Global Game Jam counted 39,197 jammers in January 2026. Six months later, 37.4k itch.io accounts joined GMTK Game Jam 2026.
The two numbers come from different organizers and count different things. This page sets out game jam participation data for Global Game Jam, GMTK and Brackeys: headcounts, entries, ratings, participant profiles, engine choice and completion, each with its period and source.
Game Jam Participation Statistics
How Many People Take Part in Game Jams?
No single body counts every jam. The two largest public datasets use different units: Global Game Jam (GGJ) reports jammers, while itch.io reports accounts that joined a jam page and the entries they submitted.
Global Game Jam headcount, 2024 to 2026
| Edition | Jammers | Jam sites | Countries | Games created |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GGJ 2024 | 34,649 | 796 | 102 | 9,964 |
| GGJ 2025 | 35,427 | 805 | 98 | 12,100 |
| GGJ 2026 | 39,197 | 824 | 94 | 9,874 |
Source: Global Game Jam jammer survey posts, 2024, 2025 and 2026 editions (each held in January)
Jammer and site counts rose in each edition while the country count fell from 102 to 94. Of these three editions, 2025 produced the most games at 12,100.
GGJ said the 2024 edition was its first to span all seven continents.
Source: Global Game Jam 2024 jammer survey post, January 2024 event
Most-joined jams on itch.io since 2024
itch.io sorts ended jams by accounts joined. Among jams that ended between January 2024 and September 2026, GMTK editions hold the top three places and Brackeys the next two.
Source: itch.io past game jams listing, sorted by most joined, checked September 2026
Joining a jam page does not require a submission. GMTK Game Jam 2026 shows 37.4k joined accounts and 10.5k submissions on the same listing.
GMTK Game Jam Participation Hit 37.4k Accounts in 2026
Joined accounts rose in every GMTK edition from 7,591 in 2019 to 37.4k in 2026. The 2025 edition listed 37k.
Source: itch.io past game jams listing, GMTK Game Jam 2019 to 2026 editions, checked September 2026
| Edition | Submission window | Entries | Ratings given | Entries rated | Avg ratings per entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMTK 2024 | Aug 16–20, 2024 | 7,515 | 158,210 | 7,430 (98.9%) | 21.1 |
| GMTK 2025 | Jul 30–Aug 3, 2025 | 9,515 | 197,073 | 9,378 (98.6%) | 20.7 |
| GMTK 2026 | Jul 22–26, 2026 | 10,542 | 223,337 | 10,382 (98.5%) | 21.2 |
Source: itch.io GMTK Game Jam results pages, 2024 to 2026 editions, checked September 2026
itch.io entry totals move by a few games as entries are removed, so listing and results pages can differ slightly. The 2026 theme was Count Down; 2025 used Loop.
Most entries stay free prototypes. The commercial odds for small teams that ship are covered in these indie game sales figures.
Brackeys Game Jam Participation by Edition
Brackeys runs twice a year with a one-week build window, and only submitters can vote. Joined accounts dropped to 8,948 for 2026.1, then reached 17.5k for 2026.2.
| Edition | Accounts joined | Submissions |
|---|---|---|
| Brackeys 2024.2 | 10.4k | 1,472 |
| Brackeys 2025.1 | 12.9k | 2,154 |
| Brackeys 2025.2 | 17k | 2,269 |
| Brackeys 2026.1 | 8,948 | 1,422 |
| Brackeys 2026.2 | 17.5k | 2,251 |
Source: itch.io past game jams listing, Brackeys editions 2024.2 to 2026.2, checked September 2026
The 2026.2 results page lists 2,245 entries submitted August 23 to 30, 2026. Voters gave 39,344 ratings to 2,181 of them (97.1%), an average of 17.5 per game.
Source: itch.io Brackeys Game Jam 2026.2 results page, August to September 2026
Who Joins Global Game Jam? Age, Work and Region in 2026
GGJ’s post-event survey is optional. The 2026 edition drew 3,535 responses, a response rate above 9%, and excludes the separate youth event GGJ Next.
Respondents aged 18–22 made up 40% of the 2026 sample, matching 2025. Women were 23% of respondents, against 22% in 2025 and 21% in 2024.
