction, smash asteroids, survive longer. That simplicity is its strength. The game feels immediately playable, and the pressure builds naturally as the waves become faster and more dangerous, but you also get to get some nice upgrades. There is a reason why it got the 4th place in the Gameplay category! The upgrade choices add just enough progression to keep the arcade loop from feeling flat and the visuals are very satisfying. I praise it for delivering a compact, satisfying arcade design with very little friction.
5. 5. Crate Expectations
   This is a neat and skill-based take on the classic lander formula, with a smart twist, because the cargo is not just an objective, but a physical burden that changes how the ship handles. That one design choice gives the game its identity. Tethering to a heavy crate and trying to deliver it safely turns basic movement into a careful test of momentum, control, and patience. The controls are intentionally demanding, but precise, so mistakes feel fairly like the player’s responsibility only. The game also deserves credit for supporting both keyboard and gamepad. It is focused, readable, and fun to play.

Iris Kroonstuiver (Poki)

1. 1. Not a Trolley Problem
   This game is right on track (pun intended)! A clever, slightly chaotic concept that quickly pulls you into optimizing your own little rail empire, with that dangerous “just one more upgrade” energy. The upgrade system feels like it could become the main engine of the experience, but right now it’s idling a bit and would benefit from clearer goals and progression. There’s also a lot of nice detail in the world that deserves to be seen more clearly. Smart, quirky, and with the right tweaks, this could really build serious momentum!
2. 2. Machines Vs Mustache
   A game where your mustache is basically the main character deserves immediate respect! The concept is hilarious, but what really lands is that the gameplay backs it up with real challenge and engagement. Keeping that mustache in top condition under pressure feels oddly important, though clearer feedback would make success even more satisfying. There’s also huge potential for upgrades and ridiculous power-ups (because obviously the mustache deserves them). Bold, funny, and confidently original.
3. 3. Cube's Gravity Maze
   Pac-Man revamped and revived, but with a twist! The core idea is simple, but it keeps messing with your expectations in a really fun way, forcing you to think twice before every move. I liked how it doesn’t lock you into one “correct” solution, instead letting you figure things out your own way. It’s the kind of game where you fail, immediately know why, and jump back in to try again. Clean idea, nicely executed, and easy to imagine this growing into a much bigger puzzle experience.
4. 4. Bauhaus Builder
   This feels like Pablo Picasso wandered into a physics sandbox and decided to build vehicles. The bold, expressive art style really stands out, giving the game a unique visual identity that celebrates creativity just as much as gameplay. There’s something deeply satisfying about constructing your own slightly questionable machine and seeing whether it glides… or dramatically falls apart. The freedom to experiment is the real highlight here, though a bit more UI clarity would help players refine their creations. A real piece of art!
5. 5. Parcel Master
   No detours here, just pure, efficient game design. It’s instantly clear what to do, and then it slowly tightens the screws until you’re fully locked in. The difficulty curve is handled with real care, making every new challenge feel earned instead of overwhelming. It’s simple in the best possible way: clean, satisfying, and dangerously replayable.

Stein Damen (Poki)

1. 1. Bauhaus Builder
   A standout entry with a truly unique art style and a theme that isn't just decoration but baked into every part of the game, the art, the mechanics, everything. Building machines feels intuitive and satisfying, and the whole thing feels remarkably complete. One of the most impressive entries in the competition.
2. 2. Block Alive
   A clever and creative take on Tetris with roguelike elements that actually works, and the connection to the theme is spot on. The look and feel is polished and consistent, and the roguelike additions give it real replay value.
3. 3. Not a Trolley Problem
   A unique and funny theme that doesn't just sit on the surface but is genuinely woven into the gameplay. The take on the idle genre feels fresh and inventive. A joy to play!
4. 4. Kobots
   A really well polished game that delivers across the board. Design, art, audio, and programming all very consistant, that's impressive for a jam. The experience is enjoyable throughout. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it does what it does very well.
5. 5. Parcel Master
   A well-crafted puzzle game that's easy to pick up but clearly has depth waiting for those who stick with it. The theme fit is great and it would shine on a touchscreen. Not a game for every audience, but the kind you can imagine becoming quietly addictive.