Creating Games in Gb Studio: Is It Worth It?

Absolutely Yes!

The love for this console is well deserved, not just for the nostalgia, but also because it was quite a technological feat back in the day.

Released in Japan in 1989 and in North America in 1990, it quickly became a cultural icon with the release of groundbreaking games like "Pokèmon Red Version/Blue Version" and adaptations of games like Tetris or other titles from the NES/Famicom extensive library.

Discontinued in 2003, with the release of the Game Boy Advance, the Game Boy/Game Boy Color was the best-selling system. Today, it's the fourth best-selling system, rivalling the PlayStation 2, the Nintendo Switch and the DS. Not bad for a brick-shaped handheld!

Back in the day, the only possible way of developing new games for the system was through Assembly language. Not an easy feat. Fortunately, today, this insurmountable task has been made easier with software like GB Studio.

GB Studio allows you to maximise the Game Boy's capabilities and helps create games that can run on the original hardware or through emulators without requiring Assembly or complex functions.

Many indie developers can participate in dedicated Game Jams, such as the GB Compo, or share their games on platforms like Itch.io, which hosts over 1300 games.

Some notable games have also been released in physical form, including game manuals, boxes and cartridges.

And you? What are you waiting for?

If you ever dreamed about creating your own game or using your skill as a pixel artist or a composer, GB Studio can be the right choice for you.

Sure, there are many more powerful game engines out there, such as Unreal Engine, Unity, or Godot, but these will increase the scope, requiring a team, skills and, mostly, time and money.

On the other hand, GB Studio is easy to learn and can run on a normal PC, with minimal requirements.

2D art can be created with software such as Aseprite or with a free alternative like Piskel, which can run in a Browser and does not even require installation.

Not a Pixel Artist? If you can fill an 8x8 pixel image, you're good to go. With that little "Tile" you can create a Wall or a little forest.
Furthermore, free tilesets are available that can be useful for a quick test or sketch. You can replace them later on with your creations or edit them if needed.

Not a programmer? The small scale of the project allows you to try, fail and improve at a much faster rate compared to the aforementioned game engines. A small prototype can be tested in a few hours, and bugs are easy to detect in the code because the coding aspect is quite limited.

Not a Composer? The Game Boy was not renowned for its audio fidelity or the length of its songs, but for loops and simpler effects.
Even in this case, you can find free songs and replace them with better ones later on.

Want to join a team and not work solo? You can participate in Game Jams and build a different team for each Jam, finding new and challenging options each time. You will learn a lot with it. You will love it!

Do you have a passion for Metroidvanias? Do you like JRPGs? Horror Games?

Do you have an idea for a new video game? A story that you want to tell?

Do you have the burning desire to create your own game?

GB Studio can be the right choice for testing your ideas and dipping your toes in game development.

Many game genres are supported, such as Platformers, Shmups, Graphic Novels, Top Down, Point & Click, Run & Gun, and so on. You may also try experimenting with something new using the Game Boy camera, the printer, the Linking cable or the Super Game Boy.

Is there one forgotten game that deserves a Sequel? Or a Prequel?

Do you want to try an old genre but with a new spin?

GB Studio is perfect for creating your first game without overscoping your idea.

Try a simple gaming loop, test it and improve it. Add new features that complement the core concept without deviating too much from the original scope. Play games in the same genre and try to understand how things work behind the scenes, how they achieve engagement or accomplish their goals. Replicate the best practice and add your personal touch.

If you discover some functionality that enables other games/ideas, you can always take notes and open a new project for it when the time is right. This kind of iteration will require years in the video game industry, but only a few weeks in the Indies with a lighter tool like GB Studio.

Participate in the Game Jams, engage with other game enthusiasts and share your creations.