Turkic Game Jam: A Journey of Culture Beyond Lahmacun
Here’s a cool story, written by Murat Secilmis.
Turkic Game Jam?
In April 2025, we hosted the Turkic Game Jam – an unforgettable event in Ankara that brought together culture, creativity, and Game Dev passion across 5 countries.
But did you know… it all started with a craving for Lahmacun?
Yup. This is a 4-year journey that began with a game jam… and a longing for Turkish food.
Let’s rewind.
2021 – Ireland, Lahmacun Withdrawals & a Dream
In 2021, I moved to Ireland for 1.5 years. Before leaving, my crew and I at Boxu hosted a farewell game jam: Local Game Jam 1. That event sparked something. I promised myself there’d be a second, and it would be bigger, deeper, and rooted in culture.
I’ve always been passionate about culture, but living abroad made me truly feel its value. Culture is what defines us. Yet, I realized: our culture, our stories, our food, our values—weren’t being shared properly. We were living under the narrative of others.
So I asked: What if games could help fix that?
I’m a game developer and a sci-fi/fantasy writer of 15+ years. My stories are always rich in culture. But now, I wanted to turn my personal creative path into a collective cultural movement.
And that brings us to Local Game Jam 2—a cultural game jam… with lahmacun at its heart.
Lahmacun vs “Turkish Pizza”
While in Europe, I finally found lahmacun again. But instead of joy, I felt… disappointment. It was labeled “Turkish Pizza”. No. Just no. Lahmacun is not pizza. And guess who was calling it that? Our own people. That’s when it hit me—marketing is part of culture, and we’re getting it wrong.
So, pizza got demoted. Lahmacun got promoted. And for Local Game Jam 2, lahmacun became the official event food.
I even wrote a piece called “Thoughts on Lahmacun”, reflecting on its shape, its spirit, its potential as a symbol. Yes, it was crunchy. Yes, it was a logistics nightmare. But it was worth it.
From Istanbul to Baku: A Bigger Vision
Before leaving Ireland, I set my sights on Local Game Jam 3—this time in Baku. I had never been to Azerbaijan, but it always had a place in my heart. That’s when we connected with Gamepons and my brother-in-arms Vusal Karimli.
We planned remotely. By March, I was in Baku, welcomed warmly by the Ministry of Culture. Deputy Minister Saadat Yusifova hosted us to discuss how games and culture can walk hand in hand.
And then—Nowruz came. I extended my trip by 15 days, working remotely from Gamepons’ office and experiencing my first Nowruz in Azerbaijan. The giant shekerbura, the fire-jumping, the traditions—it was magical.
A Game Jam Across Borders
We wanted to host the next event, but COP29 arrived in Baku. So, we pivoted—Uzbekistan next, Baku to follow. Everyone we spoke to was incredibly open and welcoming.
We’ve now done over 20+ meetings across countries. A heartfelt, collaborative vision emerged:
A single spark from Turkey echoed across Turkic lands. Culture was meeting games.
We’re now planning a simultaneous game jam across 4 Turkish cities, Baku, and Tashkent, ending with a grand finale in Sivas. All under one banner: Turkic Game Jam.
Turkic Game Jam Türkiye – April 11–13, 2025
Fast-forward to this year’s event in Ankara, hosted at THK & Orion Tekmer, with 50 participants in 14 teams. Our theme: Turkish Mythology & Stories.
The excitement was palpable. Even those unfamiliar with mythology walked away with new curiosity. For those already passionate—it was electrifying.
To elevate the experience, we turned the venue into a real-life RPG. Our team launched in-die Valley: The IRL Game Jam RPG. Complete quests from NPCs in costume, win rewards, and experience the jam like never before.
We even had lahmacun and a mock “sıra gecesi” night, complete with live musicians and cover songs. Participants interacted with the “Bir Dost” NPC for side-quests and earned real rewards.
The vibe was real. The warmth was real. Culture wasn’t just a theme—it was alive.
The Winners (And the Baby Dervishes)
🏆 Best Overall – Team URUK
Kam As You Are – a beautifully artistic narrative game reminiscent of Do No Harm.
Umut Ezel Soylu, Batuhan Demirci, Firuza Rahimova, Sude Kaplan
🎭 Best Cultural Theme – Click Games
İz Bitik – an homage to cultural legacy with emotional depth.
🎮 Best Game Design – Corvine Games
Söz – a Stardew-like game exploring the power of words and heritage, with impressive narrative integration.
🕹️ Best Game Mechanics – Mylde
40 Doors, 40 Mistakes – a Phasmophobia-inspired co-op horror, built in 48 hours and ready for Steam. Yes, really.
🎨 Best Art – JamJam
Escape From IdleGenecon – visually stunning, with top-notch style and cohesion.
💻 Boxu Special Award – Team TöreDot
Built entirely with open-source software on Pardus, these two non-devs brought heart, determination, and a whole vibe.
Next Stop: Baku – October 2025
Winners from all five countries will meet in Baku this October to compete, showcase their projects, and possibly connect with investors. Over the next 5 months, they’ll continue developing their games—embedding culture into every line of code.
This was just the beginning. Turkic Game Jam is evolving into a cultural tradition. Each year, the final will rotate between countries.
And now? We’re starting preparations for our next big move:
🎮 in-die Valley Week
A full week celebrating indie creators, community, and culture.
We’re turning in-die Valley into an indie social platform—currently 93% complete. What started as internal tools is becoming a platform for all.
Huge thanks to the team:
Fatih Candan, Yasin Özçelik, Ahmet Faruk Uzunkaya, Oğuzhan Şerefoğlu, Oğuzkaan Ekmekçi, and Cey Lazuli for making it all come to life.
And to our incredible partners and sponsors:
HUNGAMES, THK & Orion Tekmer, BYTE, Gamegine, Khan’s Workshop, Tekden Studio, Core Engage, and OSE – Oyun Sektörü Etkinlikleri.
Let’s keep building.
Lahmacun was just the beginning. 🥙🔥
Turks make games now. And we’re just getting started.
