It really is a shame that there aren’t more games out there with nonbinary content, even on itch.io where LGBTQ+ games generally do pretty darn well and good ones aren’t as scarce as on, say, Steam. But perhaps this fifth consecutive yearly game jam can help bring about at least a few new titles, as Nonbinary Game Jam 2023 is well underway!
Now, while identifying as nonbinary is not a requirement for participating in Nonbinary Game Jam 2023, your submission must feature one or more of the following: a nonbinary main character, a discussion of the nonbinary experience in some way, or a narrative following a nonbinary character’s journey. Oh, did you know that International Non-Binary People’s Day is celebrated on July 14, every year? In other words, a mere four days from when this article was published.
The optional theme for this year is VARIATION. It is just there to inspire you, so don’t feel pressured to make something that matches it.
As for the rules… well, there are a few, but nothing overly restrictive, really. Typical things like tagging submissions with NSFW content accordingly, using Nonbinary Game Jam 2023 to finish a previous WIP (as long as it follows the basic rules regarding nonbinary content), and something I’m a big fan of: “untraditional” and non-digital games are absolutely allowed. So groovy.
Adding to all that, the single most important thing is to… do your research. The term ‘nonbinary’ is still relatively new, and as such, it’s not uncommon for someone to be confused as to its meaning. So be sure to hit those search engines and/or pop any and all questions onto the official Discord. Just remember to not be rude/insensitive, although that hopefully goes without saying.
(Screenshot source: Nonbinary Game Jam 2022 submission, High School Crush.)
Nonbinary Game Jam 2023 will be concluding on August 1st, 2023.
