Overview: GB Studio is a visual, drag-and-drop game development environment designed specifically for creating retro-style games compatible with the original Nintendo Game Boy. Built with Electron and powered by GBDK (Game Boy Development Kit), it enables designers, hobbyists, and indie developers to create fully functional Game Boy ROMs without needing to write C code or understand low-level hardware constraints. The tool abstracts complex game development tasks into an intuitive interface while still providing access to the full power of GBDK under the hood. It’s ideal for beginners exploring game design and experienced developers looking to quickly prototype or publish 8-bit games.
What You Get
- Drag-and-drop game builder - Visually create scenes, characters, events, and interactions using a point-and-click interface with no code required.
- Native Game Boy ROM export - Export complete .gb ROM files compatible with real Game Boy hardware and emulators like BGB or mGBA.
- CLI automation for builds - Use command-line tools to automate exporting projects, generating ROMs, and building web versions for deployment.
- Multi-platform support - Runs natively on Windows, macOS, and Linux with consistent behavior across all operating systems.
- Web export capability - Generate playable web versions of your Game Boy games using HTML5 and JavaScript for easy sharing online.
- Pocket console support - Export projects directly to the .pocket format for compatibility with the Pocket CHIP and other modern handhelds.
Common Use Cases
- Building a classic RPG on Game Boy - Creating a 16-screen adventure with dialogue trees, item collection, and turn-based combat using visual event scripting.
- Retro game jam project - Developing a fully playable 8-bit game in under 48 hours for events like Ludum Dare or GBJam using the visual editor.
- Problem → Solution flow: No C programming skills? Still make real Game Boy games - Developers unfamiliar with GBDK or assembly can design gameplay logic visually and export a working .gb file without touching C code.
- Team-based indie dev workflow - Artists and designers use the GUI to build levels, while developers leverage the CLI to automate builds and CI/CD pipelines for release.
Under The Hood
GB Studio is a cross-platform desktop application designed for creating retro-style games, particularly targeting the Game Boy Color ecosystem. It combines a visual editor with scripting capabilities to provide an accessible yet powerful development environment for indie game creators.
Architecture
GB Studio follows a layered architecture that separates UI, core logic, and system integration. The modular design enables distinct components for sprites, music, and world editing.
- Monolithic structure with clear separation between frontend and backend logic
- Layered approach that decouples user interface from game engine internals
- Well-defined modules for different aspects of game development such as asset management and scripting
Tech Stack
GB Studio leverages modern web technologies to deliver a desktop experience with rich UI capabilities.
- Built in TypeScript with React and Electron for cross-platform compatibility
- Utilizes Redux Toolkit for state management and styled-components for styling
- Employs Webpack, Electron Forge, and Jest to support development, packaging, and testing workflows
- Integrates Knip for dead code detection and Storybook for component documentation
Code Quality
The project maintains a mature testing approach with broad coverage and consistent error handling practices.
- Comprehensive test suite that validates key functional areas of the application
- Consistent use of try/catch blocks and explicit error propagation across modules
- Strong emphasis on type safety through TypeScript and linting configurations
- Moderate technical debt present in legacy JavaScript and embedded WASM code
What Makes It Unique
GB Studio stands out as a self-contained game development environment that bridges web-based tools with native performance.
- Innovative integration of visual editors and scripting systems tailored for retro game creation
- Unique combination of Electron-based desktop app with modern web development practices
- Offers a seamless workflow that empowers both beginners and experienced developers to build Game Boy Color games