Hannover Game Jam 2026

about this event

*Does the term "Game Jam" mean nothing to you? It is explained further below.* The Hannover Game Jam will take place again in 2026. Whether veterans, hobbyists, newcomers, or simply the interested — everyone is welcome. Meet new people, try new things, and develop a cool project along the way. The games are judged by a jury, and at the end there is a prize ceremony for the winners.

**Info:** * Participation is completely free * Snacks and soft drinks are provided on site * You need your own hardware / work equipment (laptop, mouse, etc.) * The SAE Institute's rooms can be used as workspace for the entire duration of the event * Power and Wi-Fi are available on site * A jury determines the winning teams * Participation from 18 years and up * We raffle prizes to all participants regardless of the jury's verdict

**Contact** For questions or similar, you can join our Discord server: [bit.ly/GameDevHannover](bit.ly/GameDevHannover) Alternatively, send an email to: gamedev@hi-score.org Please do not leave comments on Meetup.com, as we only see those very late.

**Rough schedule:** Friday: 16:30 - Start in the Audimax Organisation - Theme announcement - Team formation 19:00 - Game development begins! Saturday From 10:00 - Rolls / breakfast 17:30 - Dinner: hot dogs (vegan and meat) Sunday From 10:00 - Rolls / breakfast 15:00 - Submission deadline 15:30 to 19:00 - Game presentation / award ceremony / raffle

**Sponsoring by:** * [hannoverimpuls GmbH](https://www.hannover.de/Wirtschaft-Wissenschaft/Wirtschaftsf%C3%B6rderung/Wir-%C3%BCber-uns/hannoverimpuls-GmbH) * [SAE Institute Hannover](https://www.sae.edu/deu/campuses/hannover/) * [HI-SCORE](https://hi-score.org/) * [Anduo Games](https://www.patreon.com/AnduoGames) * [Zero Latency VR Hannover](https://zerolatencyvr.com/de)

FAQ: **Are German language skills required?** No, but the main presentations and communication is in German, however all staff and most participants can communicate in English. You can always ask a staff member for clarification if necessary.

**What is a Game Jam?** A Game Jam is a multi-day event where participants develop games in groups. The game should follow a theme that is announced at the beginning of the Game Jam. This event is not only aimed at game dev veterans; it also aims to give newcomers and the interested a practical insight into game development.

**What do I need to do to participate?** Sign up here on Meetup.com and mark yourself as attending. The minimum requirement for participation is that you are present at the opening presentation and that you or your group presents your project at the end. Don't worry, unfinished projects are also allowed. If you cannot be at the SAE in between or do not have mobile hardware, participation from home is also allowed, as long as you are at the SAE at the start and at the end.

**How much time do I need to plan for?** You can use the SAE's rooms for the entire 46 hours from start to finish. Only the opening presentation (Friday 16:30) and the final presentation (Sunday 15:30) are mandatory for participation, although exceptions are possible here too. You and your group can use the rest of the time to create a game. Everyone has to decide for themselves how much time they want to dedicate to the project. Nobody should feel forced to do more than they can or want to. We recommend addressing such things already during the team formation phase to avoid conflicts later.

**What kind of games are allowed? Do I have to use an engine?** Basically, anything that is playable is allowed. You can use any engine (Unity, Unreal, Godot, Scratch, etc.) or even create analog board or card games. The jury has to be able to play your game at the end, so clarify in advance how you will arrange that (e.g., whether VR headsets are available). However, we prohibit games with problematic content (racism, sexism, or similar) and reserve the right to disqualify games on that basis. If in doubt, just ask — in the Discord ([bit.ly/GameDevHannover](bit.ly/GameDevHannover)) or on site, there should usually be a contact person available.

schedule

tickets

prizes

faq