Global Game Jam 2025 beats the storm at Glasgow Caledonian University

Glasgow Caledonian University hosted the 16th annual Global Game Jam over the weekend, bringing together participants to collaborate on digital game development. Despite challenging weather and disrupted transport links, the event went ahead successfully, drawing a diverse group of attendees.

This year, 136 people registered, with 118 actively participating. Among them were 85 students, including 62 from Glasgow Caledonian and 23 from other academic institutions, such as a team from the University of Dundee. Six industry professionals attended from a range of companies such as Rockstar, No Code, DI4D and Extra Mile Studios. Additionally, 10 professionals from other sectors participated, with organisations including Amici Procurement Solutions, Sky, Skyscanner and Centralis Group.

The event began online via Discord on Friday evening, where all participants joined virtually to kick off the Game Jam. On Saturday, 54 participants attended in person despite travel disruptions, and 42 returned on Sunday for on-campus activities. The event concluded with an evening showcase and play party attended by around 85 people, where games created during the jam were celebrated.

In total, 24 games were created over the weekend, all of which can be explored and played on the Global Game Jam website.

The success of the event was made possible thanks to the efforts of the GCU Gaming Society, particularly its president, Sam Boyle, who played a key role in supporting the jam. Staff members Hamid Homatash, Alan Jack, Ben Ivory and Laura Pruszko also contributed to the smooth running of the event.

Reflecting on the event, Hamid Homatash, Senior Lecturer in Applied Computer Games at the University, said:“At one point, we considered cancelling the event due to the weather and transport issues, but persevering was absolutely the right decision. The joy and enthusiasm of the attendees reminded us why we host this event every year. Seeing so many smiles and the incredible games produced made it all worthwhile.

“The Global Game Jam 2025 at Glasgow Caledonian was a powerful reminder of the strength and creativity of the game development community. By bringing together students, professionals and hobbyists to collaborate on innovative projects, the event highlighted the unifying power of games and the incredible things that can be achieved through teamwork.”

Here is a highlights video from the weekend: