Puzzle Masters Hackathon 2026 — ₹1,700 Prize Pool for Student Game Devs — Frequently Asked Questions

It is a national hackathon run by Gamnexis that challenges students to create a puzzle game. You begin with an idea and a presentation deck, and if you are shortlisted you go on to deliver a real, playable game. The whole thing is hosted on the official Unstop event page.

The prize money totals ₹1,700. The winner takes ₹1,000 in cash plus a Winner Certificate, the runner-up receives ₹500 with a Runner-up Certificate, and third place gets ₹200 with a Second Runner-up Certificate. Certificates for Best AI Game, Best Mobile Game and Best UI & UX are also given out, and every eligible participant who finishes the hackathon receives a digital participation certificate.

Any student enrolled in a college in India can enter, no matter which subject they are studying — all academic disciplines are welcome. Beginners and experienced developers are treated the same, so you do not need a portfolio to apply.

Both options work. You can compete individually or join a group of no more than five members.

No. This is a student game-building contest rather than a government startup scheme, and the entry requirements rest on being a college student in India. No DPIIT or MSME paperwork is asked for.

No. The rewards are competition prizes and certificates, so there is no investment and no equity or stake is taken in your project.

Round 1 submissions are due by 15 August 2026. Registration is free, and you submit your idea presentation through the official Unstop event page for the event. Shortlisted teams are then notified to move ahead to Round 2.

A presentation that covers your game's title, the problem statement, the concept, gameplay mechanics, the target audience, core features, the game flow, UI/UX mock-ups, the technology stack you intend to use and your development roadmap. It is assessed on originality, feasibility, creativity and the quality of the presentation itself.

Shortlisted teams must build and submit a functional game as an APK, web build or desktop build, together with a GitHub repository, a demo video of 2–5 minutes, a final presentation, README documentation and the game assets. The game needs to be stable and playable, and it must contain the features you proposed in Round 1.

Final judging is weighted: innovation and originality count for 25%, gameplay experience 25%, technical implementation 20%, UI/UX design 15%, creativity 10% and presentation and documentation 5%.