PICO-8 AlternativesTop Game Development Tools and other similar apps like PICO-8

PICO-8 is described as 'Lua based fantasy console for programming, sharing and playing tiny games and other computer programs. The app boots to a shell prompt with easy access to scores of game building tools' and is a game development tool in the development category. There are more than 25 alternatives to PICO-8 for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac, Web-based and Android apps. The best PICO-8 alternative is Godot Engine, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like PICO-8 are TIC-80, LÖVE, GABE and Xogot.

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PICO-8 alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. Godot Engine icon
     615 likes

    Godot Engine is a feature-packed, cross-platform game engine to create 2D and 3D games from a unified interface. It provides a comprehensive set of common tools, so that users can focus on making games without having to reinvent the wheel.

    181 Godot Engine alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • Epic Games Store
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Haiku
    • Steam
    • FreeBSD
    • Flatpak
    • itch.io
    • Meta Quest
     
  2. TIC-80 icon
     21 likes

    TIC-80 is a fantasy computer where you can make, play and share tiny games. Comes with built-in tools for development: code, sprites, maps, sound editors and a command line.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
     
  3. LÖVE icon
     99 likes

    Hi there! LÖVE is an awesome framework you can use to make 2D games in Lua. It's free, open-source, and works on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Android and iOS.

    107 LÖVE alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • BSD
    • iPad
    • FreeBSD
     
  4. GABE icon
     2 likes

    The Godot Android Build Environment is a companion app for the Godot Android Editor that provides a build environment to perform Gradle builds when running natively on an Android device.

    51 GABE alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • Meta Quest
     
  5. Xogot icon
     6 likes

    Xogot brings the full power of the Godot game engine to iPad. With a native iPad experience designed for touch, you can create, test, and share games wherever inspiration strikes.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • iPad
     
  6. Mini Micro icon
     3 likes

    Mini Micro is an easy-to-learn environment for game programming, all based on MiniScript, a new language explicitly designed to be simple, syntax-light, and easy to use while still having all the power and expressiveness you need.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
     
  7. Pixel Vision 8 is a platform that standardizes 8-bit fantasy console limitations built on top of an open source C# SDK. Developers can customize these restrictions to match actual legacy hardware or create something new. It is ideal for game jams, prototyping ideas or having fun.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
     
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  8. Usagi Engine icon
     2 likes

    Usagi is a 2D game engine for making pixel art games in Lua 5.5. It features live reload, single-command cross-platform export, and a pause menu with input remapping built in.

    Cost / License

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
     
  9. quadplay icon
     7 likes

    The quadplay fantasy console bundles an emulator and advanced development tools including an adept IDE and tools for use with other IDEs like VS Code, Vim and Emacs.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
     
  10. atto icon
     2 likes

    atto is a virtual fantasy computer system that's designed to teach people coding through a BASIC-like programming language. It offers a mix of simplicity from the days of 1980s computing, paired with the modern functionality of computers today.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
     
  11. Bitsy icon
     8 likes

    Bitsy is a little editor for little games or worlds. The goal is to make it easy to make games where you can walk around and talk to people and be somewhere.

    22 Bitsy alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
     
  12. Pyxel icon
     8 likes

    Pyxel is a retro game engine for Python. Inspired by fantasy consoles like PICO-8, Pyxel imposes graphic and sound limits that provide a retro aesthetic while also greatly simplifying development.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
     
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