What Is PICO-8? Link to heading
Recently, a friend turned me on to PICO-8, which is a sort of retro 8-bit console emulator, but for a console that never existed.
This thing is super cool. You can write little games reminiscent of the ones that ran on 8-bit systems like the NES, then export them for other people to play. You can export your games as “cartridges” (PNG files that other people can import into their copy of the PICO-8 emulator) or as standalone Windows, Linux, or macOS executables.
You can even export to HTML and JavaScript to embed your games in a webpage (this happens automatically when you upload games to the “BBS”, which is PICO-8’s official web forum: see the link above).
Furthermore, you actually edit your code, run and debug your games, and make your maps, sprites, and music all from within the PICO-8 environment.
Code editor:
Sprite editor:
Map editor:
Music (SFX - sound effects) editor:
2024 Update: I removed the links to my first game as they are dead links now. Sadly I misplaced the cartridge files.