Aseprite

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Aseprite is a pixel art tool designed for creating 2D animations in games, featuring layers and frames, RGBA or indexed color modes, and various animation tools like real-time preview, onion skinning, and tag frames. It also offers pixel art tools like shading, filled contour, and tiled mode, with options for exporting sprite sheets and automation through a command line interface. This software provides updates for the 1.x series up to version 1.9.

Genres & Tags

Indie

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

99%

Audience ScoreBased on 8,712 reviews

graphics71 positive mentions

grinding12 negative mentions

graphics
252 mentions
28 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the software are primarily focused on pixel art, which some users appreciate for its nostalgic 90s aesthetic, while others find it outdated. Many reviewers highlight the program's user-friendly interface and aesthetic appeal, making it an excellent choice for both beginners and experienced artists looking to create pixel-based artwork and animations. Overall, it is praised as a powerful and enjoyable tool for pixel art creation, despite some criticisms regarding its limitations compared to more comprehensive graphic design software.
- “Aseprite is an exceptional pixel art application that has become an indispensable tool for any artist passionate about creating stunning pixel-based graphics.”
- “The aesthetic of the program is also great, with everything being in pixel-art fashion.”
- “It's simple to learn, is pretty cheap in comparison to its competitors, and it's aesthetically pleasing to look at while you're working.”
- “Be warned, the graphics are not the best, it looks like the 90s.”
- “The graphics are really bad, I don't know why it looks like an old video game. How do I fix it?”
- “Graphics could use some work, but other than that, very well made.”
humor
37 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in this pixel art program is widely appreciated, with users enjoying the ability to create funny sprites and characters, often leading to amusing animations and memes. Many reviews highlight the joy of drawing quirky designs, such as "funny giraffe man" and "funny little squares," emphasizing the lighthearted and entertaining nature of the tool. Overall, it serves as a delightful platform for creativity and humor, making it a favorite for casual fun and artistic expression.
- “I love using Pickcels to draw funny goofy guys in a funny goofy style and make animations people will grow to hate after it gets spammed.”
- “I use it all the time, even just to quickly draw up memes for friends or make funny little gifs involving our running jokes.”
- “Funny pixel art program.”
gameplay
25 mentions
40 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its fun, innovative mechanics and deep, engaging systems that encourage players to learn and master shortcuts. Many users find it addictive and replayable, with a simple interface that allows for quick mastery of tools, although some note its high difficulty level. However, there are contrasting opinions, with a few reviewers criticizing the gameplay as lacking depth and sound design.
- “Innovative gameplay, very unique.”
- “Addicting, fun gameplay.”
- “The mechanics and interface are really simple to understand, and many of the tools are really fun and super fast to use.”
- “Making it so users have to study shortcuts and app mechanics before even trying to use it.”
- “Garbage game, the gameplay is atrocious and the complete lack of any form of sound effects or music sickens me.”
- “Bad story, terrible characters and horrible gameplay.”
optimization
18 mentions
28 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
22 % negative mentions
The optimization of this pixel art tool is highly praised, particularly for its performance on older hardware and its tailored features for pixel art development. Users appreciate the smooth operation and the ability to create animations, although some have encountered minor issues like stuttering on certain systems, which can often be resolved with simple adjustments. Overall, it is recommended as an excellent choice for indie developers seeking a powerful and efficient pixel art editor.
- “Highly optimized for pixel art game development workflow. I recommend this if you're a pixel art indie developer looking for a powerful tool that can be used in commercial projects.”
- “Great and optimized for fantastic pixel art.”
- “The program runs smoothly and has a lot of options, and the fact that you can make animations with it is awesome.”
- “Its also a better experience if you do it that way because the horrid unoptimized Steam launcher won't have to boot up every time you want to open the damn app, and yes I paid full price just to say screw you.”
- “Photoshop, unlike Aseprite, is bloated with features that you never use in pixel art, which at best is just annoying, at worst it tanks the performance and makes the experience so much worse.”
- “[Important tip for people who use Linux:] I have had issues on some but not all Linux systems with stuttering graphics.”
music
16 mentions
44 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the game is highlighted as a significant enhancement to the user experience, particularly through the calming and inspiring soundtrack composed by Joe Hisaishi, which complements the creative process in Aseprite. While some users appreciate the peaceful atmosphere the music creates, others express disappointment over the absence of sound effects or music in certain gameplay elements, indicating a mixed reception regarding the overall audio experience. Overall, the soundtrack is praised for its ability to elevate the artistic experience, though some users wish for more variety and integration in the gameplay.
