PICO-8 Alternatives

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
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Alternatives
  1. LowRes NX icon
     3 likes
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    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

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • iPhone
    • iPad

    LowRes NX VS PICO-8

     
  2. LIKO-12 icon
     3 likes
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    LIKO-12 is a fantasy console built with the LÖVE game engine. It's similar to PICO-8 but it's open-source and provides a different API and larger screen width.

    24 LIKO-12 alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Windows

    LIKO-12 VS PICO-8

     
  3. Zany80 icon
     2 likes
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    ZANY80 is a fantasy console built around the Zilog Z80 processor (used in the classic Spectrum Z80 computer).

    22 Zany80 alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    Discontinued

    The last update is from 2020, and the GitHub repository has been archived.

    Zany80 VS PICO-8

     
  4. BASIC8 icon
     2 likes
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    BASIC8 is an integrated Fantasy Computer. Create, share and play disks in a modern BASIC dialect. Use built-in tools like sprite, tile and map editor to develop games fast while having fun with retro aesthetics.

    25 BASIC8 alternatives

    License model

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Steam

    BASIC8 VS PICO-8

     
  5. 8bitworkshop icon
     6 likes
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    8bitworkshop is a browser-based IDE for Atari 2600 development built on Javatari and DASM and CodeMirror .

    24 8bitworkshop alternatives

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online

    8bitworkshop Features

    1.  No registration required
    2.  Web-Based
    3.  Emulation

    8bitworkshop VS PICO-8

     
  6. Riko4 icon
     2 likes
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    Riko4 is a Fantasy Console intended as a tool for pixel art game development. Built with Lua and SDL2.

    22 Riko4 alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    Riko4 VS PICO-8

     
  7. VectorBoy icon
     2 likes
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    VectorBoy is a fantasy console that can be used to play your own games written in the LUA scripting language. Unlike other systems of its kind, it doesn't use pixels to display graphics. Instead, the screen displays straight lines to form graphics of all kinds.

    22 VectorBoy alternatives

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows

    VectorBoy VS PICO-8

     
  8. ECoS icon
     1 like
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    ECoS is a modern fantasy console based around the solid foundation of an Entity-Component-System architecture (ECS). Once learned, the use of an ECS can make game development and prototyping much faster and keep your code much more modular, making it easy to reuse, alter and...

    22 ECoS alternatives

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    ECoS VS PICO-8

     
  9. Voxatron icon
     3 likes
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    Voxatron is a fantasy console system where games are made out of voxels and made available to the system as traditional cartridges that can be made from scratch through a built-in designer or remixed from other shared creations.

    22 Voxatron alternatives

    License model

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • NZ flagNew Zealand

    Platforms

    • Online

    Voxatron Features

    1.  Voxel-editor

    Voxatron VS PICO-8

     
  10. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Develop your programming skills by quickly creating and modding retro arcade games with Blocks, JavaScript and Python in the online MakeCode editor, the offline app or your own local pxt-arcade server.

    30 Microsoft MakeCode Arcade alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Self-Hosted

    Microsoft MakeCode Arcade Features

    1.  No Coding Required
    2.  Drag and Drop
    3.  Blocks

    Microsoft MakeCode Arcade VS PICO-8

     
  11. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    This is a programming software, "SmileBASIC", that allows you to create and play games with Nintendo Switch! The programming language is "SmileBASIC" which is the most suitable language for creating games.

    12 SmileBasic alternatives

    License model

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Nintendo Switch

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Keyframe Animation
    2.  Single player
    3.  No registration required
    4.  Support for scripting
    5.  Works Offline
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Built-in Level Editor
    8.  3D Game Engine
    9.  Built-in code editor
    10.  2D Game Engine

    SmileBasic VS PICO-8

     
  12. PQ93 icon
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    PQ93 is a fantasy console for making small games. It is available to download and run natively, but you can play the demo in-browser above. Included in PQ93 is a command shell and editors for code, sprites, sound effects, music patterns, and maps.

    22 PQ93 alternatives

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Online

    PQ93 VS PICO-8

     
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