IBA Game Jam 2025 Season 4 Inspires CS Freshman Students
October 03-05, 2025: The School of Mathematics and Computer Science (SMCS) at IBA Karachi, in collaboration with The Games Collective and Takhleeq Business Incubator, successfully hosted Season 4 of “Out of Thin Air: IBA Game Jam”, a three-day creative challenge designed exclusively for first-year Computer Science students.
The event gave the freshmen an opportunity to ideate, brainstorm, and be creative and innovative as they took on the game development challenge. Participants were introduced to design thinking principles, learned to ship and demonstrate products in under 72 hours, and practiced incorporating real-time feedback while connecting with industry experts and mentors.
Day 1: Kick-off Orientation
The event began at the G&T Auditorium, where 50 teams gathered for the three-day challenge. Jawwad Farid set the tone with a focus on innovation and teamwork, followed by Yaser Amir Awan and his team briefing participants. The theme “Karachi” was unveiled, sparking excitement.
Day 2: Development, Mentorship & Midway Check-in
Teams spent the day transforming their ideas into prototypes, working late to refine designs and mechanics. Mentors visited teams for one-on-one feedback, guiding them on gameplay, user experience, and design coherence, an invaluable highlight for students.
Day 3: Final Presentations, Judging & Celebration
Teams showcased their games before a jury of SMCS faculty and industry leaders including Jehan Ara, Imran Azhar, Imran Khan, Irfan Kheiri, Shahid Mustafa, and Arslan Khatri. After evaluating 50 games, winners were announced at an award ceremony celebrating creativity, collaboration, and innovation.
The event concluded with an award ceremony, celebrating not only the winners but all participants for their enthusiasm, collaboration, and commitment to innovation.
Highlights from the Winning Teams
Karachi Grid Wars – Winner
Karachi Grid Wars is a multiplayer board game where each player leads a gang vying for control over Karachi. The 7x6 grid represents city territories, with “Jugaar” tiles introducing random Karachi-themed events that influence gameplay. Points are earned through territorial expansion and strategic card use.
Machera Mania – 1st Runner-up
A fast-paced fishing game played on a board with rods. Players earn or lose points by catching different objects from the “sea,” including fish, jellyfish, and garbage items that introduce an element of luck. The competitive twist allows players to sabotage others, making it both strategic and fun.
Manzil-e-Karachi – 2nd Runner-up
A strategy-based survival board game that mirrors the everyday challenges of Karachi life. Players navigate through obstacles such as traffic, rain, and police checks while managing energy levels and resources. The ultimate goal: to survive the chaos and make it back home victorious.
Batti Gul – 4th Runner-up
A competitive card-based board game where players represent different city districts, each with unique goals. Inspired by UNO, players draw and play cards strategically to complete their objectives while following detailed game rules and flow mechanics.
Chakkar – 5th Runner-up
A multiplayer travel-themed board game where players race from the airport through Karachi’s intricate roads, completing a bucket list of destinations before returning to the airport. The design draws from Karachi’s iconic truck art and city map complexity.
