Student News

Co-organised by GUDEV (gudevsoc.co.uk - Glasgow University Game Development Society), by the College of Science & Engineering and by UofGGamesLab.

The Games Jam will be open to all University of Glasgow students, regardless of Subject area, experience level, or stage of study. Whether you're a gamer, designer, coder, artist, storyteller, scientist, or simply curious, we'd love to see your ideas.

As part of the University's 575th anniversary celebrations, the World-Changing Glasgow Games Jam challenges students to create a physical or digital game, or a game concept, inspired by bold thinking and world-changing ideas. Join a team to see if you can win a £500 prize in this game competition! £100 prizes will be awarded to the top 2 runners up.

For over 575 years, the University of Glasgow has helped change the world around us. Its discoveries, ideas and people have made a real impact, including:

• Pioneering technologies that made modern medical imaging possible
• Contributing to the development of X-rays used in hospitals worldwide
• Producing Scotland's first national poet
• Shaping the Scottish Enlightenment, creating common sense philosophy, the engineering innovations that powered the Industrial Revolution and the foundations of modern economics
• Playing a role in the discovery of gravitational waves, helping us better understand the universe

Now it's your turn to imagine what comes next. Glasgow University has been changing the world for 575 years. With the University as your inspiration, what kind of game will you make?

Themes

Your game or concept should respond to one of the following themes:

• Future Science
  Explore what the next major scientific breakthrough could be and how it might change our world.
• Creativity and Culture
  Celebrate the ideas, people and innovations that shape contemporary culture and society.

We're looking for games that demonstrate:

• Innovation and creativity
• A willingness to take risks and challenge conventions
• Empathy and inclusivity
• Diverse perspectives
• Fun and engaging gameplay

How will the World-Changing Glasgow Games Jam work?

1. It starts with an evening launch event on Friday 30th October (5pm - 6pm in the Williams Room of the McIntyre Building). Come along and find out more, become part of a participating team in the competition; get ideas on how to create effective games; have fun and meet students from across the University.

Secure your place at the workshop

2. You will work with your team at whatever times work for you between the launch and submission, to develop your competition entry. We accept two types of entry: Best Playable Game and Best Game Concept.

3. Your team will make your submission by 9am on 10/11/2026. Any type of game can be submitted – software games; physical tabletop/ board or card games.

4. Submissions will be judged by a panel of experts with results being announced at a showcase event on Thursday 12th November.

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First published: 9 October 2026