Picotron AlternativesGame Development Tools and other similar apps like Picotron

Picotron is described as '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' and is a game development tool in the development category. There are more than 25 alternatives to Picotron for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac, Web-based and Self-Hosted apps. The best Picotron alternative is Godot Engine, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Picotron are LÖVE, TIC-80, PICO-8 and quadplay.

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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 Picotron.

    • Godot Engine is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Picotron.

    • Godot Engine is Free and Open SourcePicotron is Paid and Proprietary
  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 Picotron.

    • LÖVE is Free and Open SourcePicotron is Paid and Proprietary
  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
     
  5. PICO-8 icon

    PICO-8

     16 likes
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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.

    30 PICO-8 alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Pay once)
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Raspberry Pi
    PICO-8 screenshot 1
     
  6. 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 Picotron.

    • quadplay is Free and Open SourcePicotron is Paid and Proprietary
  7. 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
     
  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. 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
     
  12. 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
     
  13. LowRes NX icon

    LowRes NX

     4 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.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    LowRes NX screenshot 1
    LowRes NX screenshot 2
    LowRes NX screenshot 3
     
12 of 25 Picotron alternatives