Theme voting is here! That means that we get our chance to say what themes we most want. This can be hard though, especially when you don't even understand a theme on the list. The Ludum Dare community has a large number of non-native English speakers who might have a hard time with themes that were written largely with English in mind. And some of the themes can just be confusing. I'm here to help you figure them out and connect the themes to cultural ideas that you might not be aware of. This is all just to help everyone out in figuring out what theme to vote for. This list can help everyone, especially if you're wondering "why would anyone choose this theme?" This list simply gives people a better idea about each theme. Some of these meanings might seem simple or pointless, but if they help anyone then that's all that matters.
This is for round 1! Click here for Round 2. Click here for Round 3.
What are these themes?
Here are the themes we're voting on in round 1! The themes are alphabetized and contain as much as I can think of that will help you understand the idea. Some of these have an "Other meanings" which are times when I want to let you know about cultural references, weird meanings for words in the theme, or little changes you can make to the theme. These are not the only interpretations of the themes, these are just examples I came up with to help you get started with making your own interpretations.
A light in the dark
Meaning: When it is too dark, we need light to be able to see. When people say "a light in the dark" they usually mean a small light that offers just enough light to see, like a candle. Other times, they mean a light that you can see from far away. In this case, the light guides you through the darkness.
Other meanings: Light doesn't always have to be an actual light. It can be a feeling of happiness and hope. The dark also doesn't have to be literal darkness. It can be a difficult time like after the loss of a loved one or during an oppressive rule.
Death helps you
Meaning: When you die in most games, you lose progress. This theme wants you to make a game where dying helps someone. This could be as simple as dying giving the player more information for next time (Dark Souls does this). It could also be that dying is actually the way to move forward in your game.
Other meanings: In fiction and folklore, Death is the name of a creature that rules over the dying. The Grim Reaper is another name for this creature. Many cultures have a version of Death in their folklore. For this theme, this means that you can have the creature Death helping the player out along the way. Also, "you" in this theme doesn't have to be the player. It could be someone the player interacts with instead. "You" can also be general, meaning that this theme could be read as "Death helps everyone".
Déjà vu
Meaning: Déjà vu is feeling like you have already done something. When you have déjà vu, you feel like something you are doing is very familiar, like it happened before or in a dream. The term is French and it means "already seen". At its most basic form, déjà vu is about experiencing something for the second time.
Other meanings: One of the most famous modern references to déjà vu is from The Matrix where they say that seeing something happening twice is a sign of danger. Déjà Vu is also the name of an old detective game about a loss of memory.
Everything is a weapon
Meaning: Weapons are tools use to cause harm to others, like swords and guns. This theme tells you to make a game where everything can be used to cause harm. This means that your game might have many unusual weapons.
Other meanings: A weapon is just another word for a tool that happens to cause harm. The harm that a weapon does might not be physical. An idea can be a weapon that changes someone's mind.
Floating islands
Meaning: An island is land surrounded by something, usually water. This theme suggests making a game where there are islands that float. An island can be said to float on water, or on some other liquid, like tar. A floating island might also be an island that is up in the air.
Other meanings: A raised portion of land that separates two sides of a road is called an island. You can describe anything that is by itself or alone as an island. A table or counter in the middle of a kitchen is sometimes called an island. The phrase "floating island" might describe an island where you can float.
Four elements
Meaning: Elements are substances that can be combined to make other things. In many cases, an element is not itself made of anything. This means that elements are the basic substances that are naturally found in the world.
Other meanings: "Four elements" makes reference to the four classical elements in Western mythology: earth, fire, air, and water. An element might also refer to a chemical element such as iron, or oxygen. An element can be another word for something that is part of a bigger thing. So you might have the four elements of a room, and those elements might be a bed, a chair, a dresser, and a rug. The individual parts of a web page are also called elements.
Indirect player control
Meaning: You control something by making decisions for it, such as where to move or how to act. This theme wants you to make a game where the someone controls something indirectly. This means that someone must find a way to tell something else how to act without taking control of it. You can do this by having someone give something a signal, or an instruction, or by interrupting a path. Basically, someone controls other things that can cause something else to act in different ways.
It spreads
Meaning: This theme wants you to make a game about something that spreads. When something spreads, it grows larger to fill an area. Water spreads when you dump it on the floor. Fire spreads when it finds new fuel like wood. Grass spreads when we grow it. A disease spreads when more people get sick. Gossip spreads when people talk to each other about someone else. Basically, whenever something covers a larger area, it is said to spread.