Source: Global Game Jam jammer surveys, 2024 to 2026 editions (opt-in, 3,535 responses in 2026)
| Work practice | GGJ 2025 | GGJ 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Student | 38% | 37% |
| Hobbyist | 28% | 28% |
| Solo Dev | 17% | 18% |
| Small Studio (<10) | 10% | 9% |
| Medium Studio (<50) | 3% | 3% |
| Large Studio (50+) | 3% | 3% |
| Other | 2% | 2% |
Source: Global Game Jam jammer surveys, 2025 (4,108 responses) and 2026 (3,535 responses)
Europe supplied 41% of 2026 respondents and Asia 22%, against 42% and 19% in 2025. USA/Canada fell from 17% to 16%, and Latin America held at 15%.
That age profile sits inside a far larger player base, tracked in these video game statistics.
Source: Global Game Jam jammer surveys, 2025 and 2026 editions
Game Jam Participation and Team Familiarity at GGJ
Teams contained more strangers in 2026. 28% of respondents had never met their teammates before GGJ, up from 25%, and another 28% knew only half their team.
Repeat attendance slipped too. 37% of 2026 respondents had attended a previous GGJ, down from 40%, while 61% had joined some game jam before (62% in 2025).
The 2024 survey framed it the other way: 58% were first-time GGJ participants and 37% were first-time jammers.
Source: Global Game Jam jammer surveys, 2024 to 2026 editions
Godot Took 29% of GGJ 2026 Engine Answers
Unity stayed first among respondents at 56% in 2026, down from 64% in 2025. Godot climbed from 7% in 2024 to 20% in 2025 and 29% in 2026.
Commercial releases split differently, as these Unity and Unreal usage numbers show for Steam.
The 2024 list also included .NET at 4% and Other at 16%. The 2026 list added Tabletop/Analog at 3%.
Source: Global Game Jam jammer surveys, 2024 to 2026 editions (opt-in)
What Share of Jammers Finish a Game?
94% of 2026 respondents submitted a game, the same as 2025. The 2024 survey recorded 92% submitting at least one project.
88% reported learning or improving a skill in 2026, up from 86%. Over 99% said they would definitely or probably return, in both 2025 and 2026.
Jam games that later ship join a crowded catalog, described in these Steam platform statistics. At the 2026 jam, 71% of sites had mentors available, against 70% in 2025.
Source: Global Game Jam jammer surveys, 2024 to 2026 editions
AI Use Reported by Game Jam Participants in 2024
18% of 3,578 GGJ 2024 jammer respondents said their team used AI. 70% said their site allowed AI projects.
Site organizers answered a separate survey, with 107 responses. 29% reported teams using AI at their site, 42% said no and 27% were not sure; 78% said AI projects were allowed.
27% of both groups were completely OK with AI use. Mixed feelings came from 49% of jammers and 57% of organizers, and GGJ said its data showed opposition to a ban by nearly 2:1.
Its policy, dated October 22, 2024, sets no AI limits beyond existing copyright and IP rules. Studio-side adoption is tracked in this AI in game development data, and GGJ does not train, or license anyone to train, AI models on jammer content.
Source: Global Game Jam Artificial Intelligence Policy, October 2024 (GGJ 2024 jammer and site organizer surveys)
FAQs
How many people participate in Global Game Jam?
Global Game Jam 2026 brought together 39,197 jammers at 824 sites in 94 countries. The 2025 edition had 35,427 jammers and 2024 had 34,649.
What is the biggest game jam on itch.io?
By accounts joined, GMTK Game Jam 2026 tops itch.io’s list of ended jams with 37.4k joined and 10.5k submissions, as of September 2026.
How many entries did GMTK Game Jam 2026 get?
itch.io’s results page lists 10,542 entries submitted July 22 to 26, 2026. They received 223,337 ratings, averaging 21.2 per game.
What engine do most game jam participants use?
Unity, at 56% of Global Game Jam 2026 survey respondents. Godot followed at 29%, Unreal Engine at 9% and Game Maker at 2%.
Is a game jam worth it for beginners, as Reddit threads often ask?
Survey data leans yes. At GGJ 2026, 88% of respondents reported learning or improving a skill, 94% submitted a game and over 99% said they would definitely or probably return.
Sources
https://globalgamejam.org/news/global-game-jam-2026-jammer-survey-data
https://globalgamejam.org/news/global-game-jam-2024-jammer-survey-results
https://globalgamejam.org/news/global-game-jam-artificial-intelligence-policy