GameMaker

Drag-and-drop creator

GameMaker is a game development engine designed primarily for creating 2D video games without requiring extensive programming knowledge.

It uses a drag-and-drop interface alongside its own scripting language (GML), making it accessible to beginners while still offering depth for experienced developers.

Many indie games, including *Undertale* and *Hotline Miami*, were built with GameMaker.

I'm learning GameMaker to prototype my first platformer.

software

IDE

Unified coding software suite

spritesTiny supernatural beings
objectsTangible items or protests
roomsEnclosed interior spaces

engine · export · assets · events · layers · tilesets · animation · debugging · compiling · scripting

development

prototype

First functional specimen

spritesTiny supernatural beings
animationTechnique creating movement illusion
collisionForceful contact between objects

physics · audio · pathfinding · particles · shaders · hitbox · spawning · AI · saving · loading

community

tutorials

Instructional guides for beginners

forumsVenues for collective discourse
marketplaceVenue for commerce
SteamDigital game distribution service

indie · showcase · feedback · Discord · YouTube · documentation · beginners · templates · assets · collaboration

genres

platformer

Leap-based video game

puzzleChallenge testing ingenuity
RPGExplosive launcher or fantasy genre
shooterOne who fires weapons

action · adventure · strategy · sandbox · roguelike · top-down · side-scroller · fighting · survival · horror

titles

Undertale

Monster-filled RPG underground

Opposites

development complexity

GameMakerUnity

Game creation software

Godot

creator vs consumer role

GameMakergame console

Electronic entertainment hardware

Steam · Xbox · PlayStation · Nintendo Switch · gaming PC

development paradigm

GameMakerassembly language

Mnemonic-based processor instructions

Family

game, maker, games, gamed, gaming, gamer, gamers, make, makes

Familiarity: Top 1,000,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Concrete · Rated G