During the last weekend of January, over 70 game developers gathered at the UCCS campus to participate in Global Game Jam 2026. Each year, Global Game Jam brings together game developers from all walks of life and in over 100 countries to celebrate creating in the medium that they love. This was the 15th year that the campus was a “Jam Site” for Global Game Jam where game developers must make a game in a weekend that conforms to a secret theme. The “jammers” at UCCS consisted of current students, alumni, faculty members, local game developers, as well as community members at large.
Angus Chassels, Entrepreneur in Residence, Instructor in the Bachelor of Innovation program, and primary organizer of the jam, said, “The Global Game Jam at UCCS has been an annual Bachelor of Innovation event for 15 years. It gives students a rare chance to learn a lot in 48 hours—collaborating under real constraints, failing fast, and turning their creative ideas into playable prototypes and experiences. Its compressed timeline closely mirrors the intensity, uncertainty, and momentum of professional game development.”
The 2026 theme was “masks,” and the jammers did not disappoint with 14 brand new games made in less than 48 hours! Games could be tabletop games or video games, including platformers, puzzles, hidden object/seek, and side scrollers. Check out and play the UCCS games here: https://globalgamejam.org/jam-sites/2026/global-game-jam-university-colorado-colorado-springs-uccs.
Chris Malec, Associate Teaching Professor and Program Director of the Game Design and Development program, said, “Events like GGJ not only help to grow interest in the fascinating world of game development, but also help to build a supportive community of creatives and innovators that share a passion for building worlds together! I’ve been participating in GGJ since I was an undergraduate student and the fact that I am still excited to, as a faculty member, participate every year just goes to show how important these types of events are for our game development community here in Colorado Springs and the world over.”
Participants were welcomed to The Garage collaboration space and provided with snacks and coordination of the jam session where they were invited to collaborate, learn, experiment, and create games in a safe and welcoming environment. The jam site was made possible by the generous support of The Bachelor of Innovation program and the El Pomar Institute for Innovation and Commercialization (EPIIC).
Luke Doster, EPIIC Strategic Program Director, was enthusiastic about the event: “EPIIC is always excited for the opportunity to support the UCCS Global Game Jam. Students are what make a university special. The Jam is a perfect opportunity to provide students with a platform where they can work, play, and challenge themselves amongst peers. These sorts of experiences and relationships are the ones that will stick with them long after graduation, and that is what college is truly about.”