js13kGames (also referenced as JS13K) is a game jam competition, focused on creating browser games that are no larger than 13 kilobytes when compressed using ZIP.[1][2][3] Participants are not permitted to use external services or libraries, and all assets must also fit within the size limit.[4] Games are programmed in JavaScript and HTML5.[5][6][7] The competition has a different theme each year and participants have the freedom to interpret it however they like.[8] Winners receive prizes consisting of money, digital rewards, T-shirts, and promotional items.[9]
JS13K was founded in 2012 and is run by Andrzej Mazur.[10][11][12] It is held from 13 August to 13 September annually.[13] Since 2017 there are categories that allow for certain frameworks to not count towards the size limit.[14] JS13k introduced a web monetization category in 2019 in partnership with Coil,[15] which continued through 2020 funded partially by Grant for the Web.[16]
Several well known game designers have participated in JS13K including Markus "Notch" Persson (creator of Minecraft)[17] and Ricardo "Mrdoob" Cabello (creator of Three.js).[18] Some games created for the competition have later been released commercially on Steam including 2016 winner Evil Glitch.[19] Others have been mentioned across the internet in various articles around the event itself.[20]
In 2015, JS13K started to expand, including a panel of judges for each of their events.[21] There are a few judges that have been featured in every single event, including Dann Sullivan of Pocket Gamer, Game Developer Christer Kaitilla, and Games Journalist Jupiter Hadley.
No. | Year | Theme | Entries | Winning Game | Developer(s) | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2012 | Number 13 | 61 | SpacePi | Jack Rugile | [22] |
2 | 2013 | Bad Luck | 70 | Radius Raid | Jack Rugile | [23] |
3 | 2014 | Earth, Water, Air and Fire | 129 | Pest Control : Weasels | Siorki | [24] |
4 | 2015 | Reversed | 160 | Behind Asteroids — The Dark Side | Greweb | [25] |
5 | 2016 | Glitch | 127 | Evil Glitch | Agar3s | [26] |
6 | 2017 | Lost | 254 | Greeble | Ryan Malm | [27] |
7 | 2018 | Offline | 274 | UNDERRUN | Phoboslab | [28] |
8 | 2019 | Back | 245 | xx142-b2.exe | Ben & Salvatore | [29] |
9 | 2020 | 404 | 227 | Ninja vs EVILCORP | Rémi Vansteelandt | [30] |
10 | 2021 | Space | 223 | Space Garden | Ryan Malm | [31] |
11 | 2022 | Death | 167 | Dante | Salvatore Previti | [32] |
12 | 2023 | 13th Century | 163 | Path to Glory | Rémi Vansteelandt | [33] |