TOY BOX JAM 2025 is a game jam where I give you sprites, sounds, music -- and you have to make a game with those assets! Here's some previous TOY BOX JAM games!
PLUS there is an Augmented Reality Game (ARG) -- if you solve the mystery... you get MORE assets to work with!
JAM DESCRIPTION
In this two-week holiday jam, you are provided a variety of sprites, sound effects, and music, and you have to make a game with them! On December 19, 2025, at noon PST, I will release the Toy Box Jam "base files" for Pico-8, Picotron, and all other engines, like Unity, Godot, Gamemaker, etc.
Your mission: choose how you want to jam:
CHILL MODE (easy). Just take the available assets, and make a game with 'em! Go ahead and change colors, whatever -- as long as you start with the jam's asset as the source.
MYSTERY MODE (medium). Solve an Alternate Reality mystery by poring over the files and documents left behind by the recluse developer Max Tojoby!
STARTCART MODE (hard). Code a game with JUST THOSE GRAPHIC AND SOUND ASSETS contained within the tbj2025_base_assets folder without modifying changing them at all. You can palette change, or scale them, but use those assets.
What's in all the base assets? Let's take a look:
CONTENTS
- Full 2D sprite sheets of various and sundry game graphics, plus optional sprite fonts -- use one or the other, or mix and match!
- INCLUDING NEW 16x16 sprites in the Picotron palette (usable in any game engine)! By Doriencey!
- Graciously donated full color sprites (and some I've converted down to Pico-8 colors) from Craftpix.net!
- A good variety of sound effects to use
- TONS OF SONGS FROM THE PICO-8 LEGEND GRUBER! Including three found nowhere else! And Picotunes 1 has been amazingly translated to Picotron for your use, by the talented kc00l!
- Plus other sound effects and music from him and others made just for this jam!
- Some optional support code: sprite font print function, big print function, simple collision, window drawing, starfield, and more....
- All sorts of fun holiday sprites for you!
- Plus Optional Themes to explore if you like that sort of thing!
USE ANY GAME ENGINE YOU WANT, though the assets are made originally for Pico-8 and now Picotron. Extracted sprites, sfx, and music are within for folks using Unity, Godot, Gamemaker, Love2D, Picotron, or other engines! (Pico-8 folks, you don't need to download all those extracted WAVs and MP3s...)
I PROVIDE THE ASSETS. YOU MAKE THE GAME! GO!
WHAT IS THE SPIRIT OF THE JAM?
Please only use the assets provided and don't add detail to them. Making your own assets is for other jams, thanks!
BTW...
NO JUDGING!
This is just a fun jam! No judging, just fun!
EXAMPLE GAMES
Here's some previous TOY BOX JAM games!
Example game from Toy Box Jam: Ninjoe in the Dragon's Lair by Pixel Shock. (link)
Alfredo's Stupendous Surprise remake by Paul Nicholas (link)
Lava Joe by Paranoid Cactus (link)
Sally Neptune vs The Monocronies by PaloBlancoGames
Example game: Picomen by A Strange Fool. (link)
Links to all previous TOY BOX JAMS: 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Now let's look at the various game modes!
CHILL MODE RULES
This is if you just want to play around, make a cool game, and not be bound by a buncha rules. Look in the Chill Mode folder for your files.
- Use the assets provided in the TBJ2025_ASSETS folder to make a cool game by the deadline. Just code away and have fun! Please do not use other assets for this jam.
- Please use the hashtags "#TOYBOXJAM2025" and " #Pico8 " (or #unity #godot #gamemaker #love2d etc. -- the game engine you are using) and when posting about your game! Use these on ITCH.io and social media, especially BlueSky, Threads, (if you must, Twitter/X), and Zep's alternate home, Mastodon.
- USE ANY ENGINE YOU WANT. For Pico-8:
- You may augment your cart with any code in the DEMO CART (there are a FEW well-coded routines -- stars, scroll tile, collision, printing, but most are really bad code just to show you sprite numbers or how to flip the explosion animation)!
- Bend the rules this time if you want -- recolor, add detail -- no judging! Just have FUN! Just start with the given assets though!
Look at the DEMOCARTs to see how to use some of the tricker graphics (and to hear the music selections). The ARG Mystery below optional. There are little bonuses for solving the mystery that will help you have a few more options, but it is completely optional.
