Game engine

TIC-80

Name: TIC-80
Author: nesbox

TIC-80 is a fantasy console. Code, sprites, map, and sound are one cart. The resolution does not grow, which is why a game gets finished.

Developer: nesbox

Game jamsFirst tiny gamePixel-art cartsTeaching

Official site Technical specifications Compare with Phaser Find your engine

Overview

TIC-80 is not competing with Unity. It is competing with the blank page. A fixed palette and a fixed resolution remove the decisions that usually eat a first weekend. Lua is the language most carts use. The same cart can be opened from the website and played.

Pro export options exist for some platforms. The console and the cart format are free and MIT. If a publisher page promises every export, check the build you actually downloaded.

Use TIC-80 for a jam, a teaching exercise, or a game that should stay small on purpose. Leave it when the design needs a scrolling HD world.

Technical specifications

Specs checked 2026-10-05. Version lines move; the download link is the source of truth.

Developer: nesbox
Version line: Current stable
License: MIT
Business model: The TIC-80 console is MIT. Some export targets are marked pro in the app; read the current build’s export screen before you promise a platform.
Releases: Releases land on the GitHub page. The cart format is the stable part; the app version is not something you design around.
Editor platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Web
Export targets: Windows, macOS, Linux, Web, Android
Languages: Lua, JavaScript, Ruby, Wren, Fennel
2D / 3D: 2D
VR: No.
AR: No.
Visual scripting: No. Code, sprites, and maps live in the cart.
Beginners: Yes. The constraint is the teacher: 240×136, a handful of colors, one file.
Learning curve: Low. Lua is the default. JavaScript, Ruby, Wren, and Fennel are also available.
Graphics: Fantasy-console pixels. That is the entire graphics model.
Team size: One person. A jam team at most.
GitHub stars: 5,400 · nesbox/TIC-80
Documentation: https://github.com/nesbox/TIC-80/wiki
Community: https://tic80.com/play
Assets and examples: https://tic80.com/play
Download: https://tic80.com/

Where it fits

One file holds code, art, and sound.
The limits are strict enough that scope cannot quietly double.
MIT console, playable in the browser.

Where it does not

You cannot grow the resolution when the design changes its mind.
Not a path to mobile 3D or a studio pipeline.
Some exports are pro features in the app.

Matching source

All examples

templates 2D source arcade

TIC-80 cart collection

Several fantasy-console carts in one repository.

arcadebeginnerGitHub

TIC-80

The console itself, with bundled demo carts.

arcadebeginnerGitHub

How does it compare?

Phaser TIC-80 vs Phaser
2D in a normal web page, without the console limits.
Godot TIC-80 vs Godot
When the game needs to grow past one cart.

Guides

Best game engine for beginners in 2026
How to pick a first engine from the game you want to make: Godot, Phaser, Defold, or TIC-80, plus a six-question shortlist.

Questions

What resolution is TIC-80?

240×136 pixels, 16 colors.

Which language should I use?

Lua, unless you already have a reason to pick JavaScript or one of the other built-in languages.

Is it free?

The console is MIT and free. Check the export screen for pro targets before you rely on them.

Where do I find carts to read?

tic80.com/play for games, and the cart collections linked from this site’s TIC-80 page.