Kolkata’s youth have once again made their mark on the global stage and this time, in a big way.
The Global Game Jam 2026 Kolkata Edition ended on a high note, with the city showing strong participation in the world’s biggest game creation marathon. This was the third year in a row that Red Apple Learning and Scope Gaming Community successfully hosted the event, and this edition clearly showed that Bengal is steadily becoming a serious player in the global gaming space.
This year, the event was held at the Red Apple Technologies production house (a modern 12,000 sq ft facility at Mani Casadona, Newtown, Kolkata). Because of the bigger venue, the Kolkata edition was almost 3x larger and far more dynamic than previous years.
Here’s what the Kolkata jam saw this year:
- 150+ registrations
- 100+ active participants who worked day and night to build original games within 48 hours (30th January to 1st February 2026)
- 50+ observers who came to explore opportunities in India’s fast-growing AVGC industry
So, the event was not just a competition it also became a strong learning and networking platform for young creators.
By the end of the 48-hour challenge, more than 22+ original games were developed and presented. The games stood out for:
- Creative storytelling ideas
- Unique gameplay concepts
- Strong character development
The overall quality of the projects clearly showed how much the region’s game development talent has grown.
The event was officially supported by Mr. Pranabes Chandra, owner of CHANDRACON.CO.IN, along with the community platform Playzhub.com, who helped create better exposure and networking opportunities for participants.
Students from 48 institutions across India and abroad joined the jam, including IIT Patna, IIT Kharagpur, Netaji Subhash Engineering College, NSHM Durgapur, University of Chichester, Pailan College of Management and Technology, Deendayal Upadhyay Gorakhpur University, The Indian College of Art and Draughtsmanship, Calcutta University, and many more.
The event became even more meaningful with the presence of respected industry leaders:
- Shri Debashis Sen, Former IAS and Ex-CMD of HIDCO
- Saurav Gupta, Co-founder of Gunjan Apps & Solutions
- Pronoy Chatterjee, Founder of Unquiattable
They shared their real-life experiences, spoke about starting small but thinking big, building the right skills, staying consistent, taking smart risks, and turning passion into a long-term profession in the AVGC sector.
Mr. Arup Roy, Founder and CEO of Red Apple, also inspired the participants. He spoke about how the future of entertainment belongs to those who dare to experiment. He emphasized teamwork, consistency, and creative thinking. He reminded everyone that even a small game made in 48 hours can one day grow into a successful global product as long as you dream big.
On the final day, the event was honored by the presence of Mr. Satyajit Chakraborty, veteran game developer and Founder of Flying Robot Studio. He guided the participants by explaining what works, what to avoid, and how to make games more meaningful. He also stressed the importance of polishing gameplay, improving user experience, and building games that truly connect with players. His honest and practical advice left a strong impact on everyone.
One of the biggest highlights this year was that Kolkata recorded more game submissions compared to several major metro hubs. It was a proud moment for Bengal’s developer community and clearly showed that West Bengal’s gaming ecosystem is growing stronger each year and making its mark nationally.
Globally, Global Game Jam 2026 recorded over 35,427 participants and more than 12,100 games created within just 48 hours.
Salute to every jammer who coded all night, brainstormed endlessly, and turned simple ideas into playable games all within two days.
Kolkata has set a new benchmark, and the journey is only getting bigger from here.