MYSTERY MODE RULES
For those that want more challenge...solve the Alternate Reality Game (ARG) mystery to find passwords that unlock more assets! Look in the Mystery Mode folder....
Read the READ ME FIRST and read about the what was found in an abandoned apartment.. and try to see out the secret passwords for more assets! Legendary game developer Max Tojoby, now a recluse, seems to like leaving behind clues and unused assets from his previous games...
- NOTE: The passwords in the mystery are LOWERCASE.
Study the scene and examine its clues carefully!
Those solving the mystery with get more assets to use! (Plus all the ones in the Chill Mode folder.) If you are busy over the holidays, you can just solve the Mystery for fun. Use the assets later!
STARTCART (HARD MODE) RULES
For the, well, you know, hardcore devs! Look in the TBJ2025_ASSETS directory. General STARTCART MODE rules:
- You must follow all these rules, AND ONLY USE THE ASSETS IN THAT FOLDER. That's all you get!
- TWO+ WEEKS(ish): You have two and a half weeks to make a game using ONLY THOSE GRAPHIC AND SOUND ASSETS in the startcart, democart or any Pico-8 assets you find investigating the small little mystery (or asset folders if you use another engine). Write whatever CODE you want, but just use those sprites, sounds, and music.
- USE ANY ENGINE YOU WANT.
- JUST THE ASSETS YOU NEED: You don't, obviously, have to use ALL the assets to make your game! It would probably be a mess if you did.
- SOUNDS: You can change the speed and general volume of sound effects (if they are too loud), but not the data.
For Pico-8 developers, here are the specific rules for Pico-8:
- SCROLLING TILES: You CAN use the included routines to scroll the sprite data up, down, left, or right within itself in runtime. And feel free to write more efficient ones, but only to SCROLL (move and wrap the sprite data a pixel at a time up, down, left, or right) within the sprite within itself.
- MULTIPLE COPIES / ROTATIONS OKAY: You CAN make multiple copies of the same sprite to place in the sprite sheet (say if you want, when rearranging, to treat global sprites differently). But these copies must remain the same, unmodified until draw commands and PAL commands modify them in runtime. Your copies can be 90-degree Pico-8 rotations or pixels shifts of the original sprites if you don't want to use the rotation routines/scrolling routines.
- LIMITED SPRITE RE-COLORING: You cannot CHANGE the sprites, other than colorizing them with live PAL and changing transparency with PALT, or colorizing them in the editor as IF they were changed with PAL and PALT (you cannot essentially add detail). That includes drawing in, POKEing in them, and other techniques. (You can set flags on the sprites and of course, flip them all you want.)
- NO OTHER ASSETS: You cannot use sprites, sound effects, and music not in the startcart and demo cart.
- USE OF INCLUDED ROUTINES: You CAN use Pico-8 functions to render the TOY BOX FONT font sprites yourself, changing colors and transparency with PAL and PALT. You don't need to use any of the provided code at all.
- BUILT-IN DRAWING FUNCTIONS OKAY: Feel free to use the built in drawing functions of Pico-8 (LINE, RECTFILL, CIRCFILL, PSET, etc.), but not so much as to avoid the intent of the jam (using the assets provided). Do not make sprites with these, nor store them as string data, nor load them from another cart, or any other tricksy maneuvers -- please try to make magic with the tools and toys given. Otherwise, why not just do a different jam?
- "HIDDEN PALETTE" OKAY: Yes, you can use all the fun hidden colors if you want . There is a routine for setting and keeping your new Palette. (BTW If you need to reset the palette to edit code, type PAL() at the command line.)
- USE THE MAP IF YOU WANT. Just make sure the tiles you want available are in the first two sprite tabs!
Here's optional THEMES to use if you need inspiration!
- The More Powerful, The More Vulnerable
- Currency, Tool, or Food?
- Protect Them All or Else
- That's a Lot of Chickens
- Buy, Travel, Sell
- 4271
- Disconnect
- Decreasing Resolution
- Flip The Switch to See What Happens
- ... and maybe more to come!
What do these mean? That's up to you!
HERE ARE THE FILES!
Go here and READ the "READ ME FIRST" file. Just start with the assets in TBJ2025_BASE_ASSETS and have fun. The directory has a great set of NEW gfx, sfx, and music to use. Enjoy!
If you want to solve the mystery, read NOTES FROM TOJOBY INVESTIGATION, and look in TBJ2025_MYSTERY to study the clues and solve the mystery (get more assets)!
