Russian interactive fiction winter jam 2025

The annual Russian interactive fiction winter jam has begun.

We accept any original IF games in Russian, as well as translations of games into Russian that have not been published before.

Application deadline: until February 22, 2025 (inclusive).

Detailed rules and submission form on the contest website: https://zok.ifiction.ru (the site is in Russian for now).

Our Discord: discord.gg/mkdqgj3dam (channel #зок)

We’re not as big and serious as IFcomp. But I’m working on it (^-^).

I’ll list the main points below.

Requirements for games:

  • The game must be in Russian, or have it as one of the possible languages to choose from in the game.
  • Game must not have been published elsewhere before the jam games are published.
  • The game must be complete and passable.
  • The game must be free.

Additional requirements for translations:

  • The translation must be done for the first time. That is, the game has never been translated by anyone else.
  • Translations of your own games are not allowed.

The winners of the jam are determined by a jury consisting of experienced/known authors/game developers and members of the Russian interactive fiction community.

Main prize fund:

  • 1st place - 16,000 rubles. (~160$)
  • 2nd place - 12 000 rubles. (~120$)
  • 3rd place - 7 000 rubles. (~70$)
  • The prize of audience sympathy - 10 000 rubles.(~100$) (The best game according to the players’ vote)

There are also additional nominations with prizes with special conditions:

  • 1000 rubles (~10$) to each parser game in Russian (not translation). If there will be 5 or more parser games in the contest, the game that takes the highest place in the players’ voting will receive an additional 5000 rubles (~50$).
  • 3000 rubles (~30$) will get the translation, which will take the highest place in the vote of players (if the translation will not be the only one in the contest).
  • 3000 rubles for the best game on FireURQ as voted by the players.
  • 200 euros(€) for the best text-based RPG as voted by the jury (Additional requirements: open world and original/unusual mechanics).
  • The best QSP game according to voted by the jury will earn 5000 rubles, and the author will receive a personalized souvenir from the Netherlands from the creator of QSP (Byte).

So if you know Russian or are studying it, I invite you to take part in our jam.

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Jam News.

We already have the first two entries with games: on QSP and on Twine (the entries are still being checked).

Big replenishment of the prize fund!

The total prize fund has been replenished by 5000 rubles.

So now we have:
1st place - 16,000 rubles. (~160$)
2nd place - 12 000 rubles. (~120$)
3rd place - 7 000 rubles. (~70$)
The prize of audience sympathy - 10 000 rubles.(~100$) (The best game according to the players’ vote)

There are two additional nominations:
3,000 rubles for the best game on FireURQ by players’ vote.

200 euros for the best text RPG as voted by the jury (Additional requirements: open world and original/unusual mechanics).

The first post has been changed to the actual numbers.

See prize page for details.

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You’ve got us there, Enola, I’m already raising heads. Hope we’ll add up our tiny bit to your event.

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Я изучаю русский язык! Мне очень заинтересовывает. Но я ещё изучаю начинающие уроки русского языка поэтому я наверное буду играть игры сделано другими людьми.

Удачи, всем!


I’m studying Russian! I’m very interested. But I’m still studying beginner Russian lessons so I will probably play other people’s games.

Good luck, everyone!

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Don’t worry, Tracey, my students are also just beginners and I hope they will participate.

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Потом может быть я буду сделать тоже :open_mouth:


Then maybe I’ll do it too

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From 16 December our team is organising a micro jumble - for the first time both in English and in Russian - where you write a micro game on a set topic. The result will be an antology of microgames - quite basic language and playable under one minute. We will forward the antology as a single entry to ZOK. You can check our website just to feel the difficulty.

Stay in touch if you feel like joining in :slight_smile:

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Glad to hear it. It’s a good practice for learning the language.

Well, maybe some of the games made by native speakers will be difficult to translate. There are lots of slang and unusual phrases. So, sometimes rather easier write your own game on Twine than read others works.

If you need any help with our site, jam rules or your game, please, get in touch.

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Jam news.
The best QSP game according to voted by the jury will earn 5000 rubles, and the author will receive a personalized souvenir from the Netherlands from the creator of QSP (Byte).

I’ve added a page on IFWiki – Russian Interactive Fiction Winter Jam 2025 - IFWiki.

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