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 Pixel Vision 8.

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Picotron 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 Picotron.
Picotron iconPicotron
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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...

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Picotron alternatives page was last updated Jan 8, 2025
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Alternatives
  1. Godot Engine icon

    Godot Engine

     546 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.

    173 Godot Engine alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • AR flagArgentina

    Platforms

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

    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 VS Picotron

     

    • 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
    • Godot Engine is LightweightPicotron is not according to our users
  2. LÖVE icon

    LÖVE

     91 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.

    96 LÖVE alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

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

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Lua scripting
    3.  Collaborative Workspaces

    LÖVE VS Picotron

     

    • LÖVE is the most popular iPhone & iPad alternative to Picotron.

    • LÖVE is Free and Open SourcePicotron is Paid and Proprietary
    • LÖVE is LightweightPicotron is not according to our users
  4. TIC-80 icon

    TIC-80

     16 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.

    25 TIC-80 alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    TIC-80 screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Works Offline

    TIC-80 VS Picotron

     
  5. PICO-8 icon

    PICO-8

     13 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.

    26 PICO-8 alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • NZ flagNew Zealand

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Raspberry Pi
    PICO-8 screenshot 1

    PICO-8 Features

    1.  Music Sequencer
    2.  Works Offline
    3.  Lua scripting
    4.  2D Game Creation
    5.  2D Game Engine
    6.  Built-in editor
    7.  Export to HTML
    8.  Built-in Image editor

    PICO-8 VS Picotron

     
  6. Pixel Vision 8 icon

    Pixel Vision 8

     7 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.

    22 Pixel Vision 8 alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Pixel Vision 8 screenshot 1
    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 VS Picotron

     
  7. atto icon

    atto

     1 like
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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.

    22 atto alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    atto screenshot 1

    atto VS Picotron

     

    • atto is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to Picotron.

    • atto is Free and Open SourcePicotron is Paid and Proprietary
  9. Pyxel icon

    Pyxel

     6 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.

    27 Pyxel alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Pyxel screenshot 1

    Pyxel Features

    1.  2D Game Engine

    Pyxel VS Picotron

     
  10. quadplay icon

    quadplay

     5 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.

    22 quadplay alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    quadplay screenshot 1

    quadplay VS Picotron

     
  11. WASM-4 icon

    WASM-4

     4 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.

    22 WASM-4 alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    WASM-4 screenshot 1

    WASM-4 VS Picotron

     
  12. nano JAMMER icon

    nano JAMMER

     3 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.

    22 nano JAMMER alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Online
    nano JAMMER screenshot 1

    nano JAMMER VS Picotron

     
  13. FUZE4 icon

    FUZE4

     1 like
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    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

    License model

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Nintendo Switch
    FUZE4 screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Educational

    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 VS Picotron

     

    • FUZE4 is the most popular commercial alternative to Picotron.

    • FUZE4 is Paid and ProprietaryPicotron is also Paid and Proprietary
    • FUZE4 is LightweightPicotron is not according to our users
  14. LowRes NX icon

    LowRes NX

     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

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    LowRes NX screenshot 1
    LowRes NX screenshot 2
    LowRes NX screenshot 3

    LowRes NX VS Picotron

     
12 of 25 Picotron alternatives