GREEN BAY, Wis. — Spots are still available for the annual event that highlights creative thinking, collaboration and the tenacity of the participants. From 5 p.m. Jan. 30 to 5 p.m. Feb. 1, Green Bay will again host a site for the international Global Game Jam or GGJ. In this annual event, developers and enthusiasts of all skill levels collaborate to make original games over 48 hours.

Currently, Green Bay is the second-largest site in the United States, behind New York University, with more than 30 registered participants.

Organizing his eighth GGJ event, E-Line Media Principal Engineer and University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Professor Ben Geisler brings veteran game developer experience and creative edge to each event. “I work with a team of game developers of all disciplines: art, programming, audio, design, writing,” he said. “So much of what we do is captured in these game jams. It’s here that we learn how to work with people with diverse approaches and perspectives.”

UW-Green Bay alumnus Josh Wilger, a 2022 computer science graduate, credits game jams with helping bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world game development. For Wilger, the most rewarding part of the experience is “the intensity and collaboration between game developers and hobbyists with the same passion for enjoying and collaborating through games.”

He notes that while many participants arrive with friends or classmates from UW-Green Bay, the jam also creates natural opportunities to expand professional networks.

“If you have a group of gaming friends, bring them along for a weekend of intense fun and come out of the event with your very own game and new game development skills,” Wilger said, adding that the shared language of games makes it easy to connect with new collaborators and discuss career paths within the game industry.

For students and emerging professionals alike, he sees game jams as an accessible, welcoming entry point into both creative collaboration and industry-focused skill building.

Hosting the event will be the Greater Green Bay Chamber and The Urban Hub in downtown Green Bay, a coworking and programming space for creative entrepreneurs.

“We are grateful to again partner with the Urban Hub and the Greater Green Bay Chamber,” GGJ co-organizer and UW-Green Bay Professor Kris Purzycki said. “It’s an ideal space for teams and individuals to collaborate on projects.”

Sponsoring this year’s Global Game Jam is the UW-Green Bay’s Center for Games and Interactive Media, or CGIM. CGIM Co-director Jaye Case is looking forward to seeing the games students create.

“Global Game Jam is such a blast! The Green Bay community is extremely supportive and welcoming, and it’s a great environment for people who haven’t participated in a game jam before to try something new,” Case said. “Every year we have groups that create digital games as well as board and tabletop roleplaying games, so don’t let a lack of coding experience stop you from joining in!”

After being the largest GGJ site in Wisconsin last year, organizers expect an even larger turnout in 2026. Registration is required to participate, and Green Bay is expected to host more than 50 jammers this year.

“I can’t speak enough for how crucial it is to attend game jams,” Geisler said. “The fact we have this opportunity in little Green Bay is amazing.”