GB Studio
A downloadable tool for Windows, macOS, and Linux
GB Studio is a quick and easy to use drag and drop retro game creator for your favourite handheld video game system.
Please support on Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/gbstudiodev 🙏❤️
[Update] GB Studio 4.1.3 now available!
I wasn't planning on having another release so soon but 4.1.2 had a few too many issues that needed fixing.
This version fixes the issue where build errors weren't appearing correctly making it very difficult to diagnose why your project wouldn't run, also if you kept seeing "Replace Script?" popups when copy/pasting those shouldn't appear when there are no script changes anymore!
The changelog is available at https://github.com/chrismaltby/gb-studio/blob/v4.1.3/CHANGELOG.md
If you spot any problems, please make sure to report an issue at https://github.com/chrismaltby/gb-studio/issues
[Update] GB Studio 4.1.2 now available!
Before starting on the next round of features, here's a small but important bug fix release. The main fixes is issues where large projects were causing the application to freeze during builds as well fixing the inconsistent pauses that were sometimes being seen as text appeared in dialogue boxes.
The changelog is available at https://github.com/chrismaltby/gb-studio/blob/v4.1.2/CHANGELOG.md
If you spot any problems, please make sure to report an issue at https://github.com/chrismaltby/gb-studio/issues
[Update] GB Studio 4.1.1 now available!
This is a small bug fix release to catch a few issues found in 4.1.0, mostly for anyone who was having issues calling scripts from GBVM. It also includes an up to date Spanish translation thanks to doomer6699!
The changelog is available at https://github.com/chrismaltby/gb-studio/blob/v4.1.1/CHANGELOG.md
If you spot any problems, please make sure to report an issue at https://github.com/chrismaltby/gb-studio/issues
[Update] GB Studio 4.1.0 now available!
This release is a big quality of life update! There’s so many improvements I can’t list them all here!
With this release your project files are getting an upgrade. The first time you save your project in 4.1.0 it will be split into multiple files within a new “project” folder. Instead of everything being in a single “.gbsproj” file, each resource (such as actors, triggers, and scenes) will have its own dedicated file. This update will make it much easier to track changes in your version control system, and makes it easier to work in teams.
You can now create reusable actor and trigger “prefabs”! Perfect for making common elements like enemies or collectables. Design them once, and reuse them as many times as needed. Plus, when you update a prefab, all instances of it across your project will automatically update too.
Dialogue boxes can now have customised layouts! Set whether text should appear at the top or bottom of the screen, if a frame should be drawn, and set specific conditions for when the text box should close. To manage these new options, there’s a new “Presets” feature, which allows you to define multiple layouts and even set a default one. The presets feature has been enabled for Projectiles too!
Version 4.1.0 also introduces the ability to run scripts on new threads, enabling you to have multiple things happening simultaneously. So no need for workarounds, like repurposing actor update scripts anymore!
Sorry for the wall of text! There’s much more than just these changes though, the full changelog is available at https://github.com/chrismaltby/gb-studio/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md#410---2024-09-02
If you spot any problems, please make sure to report an issue at https://github.com/chrismaltby/gb-studio/issues
[Update] GB Studio 4.0.2 now available!
It's only been a week since the last bug fix release but I fixed a few more little issues and didn't want you to have to wait! If you were unable to use random numbers without getting errors this new update should help, and if your project was taking a long time to open I hope you'll be pleasantly surprised with this new version (I've had one very large test project go from taking over 1 minute to open to now be less than 5 seconds!)
Full changelog is available at https://github.com/chrismaltby/gb-studio/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md#402---2024-07-29
If you spot any problems, please make sure to report an issue at https://github.com/chrismaltby/gb-studio/issues
[Update] GB Studio 4.0.1 now available!
I hope you've all been enjoying using GB Studio 4! Since release a few issues had been found and today's release fixes a bunch of them!
Game performance has been improved (should mostly be similar or better than 3.2.1 again!), Japanese users have lots of UI fixes especially around text input, issues with actors references inside scripts have been fixed and more.
Full changelog is available at https://github.com/chrismaltby/gb-studio/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md#401---2024-07-22
If you spot any problems, please make sure to report an issue at https://github.com/chrismaltby/gb-studio/issues
[Update] GB Studio 4 now available!
It’s been a really long time since the last update, but GB Studio 4 is here, and it’s worth the wait!
GB Studio 4 introduces a new debugger, allowing you to inspect and pause your scripts, change values of variables on the fly and gain insight into where video memory is being used.
There’s also a new “Color Only” mode, allowing you to double the amount of memory available for sprite and background data. Then there’s automatic palettes, allowing you to supply color background .pngs directly. There’s support for replacing background tiles, for organising your scenes into folders, for running natively on Apple Silicon, loads of quality of life improvements and so much more.
