GB Studio
GB Studio is a drag-and-drop game creator for making games for the Game Boy.
What GB Studio is
GB Studio is a drag-and-drop game creator for making games for the Game Boy. Its visual scripting is designed for people with little or no programming knowledge, and the editor organizes scenes, actors, triggers, and scripting events alongside collision and color-drawing tools. Games can be built as ROM files for emulators or real Game Boy hardware, or as web pages. A debugger can display game state and variable values, set breakpoints, step through scripts, and show build warnings. The built-in music editor offers piano roll and tracker modes, MIDI input, and four channels with 45 configurable 8-bit instruments. It supports hUGETracker patterns, and GBS Music can export tracks as MP3, WAV, or FLAC. Plugins can add reusable assets and custom scripting events; advanced users can access GBVM and modify C and SM83 assembly engine code, though engine editing is recommended only for developers familiar with GBDK. GB Studio is free under the MIT license and available for Linux, macOS, Windows, and the web. Exported games can be uploaded to itch.io.
Good
- Free under the MIT license
- Visual scripting for beginners
- Builds ROMs and web pages
- Debugger shows state and variables
Watch out
- Engine editing is recommended only for GBDK-familiar developers
- No free trial
Who it suits
GB Studio suits beginners who want to make Game Boy games through visual scripting, as well as experienced developers who want plugin or engine access. It also fits creators who want ROM or web builds and built-in music tools.
Verdict
GB Studio pairs an approachable visual workflow with debugging, music creation, and deeper plugin and engine options. Its focus is Game Boy games, with output available as ROM files or web pages.
Plans and prices
From GB Studio's own pricing page, checked 5 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| GB Studio | Free | Name your own price · Windows, macOS, Linux |
The facts
Each one read from GB Studio's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Advanced access
- Advanced users can access GBVM and modify the game engine’s C and SM83 assembly code through plugins.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Build targets
- Games can be generated as ROM files for emulators, web pages, or real Game Boy hardware.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Debugger
- The debugger can show game state and variable values, set breakpoints, step through scripts, and display build warnings.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Extensibility
- Plugins can add reusable assets, custom scripting events, and engine modifications; engine editing is recommended only for developers familiar with GBDK.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The music editor supports hUGETracker patterns, and exported games can be uploaded to itch.io.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Latest listed release
- The itch.io page lists GB Studio version 4.3.2 and says that release added web templates and bug fixes.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Music editor
- The built-in music editor offers piano roll and tracker modes, supports MIDI input, and provides four channels with 45 configurable 8-bit instruments.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Music exports
- GBS Music exports tracks to MP3, WAV, or FLAC.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Music privacy
- The GBS Music page says it requires no accounts or logins and that users own their files.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Open source
- The public GitHub repository says GB Studio is released under the MIT license.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Programming
- It is designed for people with little to no programming knowledge and uses visual scripting.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- GB Studio is a drag-and-drop game creator for making Game Boy games.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Support
- The maker points users to Discord and Reddit for community discussion and Patreon for development support and progress updates.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Visual editor
- The project editor combines scenes, actors, triggers, and scripting events, and includes tools for collision and color drawing.checked 5 Oct 2026
- Visual scripting
- Yeschecked 21 Sep 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 21 Sep 2026
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