GB Studio for Windows

Free game building app

GB Studio is a multimedia application developed by Chris Maltby. This free application allows you to design games for your favorite handheld video game system. You can create brand new retro games or modified versions of classic arcade games.

GB Studio is a lightweight game builder that is simple and straightforward. Thanks to an Electron application, it lets you create games without any programming. It even comes with a web-based emulator, enabling you to make an HTML5 version that works on mobile. However, it does not have a dedicated editor. You will need separate apps to make them. 

What is GB Studio?

GB Studio is a free tool for building real Game Boy ROMs. As mentioned, it lets users create 2D mini-games without needing programming or coding knowledge. The app is portable, eliminating the need for installation or customization before getting started. To get started, you only need to provide a name and choose between the template or start one from scratch. Then, combine the elements, such as actors, scenes, and events.

The Project Editor or the Game World is your workspace. Here is where you will combine the elements and specify the triggers. As you probably hinted, you need to establish a connection between these elements, as triggers can be defined by adding interactions or building scripting events. Although, these elements are customizable using the menu located on the right side of the main window.

You can export your end project as ROM—that you can run in emulators—or web to enjoy them on your browser. You can also hit the Play button before saving to see an overview of your progress anytime. However, as mentioned, you need third-party apps to create assets and music. You can use any software that can output PNG for sprites. You can also use the GBT Player for music.

Game building simplified

Overall, GB Studio is a handy tool to have for game designer wanna-bes. With it, you can create retro games without the need for extensive coding and programming knowledge. It provides a straightforward and easy-to-use workspace and an intuitive framework to create retro games. Although, you need to bring your own assets as it does not come with an editor. Nevertheless, it is worth a try.