Finished my Brainstorming and started to code, honestly the theme was my least favorite of all the final ones, but I think it will work out.

I think I'm going with Death for a Day as it seems to be the easiest to create and while I have joined three jams before I have never actually finished one, though it is admittedly the least interesting theme.

basic idea is a turnbased/gridbased puzzle game where you move around a map and reap souls while staying out of line of site of other reapers (hopefully time to create multiple types with different mechanics).

Ideas for 'Delay the Inevitable' theme

• Turn based strategy game where every map would eventually end in defeat, but you can retreat after gathering what resources you can, resources to use on the next map. Think FTL x Into the Breach.
• Shop manager sim (think Recettear X Stardew Valley?), where the ever increasing loan payments will eventually bankrupt you and force you to sell the shop, keep your dream alive as long as possible.
• Dystopic future where most people are plugged into a matrix style sim by choice. Try to hold out and live in the real world for as long as possible. Life sim where certain activities increase your happiness meter, if the meter hits zero you give up and join the VR world. Items break after so many uses so you will always give up in the end.
• You are the evil lord and the prophecy foretells of you fall. You cannot avoid the prophecy but perhaps it can be delayed. How?
• Evil Empire Management sim (Might be same as above). Every thing passes, even the Eternal Empire which has cast it's shadow over the world for as long as any can remember. You must ensure the hero never arises to overthrow your rule, by ensuring all citizens of your empire are content so none see themselves as the hero of legend. Build Schools and well funded Orphanages, etc to keep anyone from having a backstory tragic enough for them to become the hero.
• Death comes for us all, he cannot be avoid, he cannot be outrun, but he can be bargained with.
  • Do deaths job for him, each day you complete his tasks in time you get to live for another day, but you can't let the other reapers catch on. (This may be the easiest idea to create during jam, could be turn based puzzle game.)
  • The price is high to stay the hand of death and it grows high with each day.
• Card battler where you start with your whole deck, go for a high score and see how many opponents you can beat before you lose or run out of cards.
• Nature vs Industry, delay the inevitable march of progress.