What is tic80 used for?

tic80 is a free and open source fantasy computer with built-in development tools for creating mini retro games. It is a good fit for creating mini retro games, sharing games as cartridge files on the website and distributing games as standalone players on multiple platforms.

Is tic80 open source?

Yes. tic80 is open source under the MIT licence. Its source code is on GitHub at nesbox/TIC-80 and is written mainly in C.

Yes. tic80 is open source, so the software itself is free to use. A managed cloud version is also available.

Can I self-host tic80?

Yes. tic80 can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure.

What is tic80 an alternative to?

tic80 is an open-source alternative to GameMaker and Construct 3. Other open-source alternatives to GameMaker include GDevelop, Godot and Renpy.

Is tic80 actively maintained?

Yes. The most recent commit to tic80 was on 13 October 2026, and the latest release is v1.3.1, published on 5 October 2026. The project has 6.2k stars on GitHub.

tic80: open-source alternative to GameMaker, Construct 3

About tic80

TIC-80 is a free and open source fantasy computer for making, playing and sharing tiny games. It includes built-in tools for development such as code, sprites, maps, sound editors and a command line, which are sufficient to create a mini retro game. The final output is a cartridge file that can be stored and played on the website.

Key features

Built-in tools for code, sprites, maps, and sound editing
Command line interface for development
Produces cartridge files that can be stored and played on the website
Games can be packed into a player that works on all popular platforms
Technical limitations for retro-style games: 240x136 pixel display, 16-color palette, 256 8x8 color sprites, 4-channel sound

Good fit for

Creating mini retro games
Sharing games as cartridge files on the website
Distributing games as standalone players on multiple platforms

Built with: C tools
Tags: fantasy computer; retro gaming; game development; open source; tiny games

tic80: questions and answers

What is tic80 used for?: tic80 is a free and open source fantasy computer with built-in development tools for creating mini retro games. It is a good fit for creating mini retro games, sharing games as cartridge files on the website and distributing games as standalone players on multiple platforms.
Is tic80 open source?: Yes. tic80 is open source under the MIT licence. Its source code is on GitHub at nesbox/TIC-80 and is written mainly in C.
Is tic80 free?: Yes. tic80 is open source, so the software itself is free to use. A managed cloud version is also available.
Can I self-host tic80?: Yes. tic80 can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure.
What is tic80 an alternative to?: tic80 is an open-source alternative to GameMaker and Construct 3. Other open-source alternatives to GameMaker include GDevelop, Godot and Renpy.
Is tic80 actively maintained?: Yes. The most recent commit to tic80 was on 13 October 2026, and the latest release is v1.3.1, published on 5 October 2026. The project has 6.2k stars on GitHub.