After 72 hours of jamming, two weeks of community voting, and careful deliberation by our expert judge panel, we’re thrilled to announce the winners of the inaugural Game Writing SIG Arcjam!

The theme was RESILIENCE, and 123 teams rose to the challenge, creating interactive stories that explored personal growth, survival against the odds, and the strength found in community. Our judges wrote over 200 pieces of feedback, and the community cast 1,383 ratings on itch.io.

You can play the following winning games, as well as the remaining top ten games, on our 2025 Game Writing SIG Arcjam Page

The Winners

🥇 1st Place + Community Choice: Moments Away

Moments Away earned both first place overall and the Community Choice special recognition.

🥈 2nd Place + Excellence in Writing: Launch Day

Launch Day earned both second place overall and the Excellence in Writing special recognition. Both Judge Jon Myers and Judge Frankie Wakefield-Harrey gave this game a perfect score.

🥉 3rd Place + Judges’ Choice: Piranha Pit

Piranha Pit earned both third place and the Judges’ Choice distinction, along with a perfect score from Judge Wakefield-Harrey.

4th Place: Hold On, Valor

5th Place: I AM AN OFFICE PLANT & I PUSH BUTTONS

Complete Top 10

Play the top ten games on the Game Writing SIG Arcjam Page.

Special Recognition Awards

🏆 Excellence in Narrative Design: Chasing Ghosts

Nominated alongside 13 other impressive games, Chasing Ghosts stood out for its masterful integration of story and mechanics.

Other nominees: I’m Still Here, Piranha Pit, Launch Day, The Voice Behind the Veil, Amber Sky, Hold On Valor!, Tomorrow is a Place (and maybe that place is the DMV), Trench Pigs, STIGMATA, ECHOES IN THE VOID, Dream Bound, Speak No Evil, Teeth & Tongue

🔧 Innovative Use of Technology: Trench Pigs

Trench Pigs demonstrated exceptional technical competency and imaginative use of Arcweave’s capabilities.

⭐ Perfect Score Honorable Mentions

Two judges awarded perfect 5/5 scores to these games that left a lasting impression:

Tomorrow is a Place (and maybe that place is the DMV)

7th Place & Perfect Score from CJ Kershner

Dream Bound

14th Place & Perfect Score from Natasha Skult

The Full Shortlist

Our team of 10 shortlisters reviewed all 123 submissions and selected 34 games for judge evaluation:

Admit One • Amber Sky • Astragali • BB’s Last Gambit • Call Your Mom • Chasing Ghosts • Death and Paw-perty Taxes • Deathsong of a Monster Hunter • Dream Bound • ECHOES IN THE VOID • Echoes • For Infernal Use Only • Gem Hunters • Hold On, Valor! • I AM AN OFFICE PLANT & I PUSH BUTTONS • I’m Still Here • Launch Day • Limit Break • Moments Away • Onboarding • Persistence of Pain • Piranha Pit • Red Noir • Solar Powered • Speak No Evil • Teeth & Tongue • THE PIT • The Coffee Is Listening • The House of Grief • The Trial • The Voice Behind the Veil • Tomorrow is a Place (and maybe that place is the DMV) • Trench Pigs • What Lurks in Dark Corners • Who Dreams for Us? Episode 1

11th–20th Place

Summary of All Awards & Prizes

Thank You

This jam would not have been possible without our incredible community of volunteers, judges, and sponsors.

Prize Donors: Arcweave, IGDA, Game Design Skills, D6 Learning, CRC Press, MiTale, Reign Recruiting, and Richard Dansky

Play the Games

All 123 submissions are available to play on itch.io:

Browse all Arcjam 2025 entries

You can also play the top games and special award winners here on our site:

Arcjam 2025 summary page.

Join the Next Jam

Want to help us organize our next game jam? We’re looking for:

• Volunteers to help with logistics and community support
• Shortlisters to review submissions
• Judges to provide expert feedback
• Prize donors to support our winners

Get in touch with us on Discord, or email info@game-writing.com.

Congratulations to all our winners, and thank you to everyone who participated. See you at the next jam!