13 tiny and terrific entries from the js13kGames competition
If you think about it, 13kB isn’t really a lot. The image above is 81kB. This page weighs over 3MB (waaay more if you include the videos). That’s why it’s…
If you think about it, 13kB isn’t really a lot. The image above is 81kB. This page weighs over 3MB (waaay more if you include the videos). That’s why it’s so incredibly impressive that the following developers were actually able to build something in just 13 kilobytes. 🤯
This year’s js13kGames competition theme was SPACE, and that prompted many clones of Asteroids and Space Invaders (some with major twists in gameplay), perplexing puzzle games using and abusing empty space, and games that required, well, a lot of mashing the SPACE bar! You’ll see lots of variety in gameplay, interpretations of the theme, and an incredible amount of talent on display when you scroll down.
In no particular order, here are a few of my favorite entries from this year, plus some short video clips to pique your interest:
Space Huggers
“It’s roguelike Broforce in 13kb and that’s marvelous!” – @kesiev
Space Block Invaders
“Technically it’s impressive, great graphics.” – @robertocapuano
Q1K3
“No words!! This is a great technical achievement! Awesome! I’ve never expected that a js13k game could give me a jump scare!” – @agar3s
Did you know: You can read about out how @phoboslab created this masterpiece in their “making of” blog post.
The Adventures of Captain Callisto
“Awesome. Everything is so smooth. Level design is fun and ramps up nicely. The jetpack animation on level complete was surprisingly delightful.” – @leimapapa
Hit the space!
“Very beautiful, and the gameplay is hard but well executed and fun!” – @gagamoto
Black Hole Square
“Beautiful presentation. Clever puzzle design. Great use of sound!” – @codyebberson
Tenacity
“Great graphics and nice level design!” – @xem
Safe Space
“The theme is dealt with with great originality. The graphics are great, the audio is good. Putting a 13k platform is technically great.” – @robertocapuano
Galaxy Rider
“It had that classic Free Rider feeling. Very cool! Love the physics puzzles.” – @joseprio
Beat Rocks
“What a fantastic spin on a classic. Great music.” – @Rybar
PACKABUNCHAS
“I was really blown away when I first played this. So cute and polished. Congrats!” – @ckolin
Space Garden
“Very clever entry, loved the pixel art graphics, the dithering is cool. Nice music, the controls and player movement are smooth and pretty unique. Great entry!” – @tyler6699
The Maze of Space Goblins
“A solid entry! played 15 levels and still amused about every new mechanic introduced in the game.” – @agar3s
Those are just a few of my favorites. Be sure to check out the complete list of entries–ranked and rated by the developers themselves on the js13k website.
Huuuge thank you to @end3r for organizing yet another incredible jam, all of the judges, and everyone who took time to build, play, rate, and review the entries. <3
Pst! Ever wanted to create your own game? GitHub Game Off is just a few weeks away, and that’s a perfect excuse to build your first or fortieth game. Join now!
Tags:
Written by
Related posts
Building beyond the browser: Keeley Hammond on Electron, open source, and the future of maintainership
Learn what it really takes to sustain one of the web’s most widely used frameworks on this episode of the GitHub Podcast.
Using AI to map hope for refugees with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency
With the help of GitHub, UNHCR turned drone imagery into maps — helping refugees in Kakuma and Kalobeyei build sustainable, powered communities.
What’s next for Git? 20 years in, the community is still pushing forward
Git Merge 2025 isn’t just about celebrating 20 years of Git – it’s about what comes next. In this post, we’re highlighting some of the talks and speakers shaping Git’s future, from performance wins and new backends to surprising use cases and the impact of AI coding agents.