Day 5: Thinking Creatively About Game Ideas

Today we are going to take you through how to explore game elements and mechanics in a creative way.

  • Designing Outside the Box

    Start with this silly creative exercise to challenge your mind and think outside of the box.

    Designing Outside The Box Worksheet (PDF)

  • Creative Designs and Diverse Materials

    Watch this video to learn about affordances and constraints, and how you can think creatively about the materials you have on-hand.

  • What can you do with a Component?

    Identify what you can do with a component. Now think about the affordances and constraints of a typical playing card. What can you do with a playing card? List ideas of what you can do, like draw it, rotate it, and peek at it.

  • Getting Past Candyland Mechanics

    In this video you’ll be asked to think about verbs in a game. This will provide the basis and help explain how the next activity will challenge you to explore interesting and unusual verbs.

  • Verbing away from Candyland

    And now it’s time to jump into an activity. Following what was explained in the previous video, you’ll be generating a list of verbs that will provide the basis for your next prototype. The challenge will be in deeply understanding the verb you select and prototyping a game that truly utilizes the verb!

    Verbing Away from Candyland Worksheet (PDF)

  • Select the platform for your game

    You’re ready to jam! Make sure you or your group have selected the platform that you’ll be creating your game on. From here on out you’ll be using all of the skills you’ve learned and practiced to jam on your game!

Apply to run an online jam

NB: All fields are required


Please tell us which location you helped with in the past:


  1. I will make myself available for a phone or chat conversation with GGJ NEXT organizers before Jam Site approval, and for possible emergencies after approval.
  2. I understand that I am making a commitment to run a 2 week online event, including 1 week of teaching and learning, and 1 week of a jam. I agree to commit to running the structure proposed by GGJ NEXT to the best of my ability, and be available and online for both kids and GGJ staff for at least 2 hours a day during the 2 week event period.
  3. I understand that Global Game Jam Inc. is not responsible for any incidents, accidents or problems that may occur.
  4. I understand and agree the importance to the commitment of child safety, and understand that my GGJ NEXT site can only go ahead once the legal contract has been signed and returned to Global Game Jam Inc, signed by both you and the head of the organisation where you are hosting the jam.
  5. I agree to use the GGJ NEXT logo on online and printed literature when promoting the event.
  6. I agree that I and the jammers will fill in a feedback survey at the end of the jam, to help contribute towards the event's research goals.
  7. I agree to show a short keynote at the start of the jam, and jam around the theme presented in the keynote.
  8. I agree to encourage kids to compile some video footage of the output of the jam, including some 'Let's play' videos of the games (either cast from the screen or recorded with a camera).

Apply to become a mentor

NB: All fields are required


Please tell us which location you helped with in the past:


Please Specify:

  1. I will make myself available for a phone or chat conversation with GGJ NEXT organizers before Jam week
  2. I understand that Global Game Jam Inc. is not responsible for any incidents, accidents or problems that may occur.
  3. I understand and agree the importance to the commitment of child safety.
  4. I agree to use the GGJ NEXT logo on online and printed literature when promoting the event.