The first-ever Grit System Game Jam is open
Game designers are invited to create new TTRPGs and adventures using the Grit System this summer, with cash prizes and a publication offer on the line
The Stillfleet Studio announces the first-ever Grit System Game Jam and celebrates Stillfleet’s debut on Worlds Beyond Number
PHILADELPHIA, PA, June, 2026 — The Stillfleet Studio, indie publisher of Stillfleet, Blister Critters, Danse Macabre, and other tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs), is proud to announce the first-ever Grit System Game Jam—an open design competition inviting game creators of all experience levels to build new games, adventures, and supplements using the Studio’s signature Grit System rules engine. The jam runs through August 25, 2026, on itch.io.
The announcement comes as the Studio’s flagship game, Stillfleet, is reaching new audiences through its use in Solari, the latest campaign of Worlds Beyond Number—one of the most acclaimed actual-play podcasts in the hobby, featuring Brennan Lee Mulligan, Erika Ishii, Aabria Iyengar, and Lou Wilson, with music by long-time Studio collaborator Will Savino.
Stillfleet also powered the acclaimed Float City arc of Fun City, the actual-play podcast produced by Fortunate Horse. Float City introduced Stillfleet to a devoted audience and helped establish the game’s reputation for supporting rich, character-driven, sci-fi storytelling.
About the Jam
The Grit System Game Jam is open to all game designers, from first-timers to seasoned veterans. Participants may create entirely new Grit System-powered games, expand existing titles in the Stillfleet Studio catalogue, or design individual mechanical additions such as powers, items, or character sheets. Entries can be as short as a single page, and the Studio offers commercial-friendly third-party licensing for all of their games. The jam is co-promoted by Plus One Experience.
A panel of five special guest judges from across the indie TTRPG community—Lauren Bilanko, Kayla Dice, Daniel Kwan, Sam Sorensen, and Arthur Wells—will evaluate all entries and award prizes across seven categories, including Best Visual Design, Most Creative Writing, and Best Overall Entry. The top prize includes $50 cash, a publication offer as an official physical/digital zine (up to 24 pages, A5), and digital copies of every Stillfleet Studio core rulebook.
“The Grit System is fast to learn, narrative-focused, and highly extensible: it’s built to be hacked,” says Studio founder, Wythe Marschall. “We can’t wait to see what the community builds.”
About the judges
The jam’s entries will be evaluated by five guest judges:
- Lauren Bilanko, owner of Twenty Sided Store and creator of games and interactive experiences including the recent divination parlor game/storytelling tool, Mystic Aether: Reverie
- Kayla Dice, London-based writer and artist known for emotionally charged RPGs (Psychodungeon, Follow Me in the Night, Out of the Fold, and others) and the winner of a 2023 Diana Jones Emerging Designer Award
- Daniel Kwan, Canadian game designer, cultural consultant, and co-host of the Asians Represent! podcast, whose credits span Avatar Legends, Candlekeep Mysteries, and multiple ENnie Award wins
- Sam Sorensen, New York-based RPG writer (Empire of Hatred, Seas of Sand, and many others), editor, and graphic designer
- Arthur Wells, prolific actual-play performer and game designer (Dying of the Light, Something of the Light) whose work focuses on the bonds that connect us all
About the Grit System
The Grit System is a story-forward, rules set designed for accessible, dramatic play. Characters’ stats are represented by different dice types, and players roll 6 or above to succeed. A shared resource called grit can be spent to boost rolls or activate special powers—putting meaningful narrative authority in players’ hands. The system powers Stillfleet, Blister Critters, Danse Macabre: Medieval Horror Roleplaying, PICARO!, The Sometimes Kingdom, ULTRADELVE, and other adventure games.
The Grit System SRD is available for free on itch.io, and the third-party licensing is open and creator-friendly. Submissions to the Grit System Game Jam 2026 are open now through August 25, 2026.
Join the jam: itch.io/jam/grit-system-game-jam-2026
Learn more: stillfleet.com
Join the community: discord.stillfleet.com
Stillfleet is also available on Alchemy VTT, the cinematic virtual tabletop platform built for immersive, story-driven play.
