Movie Game Jam is a game jam that run through the month of February. It is basically choosing your favorite movie scene or movie in general as a base for your game idea. Intriguing? Of course, but it is much harder than it may seem. Moving the story from the screen into the game, within time limit and make it enjoyable for all and not just people who have watched said movie is a real challenge!
I have not been able to check out every single entry in this jam, so I may have missed some amazing ones, and I apologize. But, there is only so much one person can do; I am certain I checked out a big bunch of them, and I am going to show you the ones I liked the best.
A really nice little game, using a very popular movie so I think it is easier for most players to grasp what you’re supposed to do. Simple, but well made. It is using mechanic that I feel has been used many times before, but I enjoyed the simplicity of the game itself.
A bit challenging platformer, short, but enjoyable. I feel connection to the movie reference was more subtle, but platformer was very endearing. It is rather short, as most jam games, but it is surely worth the time. It challenged me enough to make me try my best to succeed, but not too much to make me give up.
After watching a scene it was based off (very gory) I was put off, as while being a horror movies fan, I really dislike gore. However game itself wasn’t as gory and I actually enjoyed it much more than expected. It feels too short, and too hardcore in my personal opinion, but I think for a game jam entry it is a well-made little adventure, even if ever so quick and simple.
Back to the zombie-land. Challenging, well-made, well-designed. I actually managed to play it for a longer while, despite enemies not exactly being put perfectly in the area (sometimes not enough of them, sometimes too many). Again, I clicked on the link not expecting myself to enjoy it, and yet I was kindly surprised. It seemed shallow in a way, but I think the mechanics and how basic idea was, made this so enjoyable.
Another simple, little game. Graphics in this game are completely plain but you stop thinking about that as soon as gameplay kicks in. It is another very simple, basic game, and another example of a well-done game design. Simplicity in it is very entertaining. It did kept me in the game for longer than expected.
It is also one of those games were the movie reference is a nice addition, but not needed thanks to the basic gameplay design.
I am usually not so good with puzzle games, because I am the worst when it comes to ANY kind of puzzles, to be fair. I still enjoy those puzzle games, it’s just that often without walkthroughs I never finish them. However, Think and Click simplified the puzzle idea, and even though it was still challenging, I think it’s a very lovely puzzle adventure for everyone to enjoy.
This was a really short, but endearing little adventure. Easy to catch on what to do, well connected with the movie chosen, simple gameplay that can amuse you for a little while. The only problem I had with it, that it was so strongly connected to the movie at hand, that to understand gameplay you had to know the movie. On the other hand, gameplay is simple enough that you will catch up on it quickly anyway.
This is a really, really short game. But a good depiction of the movie, and very intuitive gameplay, with a really nice graphics. I would say scene chosen has been rather difficult to portray in a game setting, but creators did well. It was first game I played in the jam, and it surely showed me that Movie Game Jam 2018 had some talented participants.
This one was a bit confusing, I do not think it is perfectly designed, but also I don’t think it’s badly designed either. It is simple, with a nice art and one goal: assasination. Game surely strongly takes from the movie reference, but at the same time, it explains itself very easily, so I don’t mind. It’s challenging, as well, and surely worth your time!
This is a wonderful, little adventure made of many inspirations and many movies’ references. Sassy and full of emotions voice acting, challenging environment full of puzzles and secrets and really lovely gameplay mechanics. This is what ‘Between the Worlds’ will give you. Ready to find all the worlds hidden in this game?
Oh boy. This one really took me on the ride. Spend actually a pretty big chunk of time playing it, which I think is also because of how the game is designed, and of how much gameplay and story dev prepared for you. This one is based on a very popular movie, so again, most people know where the inspiration was and what could it mean for the gameplay. And it is nicely explained in the game itself as well.
Graphics are as basic as they can be, but game will get you focused on the story and gameplay more than that aspect of the game. Obviously most work was put into how game is played rather how it looks, and I think it was the right choice. ‘You Played Yourself’ will take you on an exciting adventure, and will surely keep you entertained for a long while. It is a challenge surely worth taking.
This is a creation from the devs that I have been watching for a while, and they surely showed a very interesting take on Movie Game Jam. It is heavily based on the movie reference, and it is a bit confusing at start, but after a while you do grasp what you need to do, and it is a short, fun experience. I enjoyed the design of art A LOT, silhouettes are something that I love as an aesthetic for games.
This is my very number one. This list wasn’t in any particular order but MDD was surely the best I have played through. Gameplay very interesting despite simplicity, game reference well done but you do not get confused if you haven’t seen the movie. Challenging, with beautiful pixel-art graphics. What more you can ask for?
And that is what I have for you for Movie Game Jam 2018. A very succesful game jam I would say! There were plenty of wonderful entries, as this post shows, I had a lot to show you and I recommend you trying them all out, and finding all those amazing creators. I do hope they are ready to show us even more beautiful creations.
File is one of the games in the jam, that took the word “horror” truly seriously. If you’re looking for a thrill, for a scare, if you want to be terrified… that game is a perfect choice. The way it is made, it keeps you in suspense, as more and more frightening facts get’s revealed… and all you can do is to keep playing, expecting more jumpscares and wondering where does the story leads?
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