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 Self-Hosted apps. The best PICO-8 alternative is Godot Engine, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like PICO-8 are LÖVE, TIC-80, Xogot and Mini Micro.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
GemRB (Game Engine Made with preRendered Background) is a portable open-source reimplementation of the Infinity Engine that underpinned Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale and Planescape: Torment. It sports a cleaner design, greater extensibility and several innovations.
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.
The nano JAMMER is a fantasy console for tiny games. It is perfect for hobby coding, a game programming course, and tweetjams.
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Much like Pico-8 but fewer limitations