A curated list of awesome PICO-8 resources, carts, tools and more
# Awesome PICO-8 [![Awesome](https://awesome.re/badge.svg)](https://awesome.re)


![PICO-8](https://www.lexaloffle.com/gfx/p8_jelpi.gif)
![tools](https://www.lexaloffle.com/gfx/p8_tracker.gif)
![code](https://www.lexaloffle.com/gfx/p8_cast.gif)

 A curated list of PICO-8 resources, tutorials, tools and more. Inspired by the [awesome](https://github.com/sindresorhus/awesome) list thing. You might also like [awesome-lua](https://github.com/LewisJEllis/awesome-lua) and [awesome-love2d](https://github.com/JanWerder/awesome-love2d).

 PICO-8 is a fantasy console for making, sharing and playing tiny games and other computer programs. When you turn it on, the machine greets you with a shell for typing in a subset of [Lua](https://www.lua.org/) commands and provides simple built-in tools for creating your own cartridges.

## Contents

- [Community](#community)
- [Demoscene](#demoscene)
- [Resources](#resources)
- [Tutorials](#tutorials)
- [Tools](#tools)
- [Assets](#assets)
- [Text Editors Language Support](#text-editors-language-support)
- [Hacks](#hacks---undocumented-pico-8-features)
- [Hardware](#hardware)
- [Articles & Posts](#articles--posts)
- [Talks](#talks)
- [Clones](#clones)
- [Contributing](#i-want-to-contribute)
- [License](#license)

### Community

- [Lexaloffle](https://www.lexaloffle.com)
  - [Blog](https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?uid=1)
  - [PICO-8](https://www.lexaloffle.com/pico-8.php)
  - [Forum/BBS](https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?cat=7)
  - [Twitter](https://twitter.com/lexaloffle)
  - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/lexaloffle/)
  - [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/user/lexaloffletv)
- [Subreddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/pico8/)
- [#pico8 on Twitter](https://twitter.com/hashtag/pico8)
- [#pico8 on Freenode](https://webchat.freenode.net/?randomnick=1&channels=#pico8&prompt=1)
- [Pico-8 Console News](https://twitter.com/pico8console)
- [Pico-8 Wiki](https://pico-8.wikia.com/wiki/Pico-8_Wikia)
- [Slack Team](https://slofile.com/slack/pico-8) - PICO-8 Slack chat.
- [Discord Server](https://discord.gg/EwQ86eq) - PICO-8 Discord chat.

### DemoScene

- [Pico-8 demos on Demozoo](https://demozoo.org/platforms/81/) 
- [Pico-8 demos on Pouet](https://www.pouet.net/prodlist.php?platform%5B%5D=PICO-8) 
- [Article with demoscene effects code](https://medium.com/swlh/creativity-through-limitation-pico-8-fantasy-console-175294e13332) 
- [Pico-8 demos on Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=pico+8+demoscene) 


### Resources

- [Official Manual](https://www.lexaloffle.com/pico-8.php?page=manual) - Placeholder dump of pico-8.txt! (Proper manual coming soon).
- [Cheat Sheet](https://neko250.github.io/pico8-api/) - by [Neko250](https://neko250.github.io). Based on the official manual, with edits where found appropriate.
- [PicoZine #1](https://sectordub.itch.io/pico-8-fanzine-1), [#2](https://sectordub.itch.io/pico-8-fanzine-2), [#3](https://sectordub.itch.io/pico-8-fanzine-3) and [#4](https://sectordub.itch.io/-pico-8-zine-4) - PICO-8 Zine is a 48-page fanzine made by and for PICO-8 users.
- [Going from Lua 5.2 to PICO-8's Lua](https://gist.github.com/josefnpat/bfe4aaa5bbb44f572cd0) - This document is here to help folks with a proficiency in Lua understand the limitations and discrepencies between Lua and PICO-8's Lua.
- [Cheat Sheet (printable)](https://ztiromoritz.github.io/pico-8-spick/) - A reduced cheat sheet in a printable format. German and English version available.
- [Cheat Sheet (wallpaper)](https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?tid=28207) - An enhancement of the printable cheat sheet for use as a desktop wallpaper.

