Press space to go through the slides, although that won't be necessary. Welcome to the 2026 Scratch Jam! All projects are allowed, however, they will all be ranked separately by their genres. (Ex. Games are separately ranked from Animations, and Animations are separately ranked from Music.) To join, all you have to do is remix the project. Rules: 1. Follow the Scratch terms of service. 2. The project must be a remix of this project. 3. Can't just be a copy of someone else's work. These are the criteria I will be judging by: If it's a game: 1. Gameplay and Mechanics: How intuitive and enjoyable are the core actions? 2. Art style: How well does the art style fit the game's theme? 3. Sound design: Do things make sounds when interacted with? 4. Story and characters: Does the plot flow well and is it engaging? Are the characters well-developed and interesting? 5. Replay value: How much is there to do after the first playthrough? 6. Performance: How well does your game run? Is it buggy? 7. Fun and engagement: Do people have fun playing it? 8. Innovation: Does the game introduce new ideas and/or is it original? If it's an animation: 1. Art style: How well does the art style fit the animation's theme? 2. Animation Quality: Is the motion fluid? Are the physics believable? Is the pacing good? 3. Story: Does the plot flow well and is it fun to watch? 4. Creativity: Is the animation original, or is it just a re-hash of something else? 5. Sound design: Does it have high sound quality? Is it synced? If it's music: 1. Composition / Melody: How original or catchy is this melody? Does it feel musical, or does it just sound like random notes? 2. Mixing & Sound Quality: Are instruments balanced (no one sound drowning out others)? Is the quality of the audio good? 3. Use of Scratch Tools / Technical Skill: Did the creator use the Scratch sound blocks, custom synths, or imported samples effectively? If coded music (using blocks), how efficient and creative is the code? If using imported audio, was it made by them, or just downloaded from something else? If it's art: 1. Artistic Skill / Technique: Are the lines neat, smooth, and intentional? Are the colors well-chosen, shaded, or blended nicely? 2. Creativity & Originality: Does the idea stand out from common tropes or trends? Does the artist have a distinct art style or twist? 3. Effort / Complexity: Are there details that show dedication (Ex. backgrounds, textures, multiple elements)? Does it look like thought went into layout and design? 4. Presentation / Overall Impression: Does it look polished and complete? Is the background thoughtfully made, or is it just a flat color? The deadline to join is July 31st, 2026. The deadline to finish is December 31st, 2026. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments! Have fun, and get to Scratching Everyone!