- “Aseprite is a fantastic pixel art and animation software that is made even better with its amazing soundtrack.”
- “The soundtrack, composed by Joe Hisaishi, is the perfect accompaniment to the creative process, providing a peaceful and inspiring atmosphere for artists.”
- “The music perfectly matches the software's minimalist design, creating a cohesive and seamless environment for users.”
- “The music is calming and soothing, allowing users to fully immerse themselves in their work without any distractions.”
- “Garbage game, the gameplay is atrocious and the complete lack of any form of sound effects or music sickens me.”
- “Lacks Mario Paint's music composer though =(”
story
16 mentions
31 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players praising it as one of the best they've experienced, highlighting emotional plot twists and strong character development. However, others found the storyline lackluster and criticized the characters and gameplay. Overall, the narrative seems to resonate deeply with some while leaving others wanting more.
- “Better story than any other game I have played.”
- “No spoilers but the plot twist near the end made me cry.”
- “Great game, great story and character development.”
- “☑ no story”
- “The storyline felt a bit lackluster but I don't know if that matters much in this game's case.”
- “Bad story, terrible characters and horrible gameplay.”
grinding
13 mentions
0 % positive mentions
8 % neutral mentions
92 % negative mentions
Users express a mixed experience with grinding in pixel art creation, highlighting the tediousness of manual adjustments and the time-consuming nature of animation processes. While some find the grinding aspect frustrating due to poor palette handling and cumbersome interfaces, others appreciate tools that automate repetitive tasks, making the overall experience more intuitive and satisfying. Ultimately, mastering pixel art requires significant practice and dedication, often described as a grind.
- “There is nothing more sanity grinding than making a slight adjustment to the color I'm using, pressing fill on the pixels, then I check with the dropper and it's the same.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The palette handling is pure garbage; you always end up grinding your teeth to figure out why the selected tool isn't doing anything, and the interface is pure cancer.”
emotional
8 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Users express a deep emotional connection to the program, highlighting its ability to evoke strong feelings, including joy and sadness. Many describe moments of vulnerability, such as crying during plot twists and feeling validated in their artistic abilities, while also appreciating the program's wholesome and heartwarming nature. Overall, it resonates as a profoundly moving experience for users.
- “A universal, heartfelt scream.”
- “No spoilers but the plot twist near the end made me cry.”
- “I cried daily.”
stability
8 mentions
25 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the software is stable and performs well even on basic hardware, with extensive support resources available for troubleshooting. However, some glitches, particularly with BMP files and exporting, can be distracting and may disrupt workflow, prompting users to save frequently and back up their work.
- “Runs great on even the most basic of computers, so I can use it on my cheap laptop while I'm away from home.”
- “Runs great; super flexible when it comes to file types.”
- “Bmp files are sometimes buggy.”
- “I have had occasional run-ins with glitches that happen out of nowhere with no explanation whatsoever; basically, your ability to place down pixels can just stop unexpectedly.”
- “However, I will warn you all - save often and make backups of your work, because I have encountered a few glitches.”
character development
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Users praise Aseprite for its comprehensive tools that facilitate character development, highlighting its precision in character design and efficiency in animation. The software is seen as essential for creating pixel art characters and their animations, making it a go-to choice for game developers and artists.
- “From character design to animations, Aseprite handles it all with precision and efficiency.”
- “This program is all that I'll need for my character design pixel art.”
- “Most of the time after the character design, I use this for every animation I need for my games or customer orders.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the software is significantly enhanced by Joe Hisaishi's excellent soundtrack, which creates a peaceful and inspiring environment that is particularly beneficial for artists during their creative process.
- “The soundtrack, composed by Joe Hisaishi, is the perfect accompaniment to the creative process, providing a peaceful and inspiring atmosphere for artists.”
- “The excellent soundtrack composed by Joe Hisaishi elevates the software to another level, providing a peaceful and inspiring atmosphere for artists.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game appears to involve incentivizing user engagement through social interactions, such as likes and awards, which can lead to rewards like skill development in pixel art.
replayability
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players find the gameplay loop to be highly replayable, suggesting that the mechanics and challenges encourage multiple playthroughs.
- “The gameplay loop is incredibly replayable, keeping me engaged for hours.”
- “I love how each playthrough feels fresh and offers new challenges.”
- “The variety of choices and outcomes makes it a game I can return to time and again.”