Other meanings: A "spread" is another name for a variety of similar things. For example, a spread of books would be a bunch of different books. We use the word spread when we're trying to say that there's something for everyone in a selection that we have provided. People also call any condiment a spread, like ketchup, mayonnaise, jam, or butter. You spread these condiments on food so that they cover an even surface, like spreading jam on a piece of toast. A blanket you put on top of your bed is often called a bed spread. Although spreading is about filling a space, it can also be used to describe something that has been pulled apart. You spread a loaf of bread by pulling it apart instead of cutting it.
Learn from your enemies
Meaning: When you learn something you get knowledge or skill that you didn't have before. Your enemies are people or creatures who try to keep you away from your goals. This theme wants you to make a game where someone gets knowledge or skill by interacting with their enemies.
Other meanings: In the Final Fantasy game series, this idea is called "blue magic". With blue magic, you learn a spell by getting hit by it, or by seeing it happen, or in various other ways. The important part of blue magic is that it comes from an enemy that you face in battle. Learning from your enemies is also something that happens in politics and debates where you ask a question to get information that you can use against your opponent.
Only one light source
Meaning: A light source is something that gives off light, like a candle or a light bulb. Light is what we use to see. When there is no light, then it is dark. This theme tells you to make a game about one source of light. This light source could be held by the player, or it might be placed in the game.
Other meanings: Light is also another word for happiness or good. Something is light when it is not serious. Light can also mean not heavy.
Progress will make you weaker
Meaning: When you progress, you get closer to a goal. When you get weaker, it means you are not as strong as you were before. This theme wants you to make a game about the idea that getting closer to a goal makes something weaker.
Other meanings: Weakness can also mean temptation. People are weak to something they really like because it is easy to lead them to that thing. Food is a common weakness for many people. Weakness might also mean vulnerability. Someone might become weak to something that hurts them. Losing armor makes you weak to weapons.
Same level, different challenges
Meaning: In games, a level is a part of the game where the player does something important. A challenge in a level is something that prevents the player from doing that important thing. A level can also be called an area, a scene, a map, or a stage. This theme wants you to make a game where the level doesn't change, but the challenges do.
Other meanings: A level can also be a tool to measure flat surfaces. A challenge could be a contest between people, like a cooking challenge.
Self-replication
Meaning: Self-replication means making copies of yourself. This theme wants you to make a game about something that copies itself. This could be the player, a character in the game, or something else. The idea behind this is to have many copies of the same thing in your game, and that those copies get made during play, not during design.
Other meanings: In science, self-replication is about something that can change that can make exact copies of itself at any point during its existence. Cells in the body self-replicate. Cultures attempt to self-replicate by producing children.
The environment changes you
Meaning: An environment is a place like a forest or a city. It can be another word for area. This theme wants you to make a game where being in a place causes you to change. "You" could mean the player or another creature. "You" could also be general, changing the theme to "The environment changes everyone".
Other meanings: "The environment" is what we call the general idea of the well-being of the planet. In this meaning we're talking about all the natural parts of the world. When the environment changes, we see many natural disasters. An environment might also be a culture. The "office environment" is the culture at a particular office.
Unusual magic
Meaning: Magic is something that breaks the rules of the world to do something, like controlling someone's mind or making a fire appear in your hand. When something is unusual it means that it doesn't appear the same as we expect it. This theme is asking you to make a game about magic that isn't what we expect magic to be. Most people only know magic from games, books, and films. Magic that is unusual will be used to do things that magic isn't usually used for. It might also be that the magic looks very strange.
Other meanings: Stage magic is a kind of performance where someone tricks people into thinking something has happened when it actually has not. Stage magicians use mirrors, lights, and wires to do many of their tricks. This kind of magic is about making people believe that one thing has happened, when another thing has instead. A famous magic trick was making an entire train car look like it had disappeared.
You are the weapon
Meaning: Weapons are tools use to cause harm to others, like swords and guns. This theme tells you to make a game where someone is the weapon, not an object. This could mean that the player acts as a weapon, or another character acts as a weapon. It could even be that the player controls a weapon, instead of controlling a person.
Other meanings: A weapon is just another word for a tool that happens to cause harm. The harm that a weapon does might not be physical. An idea can be a weapon that changes someone’s mind.
Happy Voting!
I hope these explanations help you decide which themes to vote for! The list can also help you think up ideas when the final theme is chosen. Have a happy Dare, and let's go make some games!