a free 48-hour game jam for builders aged 13–18.
checkpoint 01 runs from friday 8 january to sunday 10 january, 2027. it's online, it's open worldwide, and it costs nothing.
checkpoint runs twice a year, with a new theme each time. this is the first one — so expect a small, friendly crowd and plenty of help.
no experience needed. most people who turn up won't have finished a game before. that's the normal starting point, not a problem.
by the numbers
as of 11 november 2026.
as featured in
12 hackathons worth your fall and winter
and our organiser's story, a hackernoon top story: i'm 13 and i built a global hackathon for teens with almost no budget
games for good
the theme for checkpoint 01
build a game that does something beyond entertaining. that might mean teaching a skill, raising awareness of an issue, making play accessible to someone usually left out, or supporting a real cause. it doesn't have to be serious or worthy — it has to be good, and it has to be for something.
- a game playable by someone who can't use a mouse, see the screen, or hear the audio
- a game built for a specific organisation, classroom, or community that needs one
- a game that teaches something hard in a way that finally clicks
- a game that puts you inside an experience you'd otherwise never have
interpret it loosely. if you can explain who it helps and how, it counts.
schedule
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kickoff — theme walkthrough, judging criteria, team matching 7:00 am et · 12:00 gmt
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workshop — scoping a game you can actually finish in a weekend 2:00 am et · 7:00 gmt
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submissions close 7:00 am et · 12:00 gmt
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demos — optional, come show what you made 8:30 am et · 13:30 gmt
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winners announced
all times ict (utc+7). sessions are recorded and posted within the hour, so you don't have to be awake for them.
prizes
every team that submits gets a free domain. winners in all six categories get more.
every team that submits
- a free .xyz domain
all six winning teams
- 1-year craftpix membership
- one-page website + 12 months' hosting from hcl studio, no contract
the top three teams
- codecrafters vip membership (2-year, 1-year, 6-month) — every member
- formaloo credits
- cleanshot licences — every member
one winner
- 1-year 1password family plan
categories: overall 1st, 2nd and 3rd · best beginner project · most creative · best use of ai
with thanks to
want to sponsor checkpoint? see how it works.
craftpix also have a large library of free 2d game assets you're welcome to use in your project.
questions
anything else, ask on the discussion board
do i need coding experience?
no, you don't! checkpoint is built for beginners, and welcomes everyone. use of ai if you don't have experience coding is allowed and welcomed within the competition.
do i need a team?
you can work solo or with a team, whichever you prefer — and this doesn't impact your score or how you are judged.
what can i build with?
literally anything, as long as we can view it and it compiles. use react, tailwind, css, js, godot — heck, even ai. all is allowed.
what is the theme and what does it mean?
it's games for good. in short: create a game that does something good for a community, raises awareness, or helps and benefits someone. the section above has more detail and some starting points.
how much does it cost?
to keep it accessible to all, there are no fees whatsoever — it's completely free.
my parents want details!
checkpoint is fiscally sponsored by The Hack Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. we help students engage and build real products and solutions. our programs are completely free, have adult advisors, and have a code of conduct with responsible management.
can i work on something i already started?
no code, assets, or builds made before kickoff. ideas, research, learning, and forming a team beforehand are all encouraged. existing open-source libraries and engines are fine.
is there a discord?
yes, and it's optional. it's where we post updates, help people find teams, and chat during the event. everything official, including the rules, judging and submissions, stays on devpost. staff, judges, mentors and sponsors never send private messages, and discord requires you to be 13 or older. join here: the checkpoint discord.
build something that does some good
48 hours. free. ages 13–18, anywhere.
want updates and teammates? join the community on discord. it's optional.