### Tutorials

- [Music Tracker Tutorial Series](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjZAika8vyZkyOjoCp0EbHeIFZ8MLlhvg) - Making audio with PICO-8.
- [Tron Lightcycle game from scratch](https://youtu.be/ZuaLuMhwcc8) - A quick introduction to PICO-8 writing a game from scratch.
- [A PICO-8 Spaceshooter in 16 GIFs](https://ztiromoritz.github.io/pico-8-shooter/) - Screencaptures of writing a Spaceshooter game step by step.
- [Token optimization](https://github.com/seleb/PICO-8-Token-Optimizations) - tips&tricks for saving tokens.
- [Tweetjam, BBS thread](https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?tid=3726) - cards which code fits in a tweet (really useful to learn some fun techniques).
- [Sample code on the BBS](https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?search=sample+code) - the search is not 100% accurate, but some of those cards features some nice tricks you can re-use in your future code.
- [Newgrounds Medals Tutorial](https://github.com/Bigaston/pico-8-newgrounds-tutorial) - a little tutorial to add Newgrounds Medals to PICO-8 games.
- [Binary save system](https://ultiman3rd.wordpress.com/2018/02/01/pico-8-binary-save-system/) - Custom game save system that supports various data types

### Tools

- [Sprite Editor](https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?tid=51270) - Keyboard only 8x8 pixel art tool.
- [pico2png](https://github.com/briacp/pico2png) - Spritesheet extraction written in perl.
- [Spritesheets and tools for the PICO-8 Palette](https://www.reddit.com/r/pico8/comments/3jhmni/spritesheets_and_tools_for_the_pico8_palette/) - Compilation of works assest and tools using the PICO-8 palette.
- [Pico8Utils](https://github.com/josefnpat/pico8utils) - Compilation of lua scripts based on the unix philosophy for working with .p8 files.
- [picotool](https://github.com/dansanderson/picotool) -  Tools and Python libraries for manipulating Pico-8 game files.
- [p8dl - Carts Downloader - Python](https://github.com/franciscod/p8dl) - Downloads cartridges into the correct folder (looks at your config.txt).
- [Pico-8 Carts Downloader - Bash ](https://github.com/kikookoubis/pico-8-carts-bash-downloader) - Downloads cartridge from the BBS (single cart, whole index or dump your favourited entries) & rename them according to their metadata.
- [p8 responsive webplayer transform](https://github.com/benwiley4000/pico8-responsive-webplayer-transform) - Python script that makes your HTML export page responsive.
- [Color Palette](https://www.romanzolotarev.com/pico-8-color-palette/) - Hex and RGB colors codes for web.
- [PICO-8 font](https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?tid=3760) - by [RhythmLynx](https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?uid=11704).
- [pico-test](https://github.com/jozanza/pico-test) - PICO-8 testing framework.
- [Lib-Pico8](https://github.com/clowerweb/Lib-Pico8) - A Pico-8 library of useful common functions.
- [pico8-missing-builtins](https://github.com/adamscott/pico8-missing-builtins) - Provides Lua built-in functions to pico8.
- [P8Coder](https://github.com/movAX13h/P8Coder) - A programming tool that replaces the lua code in pico-8 cartridges (p8) with the code you write in P8Coder.
- [Pico-Kit](https://github.com/outkine/pico-kit) - An opinionated collection of Pico-8 helpers that make it easier to get going.  Adds OOP, better debugging, and physics.
- [picoDeploy](https://github.com/torch2424/picoDeploy) - Deploy Pico-8 carts as standalone applications on desktop (Electron) and mobile (Ionic).
- [pico8Grunt](https://github.com/TeamNoComplyGames/pico8Grunt) - A build system for pico8 games, using gruntjs.
- [PICO-EC](https://github.com/JoebRogers/PICO-EC) - A tiny scene-entity-component library created for the PICO-8 fantasty console.
- [PICO-Tween](https://github.com/JoebRogers/PICO-Tween) - A small library of tweening/easing functions for use in the PICO-8 fantasy console, inspired by Robert Penner's easing functions.
- [p8](https://github.com/jozanza/p8) - A dependency manager and build tool. Lets you share code/sprites, `require()` dependencies, and auto-reload carts on save. Works with any external code editor and supports [MoonScript](https://moonscript.org/).
- [MIDI to PICO-8](https://github.com/andmatand/midi-to-pico8) - A tool to convert MIDI files to PICO-8 music.
- [midi2pico](https://github.com/gamax92/midi2pico) - A MIDI to PICO-8 converter.
- [Denote](https://bikibird.itch.io/denote) - Converts MIDI files into SFX data-- interactive and web based.
- [Custom template](https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?tid=31000) - A simple and clean template, that fixes issues with fullscreen, mouse and just looks nice.
- [Fillp Tool](https://seansleblanc.itch.io/pico-8-fillp-tool) - A simple helper tool for generating fillp patterns.
- [Depict](https://bikibird.itch.io/depict) - Converts image into a dithered image using PICO-8 colors and reduces it to a maximum size of 128 x 128.
- [picoCAD](https://johanpeitz.itch.io/picocad) - A PICO-8 program to build and texture lowpoly 3D models.
- [pico8-deploy](https://github.com/tducasse/pico8-deploy) - An easy way to export and deploy PICO-8 projects to itch.io
- [yap8b](https://github.com/Enerccio/yap8b) - Build tool for creating pico carts from multiple source files.
- [TS-PICO-8](https://github.com/tmountain/pico-8-typescript) - Create PICO-8 games using TypeScript.
- [Shrinko8](https://github.com/thisismypassport/shrinko8) - A minifier that aggressively shrinks Pico-8 code size. Also includes a linter and other tools.

