PICO-8 AlternativesGame 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, Pixel Vision 8 and atto.

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PICO-8 alternatives are mainly Game Development Tools but may also be IDEs. Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of PICO-8.
PICO-8 iconPICO-8
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PICO-8 is a 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.

More about PICO-8
PICO-8 alternatives page was last updated Jan 8, 2025
  1. Godot Engine icon
     541 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.

    172 Godot Engine alternatives
    Godot Engine screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • Epic Games Store
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Haiku
    • Steam
    • FreeBSD
    • Flatpak

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  3D Game Engine
    2.  2D Game Engine
    3.  Cross-Platform
    4.  GdScript
    5.  Portable
    6.  Simple installation
    7.  Built-in 3D model viewer
    8.  Intuitive Nodes
    9.  Multiple languages
    10.  Keyframe Animation
    11.  Works Offline
    12.  Community-based
    Godot Engine iconPICO-8 Icon

    Godot Engine VS PICO-8

    Is Godot Engine a good alternative to PICO-8?
     
    • 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
     90 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.

    95 LÖVE alternatives
    LÖVE screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • BSD
    • iPad
    • FreeBSD

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Lua scripting
    3.  Collaborative Workspaces
    LÖVE iconPICO-8 Icon

    LÖVE VS PICO-8

    Is LÖVE a good alternative to PICO-8?
     
    • 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
  3. TIC-80 icon
     14 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.

    25 TIC-80 alternatives
    TIC-80 screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Works Offline
    TIC-80 iconPICO-8 Icon

    TIC-80 VS PICO-8

    Is TIC-80 a good alternative to PICO-8?
     
  4. Pixel Vision 8 icon
     7 likes

    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.

    22 Pixel Vision 8 alternatives
    Pixel Vision 8 screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Discontinued

    From the GitHub repository: "Due to a lack of free time over the past year, I've decided to pause the development of PV8 for the foreseeable future. The code is still open source and free for everyone to fork, modify, and use. I hope to return to this project when I can give it more of my attention and thank everyone for their support over the years."

    Pixel Vision 8 iconPICO-8 Icon

    Pixel Vision 8 VS PICO-8

    Is Pixel Vision 8 a good alternative to PICO-8?
     
    Comments about Pixel Vision 8 as an Alternative to PICO-8
     
    ichimitch

    Much like Pico-8 but fewer limitations

    Positive commentOct 22, 2023
    0
    PICO-8 Icon
    Pixel Vision 8 icon
    • Pixel Vision 8 is Free and Open SourcePICO-8 is Freemium and Proprietary
  5. atto icon
     1 like

    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.

    22 atto alternatives
    atto screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    atto iconPICO-8 Icon

    atto VS PICO-8

    Is atto a good alternative to PICO-8?
     
    • atto is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to PICO-8.

    • atto is Free and Open SourcePICO-8 is Freemium and Proprietary
  6. Pyxel icon
     6 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.

    27 Pyxel alternatives
    Pyxel screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    Pyxel Features

    1.  2D Game Engine
    Pyxel iconPICO-8 Icon

    Pyxel VS PICO-8

    Is Pyxel a good alternative to PICO-8?
     
  7. quadplay icon
     5 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.

    22 quadplay alternatives
    quadplay screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    quadplay iconPICO-8 Icon

    quadplay VS PICO-8

    Is quadplay a good alternative to PICO-8?
     
  8. Picotron icon
     1 like

    Picotron is a Fantasy Workstation: a self-contained creative environment built for imaginary hardware. Create cute Lua apps that can be run inside Picotron as windowed userland processes, shared as cartridge files, or exported to stand-alone HTML apps.

    25 Picotron alternatives
    Picotron screenshot 1

    License model

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
    • Raspberry Pi

    Properties

    1.  Support for Themes
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Built-in viewer
    2.  DRM Free
    3.  Portable
    4.  Works Offline
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Music Sequencer
    7.  Export to HTML
    8.  Pixel Art
    9.  Built-in editor
    10.  Skinnable
    11.  Pixel graphics
    12.  2D Game Engine
    Picotron iconPICO-8 Icon

    Picotron VS PICO-8

    Is Picotron a good alternative to PICO-8?
     
    • Picotron is the most popular commercial alternative to PICO-8.

    • Picotron is Paid and ProprietaryPICO-8 is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Picotron is LightweightPICO-8 is not according to our users
  9. WASM-4 icon
     4 likes

    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.

    22 WASM-4 alternatives
    WASM-4 screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    WASM-4 iconPICO-8 Icon

    WASM-4 VS PICO-8

    Is WASM-4 a good alternative to PICO-8?
     
  10. nano JAMMER icon
     3 likes

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

    22 nano JAMMER alternatives
    nano JAMMER screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    nano JAMMER iconPICO-8 Icon

    nano JAMMER VS PICO-8

    Is nano JAMMER a good alternative to PICO-8?
     
  11. FUZE4 icon
     1 like

    FUZE4 Nintendo Switch is a coding application for Nintendo Switch. It has been designed and developed by a team of experienced gamers, programmers, artists and educators. The end result is a language ideally suited to coding games and apps for absolute beginners and seasoned...

    12 FUZE4 alternatives
    FUZE4 screenshot 1

    License model

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Nintendo Switch

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  No registration required
    2.  Single player
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Keyframe Animation
    5.  Works Offline
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Support for scripting
    8.  Built-in Level Editor
    9.  Lua scripting
    10.  2D Game Engine
    11.  3D Game Engine
    FUZE4 iconPICO-8 Icon

    FUZE4 VS PICO-8

    Is FUZE4 a good alternative to PICO-8?
     
  12. LowRes NX icon
     3 likes

    LowRes NX is a simulated retro game console which can be programmed in the classic BASIC language. Make your own retro games on a virtual game console. Create sprites, tile maps, sound and music with the included tools.

    23 LowRes NX alternatives
    LowRes NX screenshot 1
    LowRes NX screenshot 2
    +7
    LowRes NX screenshot 3

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    LowRes NX iconPICO-8 Icon

    LowRes NX VS PICO-8

    Is LowRes NX a good alternative to PICO-8?
     
12 of 26 PICO-8 alternatives