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 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 Pixel Vision 8.

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PICO-8 alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. Godot Engine icon

    Godot Engine

     587 likes
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    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.

    178 Godot Engine alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • Epic Games Store
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Haiku
    • Steam
    • FreeBSD
    • Flatpak
    • itch.io
    • Meta Quest
    Godot Engine screenshot 1
     

    • Godot Engine is the most popular Web-based, Windows, Android & Mac alternative to PICO-8.

    • Godot Engine is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to PICO-8.

    • Godot Engine is Free and Open SourcePICO-8 is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Godot Engine is LightweightPICO-8 is not according to our users
  2. LÖVE icon

    LÖVE

     98 likes
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    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.

    103 LÖVE alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • BSD
    • iPad
    • FreeBSD
    LÖVE screenshot 1
     

    • LÖVE is the most popular iPhone & iPad alternative to PICO-8.

    • LÖVE is Free and Open SourcePICO-8 is Freemium and Proprietary
    • LÖVE is LightweightPICO-8 is not according to our users
  4. TIC-80 icon

    TIC-80

     20 likes
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    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.

    29 TIC-80 alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    TIC-80 screenshot 1
     
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    19
  5. Xogot icon

    Xogot

     6 likes
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    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 (Pay once)
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • iPad
    Xogot screenshot 1
     
  6. Pixel Vision 8 icon

    Pixel Vision 8

     8 likes
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    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
    Pixel Vision 8 screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Comments about Pixel Vision 8 as an Alternative to PICO-8
    ichimitch
    Positive
    0

    Much like Pico-8 but fewer limitations

    PICO-8 Icon
    Pixel Vision 8 icon
    • Pixel Vision 8 is Free and Open SourcePICO-8 is Freemium and Proprietary
  7. quadplay icon

    quadplay

     7 likes
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    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
    quadplay screenshot 1
     

    • quadplay is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to PICO-8.

    • quadplay is Free and Open SourcePICO-8 is Freemium and Proprietary
  9. atto icon

    atto

     2 likes
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    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

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    atto screenshot 1
     
  10. Pyxel icon

    Pyxel

     8 likes
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    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
    Pyxel screenshot 1
     
  11. Bitsy icon

    Bitsy

     8 likes
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    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.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    Bitsy screenshot 1
     
  12. GemRB icon

    GemRB

     2 likes
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    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.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • BSD
    • FreeBSD
    • OpenBSD
    • NetBSD
    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Symbian S60
    • ReactOS
    • Haiku
    • AmigaOS
    GemRB screenshot 1
     

    • GemRB is the most popular Android Tablet alternative to PICO-8.

    • GemRB is Free and Open SourcePICO-8 is Freemium and Proprietary
  13. nano JAMMER icon

    nano JAMMER

     5 likes
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    The nano JAMMER is a fantasy console for tiny games. It is perfect for hobby coding, a game programming course, and tweetjams.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    nano JAMMER screenshot 1
     
  14. WASM-4 icon

    WASM-4

     5 likes
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    WASM-4 is a low-level fantasy game console for building small games with WebAssembly. Game cartridges (ROMs) are small, self-contained .wasm files that can be built with any programming language that compiles to WebAssembly.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    WASM-4 screenshot 1
     
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