Made for GMTK Game Jam 2026

ABOUT THE GAME

Five Weeks Earlier is a decision-making and resource-management game about preparing a spaceship for the end of the world.

Each week, a new group of applicants arrives on your desk. Review their resume, consider their skills and resource requirements, and decide who deserves a place aboard The Ark.

Your crew must keep the ship functional while its population continues to grow. Hiring the right people may improve life aboard the ship, but every new employee also consumes valuable space, supplies, and resources.

Manage the Ark

The condition of the ship is represented by four major statistics:

Personnel
The number of people aboard The Ark and the workforce available to operate it.

Resources
The food, equipment, materials, and supplies required to support the ship and its population.

Morale 
The emotional wellbeing and confidence of the people aboard the ship.

Stability
The physical condition, maintenance, and reliability of The Ark.

Upkeep
The crew’s ability to keep the ship clean, supplied, and operational.

Governance
The ship’s leadership, organisation, security, and ability to maintain order

Build your Crew

Applicants come from a variety of professional backgrounds, including:

• Health
• Hospitality
• Entertainer
• Maintenance
• Sanitation
• Security
• Politician
• Pilot
• Scientist
• Engineer

Each occupation contributes differently to the ship.

How to Play 

Each round is divided into three main stages: 

Hiring
Review five applicants and decide who should join your crew. 

Simulation
Respond to incidents and make decisions that affect the ship. 

Results 
Review how your hires, decisions, and weekly strain changed The Ark. 

Complete five weeks and discover whether the crew survives.

Controls

Mouse
Interact with Resumes, buttons, and objects.

Team

iamKatB - 3D Artist and Texture Artist

Jamie Robinson - Gameplay and Interaction Programmer

Max Kennedy - Level Design and UI Programmer

McDangaroo - Gameplay Systems Programmer

Possom - 2D Artist and Icon Designer

SomePinkOtter - Narrative and Data Designer

Rhiann Steenstrup - Audio Designer

Asset Credits

Road Texture
Asphalt Highway Textured Vector Background: Paved Road with Dividing Stripes
Adobe Stock, Asset ID: 295325870
https://stock.adobe.com/images/asphalt-highway-textured-vector-background-paved-...

Skybox
Fantasy Skybox FREE by RK Render Knight
Unity Asset Store
https://assetstore.unity.com/packages/2d/textures-materials/sky/fantasy-skybox-f...

Tree and Nature Assets
Stylized Nature MegaKit by Quaternius
Licensed under Creative Commons Zero v1.0 Universal (CC0)
https://quaternius.itch.io/stylized-nature-megakit