### Assets
- [midilib](https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?cat=7#tag=midilib) - Custom SFX instruments

### Text Editors Language Support

- Visual Studio Code: [pico8-ls](https://github.com/japhib/pico8-ls) - PICO-8 Language Server, providing full language support for the PICO-8 dialect of Lua.
- Atom: [language-pico8](https://atom.io/packages/language-pico8)
- Sublime: [Sublime PICO-8](https://packagecontrol.io/packages/PICO-8) - PICO-8 plugin for the Sublime Text editor (color scheme, font, build system, code completion, snippets...).
- Vim: [vim-pico8-syntax](https://github.com/justinj/vim-pico8-syntax)
- Emacs: [pico8-mode](https://github.com/Kaali/pico8-mode)

### Programming Fonts

You might be interested to install [pico-8 programming fonts](https://github.com/juanitogan/p8-programming-fonts) they support the pico-8 custom characters as well as various fonts (bitmap and regular anti-aliased fonts). Check the [BBS thread here](https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?tid=28975).

How to install the font(s):

* **Linux:** copy the files on ~/.fonts and `sudo fc-cache -f -v`
* **Windows:** copy the files on c:/windows/fonts/

### Hacks - undocumented PICO-8 features

- [Mouse](https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?tid=3549) - How to retrieve mouse coordinates (with demo).
- [p8keyboard.js](https://github.com/dppc/p8keyboard.js) - Javascript "keyboard adapter" for the Pico-8. Send ASCII characters to a Pico-8 program running in a browser.
- [SFX Modifications](https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?tid=3561) - Four effects that can only be applied by modifying memory (with demo).
- [Tracker State/Audio Memory Locations](https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?pid=10719#p10719) - How to access and modify audio data as it is playing.

### Hardware

- [GameShell](https://www.clockworkpi.com/) - A modular handheld game console that allows you to play & modify retro games and DIY new devices. Check the [GameShell Docs](https://github.com/clockworkpi/GameShellDocs/wiki/Running-PICO-8-on-the-GameShell) for how to run PICO-8 on the GameShell.
- [PocketChip](https://shop.pocketchip.co/) - A handheld designed for playing and coding anywhere. Officially supported by pico-8. [PoketChip version of pico-8](https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?tid=34009)

### Articles & Posts

- [Indie Retro News](https://www.indieretronews.com/2015/10/pico-8-8-bit-fantasy-console-from.html) - A great introduction to PICO-8 by [@ABrugsch](https://twitter.com/ABrugsch).

### Talks

- [Sharing the love](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmMYWD2Zbso) - Making games with PICO-8. linux conf au 2017 - Hobart, Australia

### Clones
- [TIC-80 by Nesbox](https://nesbox.itch.io/tic) - Tiny Computer, available on HTML 5, Windows, Linux 32/64bit, Android & MacOSX
- [PicoLove](https://github.com/picolove/picolove) - Pico-8 Reimplementation in LÖVE.
- [LIKO-12](https://github.com/RamiLego4Game/LIKO-12) - An open source fantasy computer made using LÖVE with 96kb RAM.
- [PX8](https://github.com/Gigoteur/PX8) - Open Source Fantasy Console (128x128 pixels) in Rust (with Python/LUA code support).
- [tac08](https://0xcafed00d.itch.io/tac08-rg350) - tac08 is an emulation of the runtime part of the Pico-8 fantasy console, running on RG350 handheld game console.
- [LowRes NX](https://lowresnx.inutilis.com/) - Fantasy Console available on IOS, MacOS, Windows, Linux, and GameShell (BASIC code support)

### I Want to Contribute!

Great! :smiley:

Please, read the [contribution guidelines](CONTRIBUTING.md) first.

### License

[![CC0](https://i.creativecommons.org/p/zero/1.0/88x31.png)](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)

To the extent possible under law, [Felipe Bueno](https://twitter.com/felipebueno) has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this work.

See [LICENSE](LICENSE) for more information.
