I've been playing around with PICO-8 to explore what it might be like to use for computer game art and philosophy. Here's my latest:
Obsessive
A tiny art-game about mental health.
Don't let your thoughts get the better of you... Or is there another way?
"This was one of the first 'art' games I made. I had been struggling with obsessive thoughts and had the idea of mixing a basic 'pong' or 'breakout'-style game with phrases that would get stuck in my head. I was playing around with the idea of a game you couldn't win. The more you try, the more you fail. I also liked the idea that, at some point, the player would just get locked out of trying again. That's done through a simple forced save state. I guess it's sort of an anti-game in that respect. It's pretty basic. I made it in about a day when I was feeling a bit low. But I think it kind of works."
0 comments
This is also serving as a test for memory manipulation.
And yes i need that first line of code, if you remove it and restart the screen go black.
0 comments
A short, but charming platforming experience you need to play! Inspired by the golden age of retro gaming, My Soul Got Lost In A Dungeon blends the classic pixel charm and simplicity of old school platformers with tight, modern and easy to understand controls.
The game features 16 hand crafted levels, with different types of enemies, obstacles and items. Take control of your soul and defeat all enemies with the help of your dash ability in order to proceed to the next floor.
Whether you're here to beat the game in record time, or just relive the feeling of popping in a cartridge and pressing start, My Soul Got Lost In A Dungeon is ready to bring the nostalgia ;)
0 comments
A gravity-based asteroid shooter where you need to clear the solar system of asteroids using the gravity of nearby planets to deflect your shots, without hitting the planets themselves.
You get 10 seconds per shot, and the remaining time in each level is your score. If you take too long, more asteroids spawn in. Each new level adds more asteroids.
Left/Right to aim, hold O to fast-aim, press X to shoot.
To Do:
- Add point bonuses such as "long shot" for extra long shots, or "near miss" to reward using tighter slingshots.
- Add music and better sounds.
- Save high scores.
0 comments
Zombulance casts you in the role of an ambulance driver in a city overrun with zombies.
Venture out into the world to locate and transport survivors to safety.
Put survivors to work in upgrading your vehicle with larger capacity, defensive measures, all-terrain capabilities and engine improvements.
Explore between coast, city, and countryside to vacate all remaining humans and save the world, because only when the whole world is dead will healthcare find a way.
This is a de-make of the 2006 Japanese PS2 title "Zombie Vs. Ambulance", which was an entry in the popular Simple2k budget series of the era.
This was developed for the Pioneer Valley Game Developers 2025 PICO-Jam!
3 comments
Control the green square, optimize your steps, collect powerful new moves, survive sixteen cycles, and dismantle language and meaning.
A Brough-like game made for the roguetemple's Fortnight game jam.
Screenshots
How to Play
Arrow buttons to move. Circle is confirm and Cross is cancel.
You do not attack by moving into enemies. The only way to attack is to use an action (AXN bar on the left).
When you step on a tile, the symbol on the tile gets added to your context (CTX bar on the right). Once you have collected the required symbols to perform an action, the action lights up and you can now use it. Performing an action does not consume the symbol.
1 comment
With the new version of Pico8 you can use 4 diffrent CARTDATA-Ids to store 1000 bytes.
But what can you do, when you need more? This demo-file stores 1k bytes (16 cartdata-ids!) of data.
How it's work:
The Run-command does the trick. It restart the cartridge, reset the cartdata-ids-usage (and other stuff, like music) and you can pass a command line (even in the web-version). Sadly it erased every variable BUT it does not erase the free memory (0x4300 to 0x5fff and 0x8000 to 0xffff). So simple store there your complete gamedata and use "RUN".
The magic happen at the beginning. The code checks if a command line was passed to the cartridge. In the commandline is encoded what to do, which memory-adress should be saved, how many bytes and which "baseid" should be used.
It simple calls a series of cartdata and memcpy to save or load the data. When more than 4 ids are needed, it re-"run" the code with a updated command line.
