Augusta University students take on the 2026 Global Game Jam

Students and alumni from Augusta University recently came together for the 2026 Global Game Jam, a 48-hour creative challenge that pushed participants to collaborate, solve problems and bring original game concepts to life under pressure.

Now in its fourth year at the university, the event once again proved to be a meaningful learning experience, even after weather conditions required a shift from an in-person format to a fully online weekend.

“The Global Game Jam is a weekend-long event for students to make a playable video game,” said A.B. Osborne, director of the Animation Program and professor in the Department of Art and Design in the Katherine Reese Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. “Students set their own goals, choose their teams and focus on what matters most to them. They often learn more in 48 hours than they would in two weeks in a traditional classroom.”

Throughout the weekend, students balanced creativity with structure, quickly learning how to delegate roles, make decisions and work through challenges together. For many participants, Game Jam offered a glimpse into a real-world creative workflow while also producing a project they could continue developing or add to their portfolios.

Alumni Tripp Gustin returned as a solo developer, continuing work on Fighting Quest Frenzy, a playable extension of his interactive webcomic Input Quest.

“Game development taught me that you can really learn to do anything if you put in the time to try,” Gustin said.

At the conclusion of the event, the team Mask Maxxing won and was selected to advance to the Best in Georgia competition, where they will be paired with an industry mentor. All participants who completed the challenge earned a commemorative Game Jam shirt and emblem in recognition of their work.

“Working on something together builds friendships and teaches you how to work through problems,” Osborne said. “If you survived the Jam, congratulations. You earned it.”

Augusta University Game Jam teams

Team Pomegranate Panic created a visual novel-style train car mystery inspired by an inside joke within their friend group. Each team member appears as a character and players must uncover who brought the infamous expired pomegranates onboard. The team divided responsibilities between artists creating user interface elements and assets, and a programmer assembling the game in Ren’Py. Team members included Polistes (username), Valeria Ballestero, Jade Manalac, Aidan Orcutt, Jas Lary, Fanta Johnson and Emerson Hudson.

Team Spa Goblins developed Yokai Spa, a cozy, story driven role-playing game set in ancient Japan. Players run a family ghost defense spa using care and compassion instead of combat. Inspired by classic role-playing games, the team focused on character design, pixel art and gentle gameplay systems. Team members included Sophia DuHamel, Samaad Bey, Brooke O’Dell, Naomi Hurst, Gabriela Cruz Nieves and Claudia Smith.

Team Mask Maxxing created Minutes to Midnight, a noir mystery set at a 1940s masquerade ball. Players race against the clock to prevent a murder by uncovering clues and questioning guests. The team quickly brainstormed around the mask theme, assigned clear roles and assembled the game in Unity. Team members included Jennifer Hahn, Fran Kennedy, Jaylaan Blount, Rage Schexnayder, Erkin Khoroshi Eisalou, Caroline Clements and Aniyah Stampley.

In addition, several solo developers explored their own goals, working on projects like CheckMasks and Fighting Quest Frenzy. 

You can check out their game trailers here.