Please note that if there is any inconsistency between the FAQ below and the Official Rules, the Official Rules will prevail.
General
- Do I retain ownership of my designs after the competition?
Yes. You retain ownership of the designs you create. See the official competition rules for full terms regarding intellectual property. - What is the Meta Horizon Creator Competition: Game Design?
This is a competition that challenges creators to design a production-ready mobile game from the ground up. Choose one of three genres, submit a complete design package through Devpost, and compete for your share of $250,000 in prizes. - What is the overall schedule for the competition?
Registration Opens: May 28, 2026
Competition Start: June 8, 2026, 10:00 AM PST
Competition Submission Period: June 8, 2026, 10:00 AM PST – June 22, 2026, 6:00 PM PST
Judging Period: June 23, 2026, 10:00 AM PST – July 7, 2026, 11:45 PM PST
Winners Announced: On or after July 10, 2026 - What is the prize pool for this competition?
The total prize pool for this competition is $250,000. - How many prizes will be awarded?
We will be awarding 22 prizes. - What does the distribution of prizes for the categories look like?
There are 3 genre categories which will have 1st, 2nd, 3rd place, and two honorable mentions (5 winners per genre). We also have two special award categories: Best Visual Direction and Most Innovative Design. - What are the three genres I can choose from?
Survival & Resource Management: Design systems where players gather, craft, and survive escalating threats. Subgenre variations include idle survival, roguelike survival, horror survival, crafting sandbox, base-building, and exploration survival.
Simulation & Management: Design repeating invest-harvest-upgrade loops with visible growth. Subgenre variations include farming sim, idle tycoon, restaurant/shop management, city builder, cozy sim, collection game, and breeding/evolution sim.
Tower Defense & Strategy: Design defensive systems with unit variety, escalation, and economy. Subgenre variations include lane TD, grid TD, auto-battler, real-time strategy, castle defense, horde survival, and merge defense.
NOTE: Genre hybrids are welcome. Entries are judged based on the genre selected during the submission process.
Eligibility
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Do I have to be a member of the Meta Horizon Creator Program (MHCP) to participate in the competition?
Yes. To be eligible to submit an entry and win a prize, you must be a member in good standing of the Meta Horizon Creator Program (MHCP), in eligible regions and have joined on or before June 1, 2026. -
I'm not part of the Meta Horizon Creator Program (MHCP). What are my options?
You can enroll in the Meta Horizon Creator Program (MHCP) here. While you will not be eligible for this competition if you signed up after June 1st, 2026, it may make you eligible for future competitions.
Entries
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Can I submit a design that I've previously entered in another competition?
No. Your entry must be your original work. It cannot have been previously entered into any other challenge, sweepstakes, promotion, or competition. -
Can I submit more than one entry?
No. Each creator can only submit one entry. For the avoidance of doubt, an entry is submitted by an individual on their own behalf or as a team representative. Participation as part of a group does not constitute submitting an entry, as each submission must have a single creator as the author and prize recipient. -
Can I work with others on my entry?
Collaborative efforts are permitted; however, the person who submits the entry acts as the team representative and remains the exclusive recipient of any awarded prize.
Note: Participation is limited to one entry per creator, whether they are acting as an individual or as a team representative. -
What if two people submit very similar designs?
If the exact same design is submitted by multiple creators, all duplicate entries will be disqualified except the first one received. Inspiration from the same genre conventions is fine; submitting another creator's work is not. -
Can my entry win multiple prizes?
No, an entry can only win one prize.
What to Submit
- What should I submit for this competition?
Submit a complete design package in one of three genres: Survival & Resource Management, Simulation & Management, or Tower Defense & Strategy. Your package includes four required artifacts:
- Game Design Document (5-7 pages, PDF): Your game concept, core loop, progression systems, retention mechanics, and design rationale.
- Player Journey Map (1-2 pages, PDF or image): A visual flowchart of the first 15 minutes of gameplay showing session beats, decision points, difficulty curve, and emotional arc.
- Visual Concept Package (up to 10 pages, PDF): Mood boards, color palettes, UI wireframes, character/world concepts, and any other visual material that communicates your game's look and feel.
- Production Plan (1-3 pages, PDF): How you'd bring this game to life. Covers build sequencing, MVP scoping, technical dependencies and testing approach.
See the Design Guidance page on our competition site for genre details and tips for creating a strong submission.
- Are there specific requirements for my entry?
Yes. Your entry must:- Include all four required artifacts
- Be submitted as four separate PDF files
- Not exceed 35 MB each
- Be in English
- Be original to the creator (or include only public domain / properly licensed content)
- Not include offensive, harmful, or illegal content
- Comply with all relevant Meta Horizon Creator Program(MHCP) and Meta policies and terms
- Can I start working on my entry before June 8?
Yes. You can begin developing your design documents as soon as you register. The submission portal opens June 8, but there is nothing preventing you from working on your artifacts before then. We encourage you to use the time between registration (May 28) and June 8 to attend Meta Horizon Creator Program (MHCP) programming sessions and develop your entry. - Can I use AI tools to create my entry?
Yes. There are no restrictions on AI usage for any artifact. The competition evaluates the quality of your game design and creative vision, regardless of the tools used to articulate it. - Is there a template for the Game Design Document?
Yes. A template will be made available on the competition site for download. You are encouraged to use it, but it is not strictly required as long as your document covers the same sections. - Is there design guidance for each genre?
Yes. You can find best practices and guidance in the Design Guidance section on the competition website. - How do I submit my entry to the competition?
To submit: Register on Devpost by going to the Devpost competition page and clicking "Join hackathon." Then complete all required fields on the "Start project" page during the submission window (June 8 – June 22). - What information do I need to include in my Devpost entry?
Entries must include:
- Game title
- Meta Horizon Creator Program (MHCP) username of the submitter
- Genre selection (Survival & Resource Management, Simulation & Management, or Tower Defense & Strategy)
- Your entry file: a PDF for each of the four artifacts (max 35 MB each)
- Brief description of your mobile game concept (2-3 sentences)
- Can I update my entry after I submit?
Yes. You can edit and resubmit as many times as you'd like before the deadline. Only your most recent submission will be judged.
Judging & Prizes
- How will winners be determined?
Entries will be reviewed through an AI-assisted ranking process and then passed to an expert human panel who will evaluate and decide the winners. Full judging criteria details are available on the rules page. - When will winners be announced?
Winners will be announced on or after July 10, 2026. Winners will be notified directly, and results will also be posted on the competition site. - How will I receive my prize money?
Prize payments will be processed through a third-party vendor. Winners will receive instructions on how to claim their prize after the announcement.
Support
- Is there programming to support me during the competition?
Yes. We'll be running Meta Horizon Creator Program (MHCP) programming throughout the competition, including mentor-led build-alongs, office hours, mini-challenges, and AI creation skills sessions. The schedule will be posted on June 1 in the Events Calendar. - Where can I ask questions during the competition?
Drop your questions in the competition channel on Discord, email Devpost via the competition page, or check this FAQ for updates.