You made 7000 games about size and scale

Introduction

Last month, I invited 32,000 game designers to create games in just four days, all under the theme "Built to Scale." I wanted developers to explore a variety of concepts around size—creating games about tiny things like mold and ants, as well as massive subjects like giants and planets. The prompt also included games about changing size, like growing and shrinking.

As always, the incredible GMTK community delivered. A record-breaking 7,600 games were submitted, setting new benchmarks for both GMTK and itch.io! After an extensive review process, I narrowed it down to the top 100 games and was incredibly impressed by the creativity, imagination, and sheer fun these titles brought. Below, I’m showcasing 20 standout games that captured the essence of the theme, showcasing innovative ideas around size, scale, and dimensions.

Noteworthy Games

1. Little Slime Blows Up: This charming physics obstacle course features a tiny blob of slime that can expand upon pressing the space bar, allowing for clever navigation and movement mechanics reminiscent of titles like Jelly Car and Loor Roo.

2. Nested: A clever grid-based puzzle game involving Russian nesting dolls, where players move smaller dolls around to solve puzzles involving colors and placements.

3. Get Some Helium: A balloon-themed puzzle game where players must navigate levels by controlling the size of the balloon, teaching essential mechanics as they progress.

4. Picture Perfect: A cozy game that uses forced perspective to create optical illusions, chronicling a father-daughter road trip across America in its beautifully illustrated presentation.

5. Shutterbug: This engaging game involves snapping photos of insects through the player’s browser window, with simple missions that cleverly integrate photography challenges.

6. Window Frame: A unique game that uses resizable windows to solve puzzles and navigate through various levels, showcasing clever level design and smooth gameplay.

7. Sucky Safari: A twist on the classic Katamari Damacy formula, where players use a vacuum cleaner on wheels to suck up objects, integrating quirky mechanics like stunning larger creatures with smaller ones.

8. Need for Need: A frantic pizza-rolling game where rolling out dough leads to catching increasingly absurd ingredients, creating a chaotic and funny experience.

9. Plank Town: This game allows players to build a plankton village on a giant robot, mixing gameplay styles with comedic upgrades and rapid defense strategies.

10. My Shadows Are Bright: A unique platformer where players rearrange toys to create pathways, blending imaginative perspectives.

11. Blueprint: This meta game about game development involves connecting nodes in a visual scripting format, reminiscent of popular game engines.

12. Tinker Co: A creative vehicle-building game where players construct machines to navigate mines, remarkably executing a thriving physics system.

13. Getting Goopy: A delightful puzzle platformer featuring a bouncing blob of goo that can grow and shrink, with inventive mechanics that lead to satisfying gameplay.

14. Grow to Perfection: A mind-blowing game that combines aspects of Factorio with a neat fractal mechanic, guiding ants to gather resources efficiently.

15. Scal Mail: This game puts a creative spin on packing mechanics, requiring players to manage weight and size while packing items into bags.

16. Nearest Neighbor: In this relaxing game, players recreate famous artworks on a miniature scale, marrying art with pixel design.

17. Through the Great Vine: A plant growth simulator where players guide a giant thistle towards sunlight while managing water sources.

18. Scale the Depths: This addictive game revolves around fishing and scaling fish for upgrades, creating an engaging feedback loop.

19. Blueprint Bob: Players build tall towers and navigate them, blending architecture and platforming in a fun manner.

20. Pizz Scaper: A vibrant, score-chasing arcade platformer that cleverly integrates scaling blocks to enhance mobility in creatively designed levels.

The level of innovation displayed in these games showcases the seamless integration of size, scale, and gameplay mechanics. It's a testament to what can be achieved within the constraints of a short game jam.

Such creativity and fun remind me why I love this community, and I look forward to the next jam!

Keywords

• Game Jam
• Size
• Scale
• GMTK
• Community
• Creativity
• Innovation
• Game Design

FAQ

What was the theme of the game jam?
The theme was "Built to Scale," encouraging game designers to explore concepts around size and scale.

How many games were submitted to the jam?
A total of 7,600 games were submitted, breaking records for both GMTK and itch.io.

What kinds of games were created?
The submitted games included various themes, from physics-based puzzles to cozy narrative experiences and frantic arcade challenges.

How were the games evaluated?
The community rated and ranked games, which allowed for a selection of the top 100 standout titles to be highlighted.

Is there another game jam planned for next year?
Yes, participants can register their interest for the 2025 jam to be updated on announcements for next year’s date as soon as it’s available.