GAMERella Game Jam 2025
Schedule
Sat, 15 Nov, 2025 at 10:00 am to Sun, 16 Nov, 2025 at 08:00 pm
UTC-05:00Location
District 3 Innovation Hub | Montréal, QC

About this Event
GAMERella is the world’s longest running annual game jam and workshop series focusing on supporting equity-deserving game creators and aspiring game makers. Our next edition is planned for November 15-16, 2025.
Hundreds of people have made their very first game at GAMERella with the support of our amazing industry mentors, live and video workshops, and low-stress environment. NOW IT IS YOUR TIME!
For news and updates, follow us on Instagram!
As always, GAMERella invites women (cis/trans), trans men, non-binary/genderqueer and 2-spirited folks, LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and any others who feel they haven’t had a chance to make a game, to join GAMERella in a weekend of fun game-making on November 15-16, 2025.
WHERE IS THE JAM?
In-person location: District 3 Innovation Centre: Concordia University - FB building, 6th floor (1250 Rue Guy, Montréal, QC H3H 2T4)
Jam from home: You can also jam from anywhere! Sign up as a Discord participant and you and your team will be able to access to our online support package. [COMING SOON]
WHEN IS THE JAM?
November 15-16, 2025
The jam will start Saturday at 10am and wrap up at Sunday 8pm. However, we think sleeping is more important than making games, so we will all be sending you home on Saturday night to have a good night’s sleep!
All participants will be invited to submit their game to our itch.io jam page!
NEED A TEAM?
If you have a team already, you can skip this part! Just show up and jam the jam!
But if you are looking for a new team member or a whole team you can participate in our amazing in-person team-making session Saturday morning. No need to apply, just join us at the end of the opening notes.
HOW TO PREPARE?
1 . Sign up! We can't wait to meet you!
2 . Our free workshops are coming up soon! Check our website for links. Lots of simple tools you can learn quickly! Please also check out our values before joining!
3 . Don't have a team or missing a team-member? Don't worry! Participants can take part in our amazing team-making session. No sign-up necessary!
4. Bring cozy clothes, blankets and pillows that will keep you comfortable. Cozy hot beverages & food are on us!
5 . More questions? Send us an email at [email protected]
6 . Still unsure about something? Send us a message! We want to know if there is anything else you might need to make this weekend less stressful for you!
THEME
Coming soon!
HEALTH & SAFETY
At GAMERella, we want to continue to exercise caution, approaching public health measures from a place of mutual care and in ways that ensure the well-being of all our participants. Our location is very well ventilated. But we are also amplifying ventilation with a large HEPA air filter. We encourage all participants to wear a surgical or higher-quality mask. KN94 masks will be provided free of charge to all participants. We will also be providing antigen testing on site to keep our community protected. Furthermore, please ensure that you wipe down your workspace after use using the cleaning supplies we have provided.
If you have COVID symptoms leading up to/during the jam, or test positive, please remain/return home and immediately notify the organizers. Thank you!
A NOTE ON AI
Over the last couple of years, jammers have asked if they can use ChatGPT or other GenAI products to make their games. We do not encourage this. Generative AI is both a significant sustainability issue due to the immense computing power it takes, and is also a labour issue where we are seeing our peers laid off in favour of AI tools. Additionally, it is important to learn basic game-making skills and tools yourself! Or find peers who can help you (and maybe teach you!) with their talents.
WE WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT...
GAMERella 2025 is supported by EA Motive Studio, ....
Our partners include Weird Ghosts, Milieux Institute for Arts, Culture and Technology, and our host: D3 Innovation Hub.
__________________________________________________________________
OUR STORY
Dissatisfied with the game spaces and opportunities provided for women in Montreal’s game scene, Gina Hara and Charlotte Fisher created GAMERella in 2013. Since then GAMERella has welcomed over 1000 participants in a low stress, learner-friendly environment from over 37 countries. GAMERella participants have come a long way over the years: founded over a dozen game studios, went to study games, became professional freelancers, got hired by many AAA studios, and even came back to GAMERella to teach, mentor and become organizers!

^ 2016-2017 Organizer Desiree De Jesus testing a game

^ Team-making Workshop at the beginning of the jam with Liane Décary-Chen
v Artist Skawennati after her keynote at GAMERella in 2016

SATURDAY
🕑: 09:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Arrive, set up, grab coffee and socialize
🕑: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Welcome Announcements & Keynote
🕑: 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Group formations & Adopt-a-newbie
🕑: 11:30 AM
Jamming begins
🕑: 02:00 PM
Catered Lunch
🕑: 10:00 PM
Work is over, please go home and rest!
SUNDAY
🕑: 10:00 AM
Jamming continues
🕑: 01:00 PM
Catered Lunch & itch.io Workshop
🕑: 03:00 PM
Updates & last-minute debugging
🕑: 05:00 PM
Time’s up, upload games to itch.io!
🕑: 05:30 PM
Closing notes & Raffle
🕑: 05:30 PM - 08:00 PM
Showcase
Where is it happening?
District 3 Innovation Hub, 1250 Rue Guy, Montréal, CanadaEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
CAD 0.00