When all data is saved or loaded, the variable "resume" is set to "true".
0 comments
Rural Rampage - Update 1:
Made a lot of progress since last night! Added a win state, another level (the bridge), and semi trucks!
Known bugs:
- After a game over or win, the first car to spawn behind the player (in the right lane) is invisible, but does not hurt the player. Low priority, but will fix.
- Level transitions look a little rough still, gotta play around with those.
- Semi-truck collision just uses the standard hit boxes. This works fine enough for oncoming semis, but not the right lane semis, as you can drive through the trailer.
- Want to deduct the timer from final score, having problems only doing it one time and not every frame. Will spend more time with this.
0 comments
.webp)
I finished my first pico-8 game, more like an execise than a game but i still like it, if you happen to se a floating bone around make sure to capture it and post it here, its very rare!
4 comments
Made in two days for the PVGD Pico Jam 2025.
Demake (remake?) of the classic flash game Don't S*** Your Pants by Cellar Door Games.
Try to get all the awards :)
Instructions
Type commands, and don't crap your pants.
If you're stuck, try LOOKing at things.
1 comment
Horizon Glide
Battle through infinite isometric worlds in this arcade hover-ship shooter!
About
Horizon Glide is an infinite isometric arcade shooter where you pilot a hovering ship through endless procedurally generated landscapes. Navigate dynamic terrain, manage your ammo, and survive against enemy forces in this unique blend of exploration and combat.
Features
- Procedurally generated infinite worlds - Every playthrough is unique
- Isometric 3D perspective - Classic arcade viewpoint built entirely in PICO-8
- Dynamic terrain generation - From water levels to mountain peaks
- Combat system - Battle enemy ships while managing limited ammo
1 comment
A game for the PVGD Pico-8 Jam 2025 by Jonny D.
Fly through the stars, picking up aliens and taking them quickly to their destination! Flying into asteroids is not advised.
Uses Speako8 to inform and taunt you.
1 comment
A tiny anxiety inducing game. Press the direction of the green object and don't fumble under pressure
2 comments
DoorNotes
My First Cartridge!
This is my first cartridge, a simple silly song. I wanted to test to see if I could have sound effects playing in sync. I don't know if it is the best way to do that, but I was happy that I got it to work.
Controls
The arrow keys open and close the doors.
0 comments
Spy vs spy demake
One mission. One rival. One survivor.
Game overview
A faithful retro demake of the classic console/computer spy duel.
Collect all five secret items and escape through the airport before your rival.
Set traps to slow him down, and find antidotes to avoid his tricks.
Search furniture, outsmart your opponent, and be the first to get away!
26 levels available.
Play against human or computer.
Any feedback/suggestion is welcome.
Controls
Exploration mode
ARROWS: Move inside rooms
X: Search for items
2 comments
Does not work on the BBS
This game is multiple cartridges (mapdata and stage selector) - which doesn't work on the BBS.
See the itch.io or neocities for a playbale version!
https://astralsparv.itch.io/slidetrack
https://astralsparv.neocities.org/creations/play/slidetrack/
The original Slidetrack (predecessor to Slidetrack Expanded) - now open sourced!
Copied from ITCH.IO:
Slidetrack is a short relaxing game made in Pico-8 consisting of 4 stages and 32 levels.
You finish each level by solving simple puzzles to reach every tile.
Using a downloaded copy, you can save your times for each stage and speedrun the stages for the fastest times
Controls
Arrow Keys - Movement
Z - Toggle the touchscreen
X (Hold) - Restart the level
Enter - Open the menu (when in a level)
1 comment
This is a P8 adaptation of a "Rainbow Magazine" type-in video game called "Penguin Icarus" by Nick Bradbury for the Tandy Color Computer 3. Although the level layouts are different the game play is mostly the same, but faster and with more sound effects, particles and more. The code has not been optimized!
You are a penguin in envy of the other small birds and the large metal birds that fly high in the sky and dream of one day flying...
2 comments
