It's been a few months since the GMTK game jam, but you know, better late than never. The 2026 GMTK game jam was the largest one ever, even the largest jam of the year, with over ten thousand submissions. Participants were able to rate each other's projects based on Creativity, Enjoyment, Narrative, Artwork, and Audio, and the jam's host Mark would choose his favorite submissions to showcase from the highest rated submissions. Check out Mark's favorite submissions from the jam here.

I didn't play any of the top rated games. I wanted to focus on rating games that were about as popular as my own submission, which was very, very, very far down the list. Of course, just because they weren't popular doesn't mean they weren't amazing. Here are four hidden gems from the GMTK game jam that I think deserve more attention:

#1 Goblin Rocket Science

by Lemur Squad

The goal is simple– build a rocket that can make it to the stars! The problem– you've got to build that rocket out of trash. Goblin Rocket Science is a quick and simple game about balancing your budget and engineering skill, but it's fantastic art style and funny vocalizations raise it to the next level.

Play Goblin Rocket Science here!

#2 Tryal Again

by ikonic and Nastyfox

After getting yourself trapped in Hell, you meet a surely very trustworthy devil that definitely wants to help you escape. You can escape Hell by navigating an obstacle course six time, though each time the devil steals a part of your body, forcing you to find a new solution to each problem. Tryal Again offers some genuinely fun puzzles that make you feel so smart once you solve them.

Play Tryal Again here!

#3 Down For The Count

by Tsea200 and Snowballtheanvil

It's the greatest of all tragedies– the man you love is getting married to someone else. Thankfully, you have the opportunity to sabotage your rival and win the Count's heart yourself. Down for the Count offers a pleasant romance story with a great twist, and plenty of humor that I really enjoyed.

Play Down for the Count here!

#4 Sixty Seconds to Spaghettification

by Guilherme Yuri Bermeo

You're spaceship is damaged and falling into a black hole. Make repairs to the ship by completing minigames, and if you do it fast enough you can escape certain ennoodlement. This game offers a challenging time trial that speedrunners will love, and the visual effect of approaching the black hole is great.

Play Sixty Seconds to Spaghettification here!