Best entries from the Challenges in Gamedev.js Jam 2026

The next day after overall winners of Gamedev.js Jam 2026 were announced is the usual time to present the best entries submitted to our optional challenges offering extra prizes to participants.

• Open Source by GitHub
• Build it with Phaser
• YouTube Playables
• Deploy to Wavedash
• Ethereum by OP Guild

The winners were selected by dedicated experts assigned to given challenges.

Open Source Challenge by GitHub

1. Parcel Master
2. Heck Tech
3. Baby Bots
4. In the Hall of the Gear Machines
5. BUG IN THE MACHINE

In partnership with GitHub. Prize pool: GitHub Copilot Pro licenses for individuals for 12 months. Expert: Stacey Haffner.

Build it with Phaser Challenge by Phaser Studio

1. It was the robots
2. Deus Ex Machina
3. Bauhaus Builder
4. ChillGPT Empire
5. Gearbox Symphony
6. Working in a Broken Factory
7. Energy Duel
8. Freddy – rebel machine slayer
9. Neko Jam
10. Micro Machines
11. Dr. Moby’s Wandering Machine
12. Block Yard
13. Spare Knight
14. Overclocked: Toaster Survivors
15. Save Me, Commander!

In partnership with Phaser Studio. Prize pool: Phaser Editor Pro annual subscriptions and Vampire Survivors bundles. Experts: Ana and Richard Davey from Phaser Studio.

YouTube Playables Challenge

1. Deus Ex Machina
2. 04:23
3. Codepath()
4. BUILDOBAN
5. Weeds & Wires
6. Robo Dance
7. Millville
8. OMNI-CORE
9. Block Alive
10. robocide

Honorable mentions: Cube’s Gravity Maze, Junkbot Repair, SparkLink, Block Yard, Just a little longer.

In partnership with YouTube Playables. Prize pool: fast track to Playables, Gemini AI Pro licenses for 12 months, featured marketing in Discord, swag. Experts: Lu Liu, Paul Bliudzius, and Meg Campbell.

Deploy to Wavedash Challenge

1. Not a Trolley Problem
2. BUILDOBAN
3. Codepath()

Honorable mentions: Rage Against The Sapiens, Heck Tech, Draft Punks, Robo Dance, In the Hall of the Gear Machines, No…Wrong!, GOODJOB, Weeds & Wires, Deus Ex Machina, BUG IN THE MACHINE.

In partnership with Wavedash. Prize pool: $1000, $750, and $500 for top3 and then $250 each for every honorable mention. Experts: Matt Portner, George Kennedy, and Kyler Blue.

Ethereum Challenge by OP Guild

1. Server Factory Tycoon
2. ChillGPT Empire
3. EVM: The Machine
4. ARAN – Factory Escape
5. The Devil’s Machine

In partnership with OP Guild. Prize pool: $130 for top1. Expert: Paul Gadi.

Top5 picks

We also had three experts: Paweł Jarosz, Iris Kroonstuiver, and Stein Damen, who picked their favourite top5 entries from all the submitted games. Those were:

• Paweł Jarosz (Defold): Robo Dance, Rage Against The Sapiens, Parcel Master, Orbitron Core, Crate Expectations.
• Iris Kroonstuiver (Poki): Not a Trolley Problem, Machines Vs Mustache, Cube’s Gravity Maze, Bauhaus Builder, Parcel Master.
• Stein Damen (Poki): Bauhaus Builder, Block Alive, Not a Trolley Problem, Kobots, Parcel Master.

Summary

Check out the feedback page for all the written comments from the experts if you’re curious what they wrote about your game.

Thank you for joining the optional challenges, I do hope you enjoyed participating in them! All the prizes will be emailed in the coming days, so make sure to check the inbox of the email address you provided in the form when submitting your entry. See you next year!