The full changelog is available at https://github.com/chrismaltby/gb-studio/blob/v4.0.0/CHANGELOG.md
If you spot any problems, please make sure to report an issue at https://github.com/chrismaltby/gb-studio/issues
You can support the ongoing development of GB Studio and get access to early releases with Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/gbstudiodev
---
GB Studio is a visual game builder with no programming knowledge required allowing you to make real Game Boy ROMs in minutes. You can run the games on any emulator or you can run them on your Game Boy if you've got a flash cart!
Full documentation is available at https://www.gbstudio.dev/.
It's open source too!
Can't wait to see what you make!
- Chris
Download
Click download now to get access to the following files:
Development log
- A Little UpdateFeb 06, 2025
- GB Studio 4.1.3 now available!Sep 16, 2024
- GB Studio 4.1.2 now available!Sep 09, 2024
- GB Studio 4.1.1 now available!Sep 04, 2024
- GB Studio 4.1.0 now available!Sep 02, 2024
- GB Studio 4.0.2 now available!Jul 29, 2024
- GB Studio 4.0.1 now available!Jul 22, 2024
Comments
Log in with itch.io to leave a comment.
Make in-game conversations compatible with other languages PLS
If you're saying you want games to be playable in other languages, these GB Studio Central articles should help you figure out how to add languages to your games.
https://gbstudiocentral.com/tips/understanding-fonts/
https://gbstudiocentral.com/tips/how-to-multi-language-mechanic/
thank u so much❤️❤️
Hey, i was wondering if one day you can make a thing that can make games for the Sega Genesis/Megadrive and the Sega CD/Mega CD (and maybe the 32x) i know its kind of alot but it would be a real dream for something like this
please add controller suport for the baked in emulator or can some one teach me how
Does pressing a button on the controller not map it to the controls you select in the Settings tab?
Oh, but I guess that would cause problems for web builds because someone else may have a different controller than you.
Please compile it for armeabi processors
How can I display text that exceeds the 256 characters in the ASCII mapping when the game is running? These texts can be displayed when the game is made, but not when the game is runnin.
Try using multiple fonts and swapping them out as necessary within dialogue events.
On the variable text width font, the blank space is always white, with no way to change it. Please add a setting for the font to choose which color that extra space should be! (My project uses a black background and the white square looks really annoying and the only way to fix this is by typing a really annoying string of text before every textbox)
Can we see an example?
how to on arm based processor
on linux
You should tackle a project, that will make it work on Chromebook better, or even better yet, make a online version of this through web browser
Can yall focus on a mobile build
This seems cool I just have no coding braincells
I have issue for running in my pc
it showing me this error
Error: spawn cmd.exe ENOENT
Error: spawn cmd.exe ENOENT
Error: spawn cmd.exe ENOENT
Error: spawn cmd.exe ENOENT
-4058
Cancelled Build
Warnings:Error: spawn cmd.exe ENOENT
Error: spawn cmd.exe ENOENT
Error: spawn cmd.exe ENOENT
Error: spawn cmd.exe ENOENT
-4058
I can't delete it. Can someone help me?
Error: EPERM: operation not permitted, unlink 'C:\Users\___\AppData\Local\Temp\_gbstools\gbdk\bin\sdasgb.exe'
Great work, the engine is incredible and has generated a huge range of new games in just a few years. Thousands of new titles, I think Master System also deserves attention in this regard.
I will check if the source code is available and analyze if it would be possible to add an extension version for Sega Master System, as it would certainly take advantage of a lot of what is already ready.
is there a option to make gba games
Haven't you read the other comments regarding GBA compatibility?
no
Is there a way in GB Studio to add one scene into another? To merge them together? For example, to change and display character's outfits?
(not my art, just a reference from pinterest)
I've got an idea. What you can do is make a background with multiple 'screens' and have the camera jump from one screen to the other. For example, I used this background image to give large text a fading effect:
I have a bit of space between the screens because of the way the Game Boy renders backgrounds (it uses a 256x256 tilemap that wraps around for larger scenes). You can fill this extra space as needed for non-static scenes (like I did with the blank stage).
Wow
I noticed that sometimes actors don't animate properly while they're flickering. Have you noticed this at all?
Please allow us to select small sprites! 8x8 if you please!
Just know that you can only have 40 sprites on screen at once, regardless of whether they're 8x8 or 8x16 sprites.
I understand that Gb studio has such limitations, but the choice to have sprites be selected in 8x16 is a little awkward. I honestly would like to know why that decision was made.
The final boss in my game uses 24 sprite tiles, not including the prop actors used for attacking the player.
This could not have been done if the scene used 8x8 sprites.