NOTE: Assets are CC-BY -- use them in games but give credit in the credits/documentation. Please do not simply redistribute/upload the assets -- but use them to make games! (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/cclicenses/)
WHAT IS PICO-8?
Are you here and have no idea what Pico-8 is? It is a "fantasy console". Imagine that someone made an emulator for a console similar to the NES... but it never existed! You code in Lua (a scripting language that is easy to learn), and ALL THE TOOLS ARE BUILT IN -- code editor, sprite editor, map editor, sound effects editor, and music editor! It makes it really, really easy to make a game! I've made a tiny one in less than an hour! It costs $15 and is available from here: https://www.lexaloffle.com/pico-8.php Totally worth it for hundreds of hours of enjoyment! CHEAPEST CONSOLE / DEV ENVIRONMENT EVER!
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Stuck without an idea? You can use Game Idea Guru! https://thattomhall.itch.io/game-idea-guru
Or try out RNDGAME for random game names! https://thattomhall.itch.io/rndgame
Wanna see how changing the palette will affect a sprite? Use A Strange Fool's Repaletter! https://astrangefool.itch.io/tbj2020-repaletter
You can rearrange the sprites with RESPRITER if you want (for instance, to use some sprites, font, and map). https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?tid=35255
Is there a Discord for jammers to chat and discuss their games and solving the ARG mystery? YES!
TOY BOX JAM Discord: https://discord.gg/dJ98GVrXpy
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FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q: I've never made a game before, can I enter? A: Yes.
Q: I'm not very good at making games, should I enter? A: Yeah, why not?
Q: Can I reuse my own code from prior projects? A: Yes. Just no graphics or sound assets from them.
Q: What time zone determines the start and end dates? A: Pacific Standard Time (PST, GMT - 8).
Q: Can I join the jam after it has already started? A: Yes, you can join at any time. You just have to submit a game before the deadline.
Q: Can I work with a team? A: Yes.
Q: Can I be a member of more than one team? A: Yes.
Q: Is there a limit to the number of people that can be on the same team? A: No.
Q: Can I submit more than one game? A: Yes.
Q: What happens if I don't submit my game in time? A: It won't be listed on the Jam page, I think? But by all means, finish your game! (I still wanna see it!)
Q: Can I update my game after the end of the jam? A: Yes, why not?
Q: Am I super-disqualified if I bend the rules a little? A: Nah, probably not except the safe for work one. But TRY to follow 'em!
Q: Can I participate without joining itch.io? A: Yesssss.... I guess.... but it's SO much easier if ya do. :D
Q: Can I use a game engine other than Pico-8? Yes, though the assets were originally made for Pico-8.
Q: How about Controversial or Edgy Game material? A: Please no -- this is a PG game jam and for general wholesome fun. So no adult, political, or religious content, please.
Q: Can I use and publish games I made here with these assets? Yes, with a CC-BY licenses. List the ThatTomHall, TOY BOX JAM, and the authors listed in credits for the assets you use. Just don't simply upload the assets elsewhere -- they are provided for making games!
Q: I have a problem with one of the files! What do I do? A: Let me know! I will fix it if I can!
Thanks to LCD Jam for the FAQ Idea and most of the questions!
I can't wait to see what you all come up with! Let's have a fun TOY BOX JAM together!
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Pico-Lib Code by That Tom Hall and the Pico-8 Community (credits in start carts)
Sprite Ideas by That Tom Hall, Lafolie, Liquidream, Toby Hefflin, Johnny Burgess, others.
Art / Animation by Doriencey, Leo, Taxicomics, Craftpix, Lafolie, Toby Hefflin, That Tom Hall, Smelly Fishsticks, Alice Stenger, thykka, Toby Hefflin, Johnny Burgess, Bikibird, Pico-8 Gamer, Archonic, Nerdy Teachers!
Font encoding by Merwok
Sound effects by Lafolie, Gruber, That Tom Hall, bikibird.
Incredible Music by Gruber / kc00l, bikibird, Packbat, (and one lame one by That Tom Hall)
Jam Advice by Matthias Scherba
Idea of Having a Backstory by Fwip
Interesting Content Discussion by Lafolie
Rune for RESPRITER and RENOISER
Bikibird for Speako8
A Strange Fool for REPALETTER
Professor Action for fixing the One Font and providing a printing routine!
Kingdom Hearts III artists for their original TOY BOX art
And of course, thanks to Zep for Pico-8!
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