A two-weekend global game jam exploring games that spill out into the real world. Alternative Reality Week brings together designers, artists, and curious players to create interactive experiences that blur the line between game and everyday life — think somewhere between ARGs, city games, immersive theater, and social experiments. The only rule: it can’t be purely digital. Some part of it has to happen IRL. The first weekend (Mar 21–25) is for building — solo or in teams, online or at small local meetups — followed by a second weekend (Mar 28–29) where the public can jump in and playtest the results. Expect anything from street-based quests to lo-fi interactive setups, with or without tech. Shanghai hosts a limited-capacity offline jam and play sessions; other cities and online participation are also in the mix.

More info and sign-ups can be found via their website (rect.repair/alternative reality/abort.huml) and the itch page (itch.io/jam/alternative-reality-jam), which is also where online participants can submit their projects. There’s also a Discord server (discord.gg/XWcHTZeQg4) for coordination, discussions, and finding people to play with.