The 2024 GameUp Africa Game Jam has officially wrapped up, and what an incredible event it was! From exciting theme reveals to innovative game submissions, this year’s Game Jam showcased the boundless creativity and talent within our African game developers’ community. Here’s a look back at all the highlights, the winning game, and the amazing work from our GameUp Africa Champs.
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Kicking Things Off: The Theme Reveal
On October 25th, the Game Jam started with an onboarding session, where eager participants gathered virtually to learn about this year’s theme: “My Grandma Can Play This.” The challenge was clear—to create games that are fun, engaging, and accessible for people of all ages. With such a thoughtful theme, participants were encouraged to design intuitive gameplay, simple controls, and enjoyable storylines that could bridge generations.
The theme sparked immediate excitement, and our Discord channels buzzed with creative ideas. Game designers, artists, developers, and storytellers brainstormed together, forming teams to bring their visions to life over the week.
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The Game Development Phase
From October 25th to November 1st, teams dove headfirst into game development. The atmosphere was charged with creativity, collaboration, and some friendly competition as participants coded, designed, and refined their concepts. This Game Jam wasn’t just about creating games—it was an opportunity to hone skills, learn from each other, and, most importantly, enjoy the process.
By the end of the week, four unique games emerged as final submissions, each capturing the theme in its special way:
- MR. Size – A game that tests precision and sizing in a whimsical, easy-to-learn setting.
- KitCatch – A playful 3D relaxing fishing game perfect for all ages, filled with simple yet engaging mechanics.
- Granny’s World Clean-Up – An accessible game that combines fun tasks with a charming storyline of keeping the environment clean.
- Maze Manda – A puzzle-based game that entertains players with its approachable yet challenging mazes.
Each submission demonstrated impressive attention to detail, creativity, and an understanding of how to make games enjoyable for everyone—including grandmas! See for yourself on the GUA Game Jam 2024 page.
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Gameplay Review and Voting
Once the submissions were live on itch.io, a popular game publishing platform, the entire GameUp Africa community could play each game and cast their votes. Voting ran from November 2nd to November 10th, with participants and community members alike sharing feedback and cheering on the developers.
We hosted a Gameplay Review Session on November 7th to celebrate and review the submissions. In a live-streamed event, a team member played through each game, showcasing the unique elements of each submission and providing valuable insights. Participants were encouraged to join, share their thoughts, and connect with fellow game creators, creating an interactive and supportive atmosphere that highlighted the best of the GameUp Africa community spirit.
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The Big Reveal
Finally, on November 12th, we announced the GameUp Africa Game Jam 2024 winner: Granny’s World Clean-Up by Roscoe Sprong (@LiZZarD)! 🏆
This winning game truly embodied the theme, with a simple, enjoyable concept that was fun and accessible for all ages. Roscoe’s thoughtful design and execution captured the hearts of players and judges alike, earning him the top prize of 10,000 coins to spend at the Maliyo shop. Congratulations, Roscoe, on a well-deserved win!
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Looking Ahead!
This Game Jam has been an unforgettable journey for everyone involved. Whether participants submitted games, shared feedback, or simply enjoyed the creative atmosphere, each person contributed to making this event a success. Game Jams are about more than just winning—they’re about learning, growing, and connecting with like-minded creators in the African gaming industry.
We’re so proud of every game developer and participant for their dedication and innovation, and we can’t wait to see what they’ll create next. This event has undoubtedly strengthened the game development community in Africa. Thank you to everyone who made the 2024 GameUp Africa Game Jam possible, and to the community that continues to support and inspire each other. Here’s to many more years of incredible games, learning experiences, and unforgettable moments.
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Until next time—keep creating, keep collaborating, and keep gaming! 🎮✨
