The 48th gm(48) Is Over: Play and Rate the Equivalent Exchange Entries

The 48th gm(48) game jam has officially wrapped up. From March 14 to March 16, participants had exactly 48 hours to build a game in GameMaker around the theme Equivalent Exchange. The submissions are in, and the rating period is now open.

What Is the gm(48)?

The gm(48) is a quarterly 48 hour game jam exclusively for GameMaker developers. It welcomes creators of all skill levels, from first time jammers to seasoned veterans. It has been running since 2011, making it one of the longest standing recurring jams in the indie dev community.

This 48th edition featured the biggest prize pool in the jam’s history. Winners will receive physical trophies, GameMaker licenses courtesy of the GameMaker team, and a share of $4,800 USD in cash prizes.

The Theme: Equivalent Exchange

The theme Equivalent Exchange asks developers to build mechanics around the concept of giving something to get something. Think resource conversion, sacrificial trade offs, or risk/reward systems where every gain comes at a cost. It is a theme that rewards creative interpretation, and the submitted games prove it.

Play and Rate the Entries

All submissions are now live on the gm(48) games page. The two week rating period gives everyone a chance to play through the entries and score them across categories like gameplay, art, sound, innovation, and theme adherence.

If you have never participated in a game jam rating period before, here is what you should know. Playing and rating other people’s games is one of the best parts of the jam experience. You discover creative interpretations of the theme you never considered, and your feedback helps fellow developers improve. It is a genuine community effort.

Why Game Jams Matter

Game jams are more than weekend coding sprints. Celeste and SUPERHOT both started as jam prototypes. The constraints of a 48 hour deadline force developers to prioritize the core of their idea and cut everything else. That pressure often produces surprisingly inventive results.

If you have been thinking about joining a game jam yourself, check out our survival guide for first timers or our Godot game jam preparation guide. The gm(48) runs quarterly, so the next one is only a few months away.

What Happens Next

After the two week rating period ends, the gm(48) team will tally the scores and announce results. We will update our game jams page with the winners once they are revealed. In the meantime, head over to the submissions page and start playing. You might find your next favorite indie game hiding in there.