If you want to know why something matters, you have to rewind to the part where it all went off the rails. That’s why I cornered Zophar, CobraCommanda, and Neon_Arcade for Dank Zine Issue 75, and why I’m dragging you into this now. Jankuary is back. Again. Hide your good games.
It all started as a joke about playing Virtual Hydlide, but it grew into a week-long Twitch event with over 120 streamers. Everyone joined in because they love weird, broken, and frustrating games, and nobody wanted to take it too seriously. There were no charity goals, no strict schedules, and no raid trains. People just showed up, played what they liked, and had fun together.
We talk about how Jankuary started, why having a loose structure worked, and how accepting mistakes made everything better. When things went wrong, no one freaked out- they just laughed and kept going. This made the event welcoming, especially for smaller streamers and people who hadn’t streamed in years.
What stood out to me was how something with no big plan still meant a lot to people. Jankuary turned out to be a reminder that the community can be meaningful without any pressure.
So here I am, holding a slightly cursed controller and saying, “Hey, it’s happening again.” If you missed it before, now’s your chance. If you’ve already been through it, you know why it’s worth it. You can find details at jankuary.com. See how much jank you can handle this year.