Creating a game in just 48 hours? That was the challenge taken on by more than 250 participants during the Global Game Jam, held at HELHa in Mons from January 30 to February 1, 2026. Among them, around 160 students, developers, artists, and creators fully immersed themselves in the experience, spending two nights on-site to bring their ideas to life.
Creative, intense… and rewarding!
The Global Game Jam (GGJ), the world’s largest game creation event, brings together tens of thousands of enthusiasts each year across more than 100 countries. Similar to a hackathon, participants are challenged to design a game based on a theme revealed at the very last moment.
“The Global Game Jam is much more than a development marathon: it’s a human adventure, a space for experimentation, and a true springboard for the talents of tomorrow.” –CG Academy
A race against the clock
The typical structure of the Global Game Jam is as follows:
- Participants gather on Friday evening to watch a short introductory video, including advice from leading game developers
- A secret theme is then revealed
- Participants from around the world are challenged to create a game based on that theme
- All games must be completed by Sunday afternoon
Pushing creativity to the limit
This intense format offers a stimulating and rewarding experience, allowing participants to push both their technical skills and creativity to their limits.
It is a powerful demonstration that collaboration and imagination are at the heart of innovation.
Published on 4 February 2026
Arts, Business and Communication HELHa