About
Built in
the Cabana
A community of developers making games worth keeping — starting with chess.
Why this jam exists
The Coding Cabana is a community of developers who each want to contribute to something bigger. We're building a platform dedicated to designing new games — and revamping the classics people have always loved to play.
The first jam came straight from the chess enthusiasts among us. The mission: find the ultimate chess variant worth launching, and the people worth building it with.
The format
Two rounds, one champion
Round 1 · The Prototype
CONCLUDED · JUN 2026An open jam about the idea. Invent a new or experimental chess variant and build a prototype someone can actually play — fairy pieces, hex boards, fog of war, all of it. Community voting picked the rankings, and every ranked game qualified for Round 2.
Round 2 · The Endgame
LATE 2026 · CLOSED ROUNDThe polish round: two weeks to take a qualifying prototype to a finished game with deeper mechanics, custom art, and final presentation. Teams are highly encouraged, and entry is by application.
The server's brand new
Our Discord just opened its doors. It's where you'll find collaborators, get in-depth feedback on your build, and catch every announcement first — organizers run review threads in chat once you submit.
More jams are on the way, and member accounts with extra jam perks are in the works. This is round one of something much bigger.
SAY HI
GET IN TOUCH
Questions, ideas, or feedback? The fastest way to reach us is on Discord — come say hi. It's where playtests, reviews, and announcements happen first.