Code Clutch: BVCOE's 3-Day Arcade Game Hackathon, ₹4,000 Prizes
A three-day arcade game development hackathon run by Athena at BVCOE, New Delhi, where students build meme-inspired 2D browser games for a ₹4,000 prize pool.
- Funding amount
- ₹4,000 (competition)
- Funding type
- Competition
- Application deadline
- Closed (16 Apr 2026)
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Overview
Code Clutch is a three-day hackathon run by Athena at Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Engineering (BVCOE), New Delhi, where the goal is to turn internet meme culture into small, browser-playable 2D arcade games.
Unlike a conventional coding contest, this one rewards creativity over technical showmanship. Entries are short, simple arcade titles of the kind that can be understood in seconds, and the finished games are put in front of a live audience at a public arcade exhibition held on the BVCOE campus on Day 3.
Entry is open to students from any college, not only BVCOE. You can take part on your own or as part of a team of up to four, and no prior coding or game development experience is needed, so first-time builders are as welcome as seasoned ones.
A total of ₹4,000 in cash prizes is split across the top three teams, and every winning team also receives a certificate. The hackathon runs from 12 to 17 April 2026, with the application deadline listed as 16 April 2026 and final game submissions due before 17 April 2026, 12:00 PM.
Highlights
- Three-day arcade game development hackathon organised by Athena at BVCOE, New Delhi
- Open to students from any college; enter solo or in a team of up to 4
- Build a short, browser-playable 2D arcade game with an intentional meme-inspired concept
- ₹4,000 prize pool — ₹2,000, ₹1,200 and ₹800 for the top three teams, plus certificates
- No coding or game development experience needed, and technical complexity is not judged
- Submit an HTML5 build on itch.io before 17 April 2026, 12:00 PM; at least one teammate must attend Day 3 at BVCOE
Who can apply
Code Clutch is open to students from any college — you do not need to be enrolled at BVCOE to enter.
- Team size: participate solo or as a team of up to four members.
- Experience: no prior coding or game development background is required. Beginners and experienced developers compete under the same rules, and technical complexity is not part of the scoring.
- In-person requirement: for a team to be eligible for an award, at least one member must be present at BVCOE on Day 3 for the live arcade exhibition.
- Registration: there is no DPIIT or MSME registration requirement for this competition.
Code Clutch: BVCOE's 3-Day Arcade Game Hackathon, ₹4,000 Prizes is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.
- Eligible stage
- Any stage
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Deadline & timing
The most recent application window for Code Clutch: BVCOE's 3-Day Arcade Game Hackathon, ₹4,000 Prizes closed on 16 Apr 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.
What the funding covers
Code Clutch is a prize competition rather than a grant or an investment, so the rewards are cash payouts and recognition rather than funding for a business.
The ₹4,000 total cash prize pool is distributed among the three highest-scoring teams:
- 1st place: ₹2,000
- 2nd place: ₹1,200
- 3rd place: ₹800
On top of the cash, all prize winners also receive certificates.
No equity is taken from participants and no ownership stake is claimed, since this is a student hackathon competition judged on the quality of the games submitted.
How to apply
Applications are submitted on the . Confirm the current deadline and document checklist there before you start.
Selection process
Judging takes place at the live arcade exhibition on Day 3, where the submitted games are played and scored by the organisers and by the audience in attendance.
Games are rated across four categories that together add up to 100 points:
- Meme Creativity
- Gameplay Fun
- Visual Polish
- Completeness
Final scores are a combination of organiser evaluations and live audience feedback. Technical complexity is deliberately not one of the judging criteria, so a simple idea executed well can come out on top.
To reach judging at all, a team must first submit a browser-playable HTML5 build hosted on itch.io through the official submission form, ahead of the 17 April 2026, 12:00 PM cut-off. The highest-scoring teams then take the cash prizes and certificates.
Documents you’ll need
Before you apply to Code Clutch: BVCOE's 3-Day Arcade Game Hackathon, ₹4,000 Prizes, keep the following documents ready:
- A pitch deck or short business plan describing the problem, product and traction
- Company registration documents and PAN
- Founder identification (PAN / Aadhaar) and brief profiles
- Recent financial statements or projections
- Product details — a demo, prototype or working link if available
Exact requirements are confirmed on the official application portal — treat this as a preparation checklist.
Who this is best for
Code Clutch: BVCOE's 3-Day Arcade Game Hackathon, ₹4,000 Prizes is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹4,000. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.
Frequently asked questions
What is Code Clutch?
Code Clutch is a three-day arcade game development hackathon organised by Athena at Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Engineering (BVCOE), New Delhi. Participants build small 2D arcade games inspired by internet meme culture, and the event finishes with a public arcade exhibition at BVCOE where those games are played, judged and rated by both the organisers and the audience. Students from any college can take part.
How much prize money does Code Clutch offer?
The total cash prize pool is ₹4,000, shared among the top three teams. The 1st place team receives ₹2,000, 2nd place receives ₹1,200, and 3rd place receives ₹800. Every prize-winning team also gets a certificate.
Who is eligible to participate in Code Clutch?
Any student from any college can enter, not just students of BVCOE. You can participate individually or as part of a team of up to four members. To be eligible for an award, at least one member of the team has to attend Day 3 in person at BVCOE.
Do I need coding or game development experience to join?
No. No prior game development or coding experience is required, and beginners are explicitly welcome. Technical complexity is not a judging criterion either, so the scoring is driven by your idea, how fun the game is, how it looks and whether it feels finished.
What kind of game am I supposed to build?
You need to create a short, browser-playable 2D arcade game. The organisers give examples such as an endless runner, a flappy-style game, a dodger, a clicker, a platformer or a top-down avoider. The core concept must revolve around a recognisable and intentional meme reference — either an existing meme or an original idea of your own. More detailed guidelines are set out in the official rulebook.
What is the deadline, and how do I apply?
The application deadline is listed as 16 April 2026, and the hackathon itself runs from 12 to 17 April 2026. Finished games must be submitted before 17 April 2026, 12:00 PM. Registration and submission both go through the official Code Clutch listing on Unstop.
What do I need to submit for judging?
Each entry must be a browser-playable HTML5 build uploaded to itch.io and submitted through the official form. A submission requires a working itch.io link, a game title with a short description, and an AI tool disclosure.
How are the games judged?
Games are scored across four categories worth 100 points in total: Meme Creativity, Gameplay Fun, Visual Polish and Completeness. The final score combines organiser evaluations with live audience feedback gathered during the Day 3 exhibition. Technical complexity is explicitly not part of the judging.
Does someone from my team have to be present at BVCOE?
Yes, if you want to be considered for an award. At least one member of each team must attend Day 3 in person at BVCOE, where the live public arcade exhibition is held. Solo participants need to attend themselves.
Is DPIIT or MSME registration needed, and does Code Clutch take equity?
Neither is required. Code Clutch is a student hackathon competition, so there is no DPIIT or MSME registration condition, and no equity or ownership stake is taken from participants. Winners simply receive their cash prizes and certificates.
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