Hi. When I tested my game in SGB mode, I get a random and weird palette throughout the entire game, even when transferring SGB packets with a plugin, and the palette changes once you reset. I tested it with BSNES and Mesen, same problem. Might be caused by the Fade Street plugin. Until them, I’ll leave it with no SGB enhancements, or to make the game tell in SGB mode that the X button on the SNES controller should be pressed, and maybe provide passwords for custom palettes.
is it possible to make a sort of undertale type game
Yep. It looks like that's been done.
yes i've seen that but was it made with this
This one was made using GB Studio.
can i put a rom i made in a physical game boy cartridge and play it
Yes
thanks i was thinking of selling physical games using this thanks for the info
I tested my game on a real flash cart before its initial release.
Can/how do I use this on IOS (iPad)
You can play the games you make on an iPad. You cannot make games using GB Studio on an iPad. GB Studio only runs on Linux, Mac, and Windows computers.
okay… =(
I challenge you to make a Android version of this game 😎(not a bot)
Can u add a way for us to make a working cars pls
Working cars? What do you mean by that?
hes asking if you could make a car template for character control, personally i feel that is pointless as You can make a car yourself with the current character top down controller...
He means he wants to drive cars like gta
I accidentally trashed all of the .gbsres files in my project! Fortunately, I was able to restore them. I thought I'd let you know that could happen.
That’s why it’s recommended to use version control software like Git, backed up to a remote repository like GitHub.
Hey, I love working on GBstudios, but I keep running into slight inconveniences. The main 2 things I can think of is the lack of bouncing for any actor but the player, and not being able to lock the camera to another actor besides the player.
I still enjoy using GBstudios, these issues aren't major but they still are issues
Please mobile version
please help
I can't figure out how to do this, it keeps giving me this error "Error: Error invoking remote method 'get-documents-path': Error: Failed to get 'documents' path" and I've downloaded it multiple times and I can't get in to work.
what one should I download for chromebook
Linux Debian/Ubuntu (if you have a Linux for Chromebook)
Hello! for me the GB Studio wont open after I created the project and im confused on how to get it to open please help!
GBS4 brought me back. It´s such an amazing program and it brought me so much joy (and pain) in the last two years. Everytime I thought GBS couldn´t get better, a banger update comes along to prove me wrong. Now I just have to finish a game. =)
Hello, I just recently downloaded updated GB studio to 4.1.3 and now every time I try to run a game, an error pops up:
Error: EPERM: operation not permitted, unlink 'C:\(...)\_gbstools\gbdk\libexec\sdcc\cc1'
This didn't happen before I updated it and it says the same thing on every project I have.
Is there any way to fix this? Thanks.
i have like almost the same problem
I made a couple sales on my first GB Studio game, and thought it was only fair that came back to pay for my copy of GB Studio.
Thank you Chris!
Are you looking to expand to make GBA games?
I don't know. The Game Boy Advance is a bit more—how do I say it?—advanced than the original Game Boy and the Game Boy Color.
Nice pun
This is not possible due to the massive architectural differences between GBA and GB(C).
However, there are some fairly approachable GBA development toolkits like Natu, Butano, etc. and plenty of guidance from the Tonc book, if you want to make GBA games.
im copying this from a thread in gbjam 12 (it's urgent):
basically im tryna use some GBVM in GB Studio to save my sanity from 20 different camera move events. however... the documentation says the 1st argument to vm_camera_move_to is a single argument (IDX)... for x AND y.
...what???
ive tried searching for similar commands, yet there seems to be NOTHING related to this with an example (what is this documentation bro)
how am i meant to pass 2 arguments in 1??
help
Try putting a Camera Move To event in your game and then running it in debug mode. When you pause it, you can see the GBVM hidden under the "blocks" of code.
So I have a question that I can’t seem to find a proper answer for. I searched it up and got a lot of conflicting results, so I wanted to ask, are we allowed to sell any of the games we make in GB Studio or is this for more personal games? I know that we can put them up for free and all, but what about selling them?
Yes, you can do whatever you want with the games you make :-) Some people sell them here on Itch.io, I’ve seen some on Steam and there’s even some on the Nintendo Switch!!
Now I've made a change to my music file, and the build is being canceled whenever I try to run or export it. This wasn't happening before in version 4.1.2, but now I can't run the game. I've tried clearing the cache and everything.
I switched back to 4.1.1 and realized why my game kept being canceled. It didn't show me the error until I switched back to 4.1.1.
The problem was that there was no background assigned to one of my scenes. I've posted the issue on GitHub.
Thanks Levi! I've just released 4.1.3 which includes a few more bug fixes and make sure this error appears correctly again :-) The error message now also includes a link that you click to jump to the scene that has the missing background