GameMaker

About

GameMaker is a single player action game. It was developed by YoYo Games Ltd. and was released on May 3, 2022. It received positive reviews from players.

GameMaker is a versatile game development platform that allows users of all skill levels to create high-quality 2D games. Its user-friendly interface features a drag-and-drop system and a powerful programming language, while its advanced exporter enables cross-platform deployment. The platform also provides monetization tools such as in-app purchasing, advertising, analytics, and user engagement. GameMaker is an affordable solution for creating top-tier games quickly and easily.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,101 reviews

humor3 positive mentions

graphics2 negative mentions

GameMaker is an excellent tool for beginners, offering a user-friendly interface and a wealth of tutorials to help new developers get started with game creation.
The engine allows for both visual programming and traditional coding, making it accessible for users with varying levels of experience.
Many successful indie games, including Undertale and Pizza Tower, have been created using GameMaker, showcasing its capabilities for 2D game development.

The recent subscription model for exporting games has frustrated many users, leading to complaints about the cost and accessibility of the software.
There are significant issues with the software's stability and user interface, with some users reporting crashes and difficulties in navigating the IDE.
The requirement to create an Opera account to use certain features has been criticized, as it complicates the user experience and adds unnecessary steps for developers.

optimization
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The optimization of the game engine is generally viewed as solid, with users noting strong performance for games created with it, despite some stuttering in the IDE. While there is a significant performance increase compared to previous versions, the engine still lags behind C++ in terms of calculation speed, and some users have experienced performance degradation. Overall, while the engine allows for downloadable and optimized games, it may not fully meet the expectations of users with less powerful hardware.
- “Very solid game engine and strong performance.”
- “There is quite a significant performance increase over v6 & 7, putting GM8 on par with RMXP.”
- “I've only worked with Scratch, and this is a great way to make my game downloadable and optimized.”
- “I admit, I may not have the most powerful hardware, but I do think that if I can run way more demanding software or games, then the game maker stuttering isn't because of my hardware.”
- “Performance-wise, GMS does calculations about 115 times slower than C++, which is still worse than RPG Maker Ace.”
- “YYC increases performance about 5 times over VM, so a YYC compiled EXE would be about 22 times slower than C++.”
gameplay
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The gameplay experience is mixed, with some users appreciating the fun and accessibility of the mechanics, particularly for newcomers, while others criticize the unintuitive design and misleading documentation. Those interested in creating their own gameplay find it rewarding, but players seeking a more straightforward experience may struggle with the engine's complexities.
- “The gameplay is pretty fun.”
- “Easy to get used to mechanics and good for newbies; a feature I love is that you can do type or physical coding.”
- “Game mechanics are explored and discussed on the forum.”
- “This engine at every step creates the illusion that it's a real and fully functional product, but simultaneously throws absolutely unintuitive mechanics at you.”
- “The documentation indicates that some obvious modern language mechanics work in a totally different way than you expected.”
- “Hell, in just a month I made my own physics system and am doing it right. The same goes for AI; it's just a fancy search engine indexing the web, not something that actually gains more intelligence.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
Users report mixed stability experiences with the software; while it runs flawlessly on Windows 10/11, some Linux users encounter issues, particularly with changes not being saved during development. Overall, the Steam version is noted to have some bugs, impacting the user experience.
- “It's flawless under Windows 10/11, but this software also runs great on Linux, thanks to YYG.”
- “The stability of the game is impressive; I haven't encountered any crashes or bugs.”
- “I appreciate how smoothly everything runs, regardless of the platform I use.”
- “If you're using Linux and you don't want to install the buggy mess of the game.”
- “I have had issues with the program not saving changes to the code that I had spent 30 minutes writing and troubleshooting, only to discover the issue is that the changes were not being saved when I was trying to run the game or the debugger.”
- “GameMaker is a great engine, but the Steam version is a little buggy.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
The graphics in the game are praised for their simplicity and ease of use, particularly with sprite sheet handling and support for SVG and PNG files. However, they fall short of the competitive quality found in more advanced engines like Unreal, with limited support for 3D graphics. Overall, while intuitive, the graphics may not meet the expectations of those seeking high-end visual fidelity.
- “The sprite sheet handling is very easy and works with SVG vector graphic files as well as PNG files.”
- “A masterpiece of simplicity, yet lacking the competitive edge of Unreal Engine's graphic prowess.”
- “Little support for 3D graphics.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The recent monetization changes implemented on November 21, 2023, have been criticized as a cash grab, particularly affecting new users. Some reviewers express disappointment, suggesting that the focus on monetization detracts from the overall product experience.
- “The new monetization model introduced on November 21, 2023, has significantly improved the overall experience.”
- “I appreciate the transparency in the monetization system; it feels fair and balanced.”
- “The recent changes to monetization have made it easier to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend.”
- “This is an obvious cash grab on the new users.”
- “Sad to see that some people are giving bad reviews because of the monetization change instead of actually reviewing the product itself.”
- “When people inquire, it is explained that acceptance of donations or YouTube ads would qualify as commercial use.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is praised for its clever and objective approach, with players finding it genuinely funny and enjoyable. It has received positive endorsements, including a seal of approval from a popular character associated with humor in gaming.
- “You can make funny things, so yeah, it's cool!”
- “Gets a seal of approval from Shiyoon (cute girl from the funny game Algebra Ridge).”
- “You want to use a super funny, objective approach while building the game?”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The reviews indicate a lack of music in the game, with some users noting the absence of a main menu and character, which contributes to a sparse auditory experience. However, the use of Gamemaker markup language (GML) is praised for its ease of learning and ability to integrate sound and music effectively into gameplay.
- “Gamemaker markup language (GML) is very easy to learn, and gives you the power and control to make interactivity, animation, and sound and music work in a cohesive player experience.”
- “No main menu, no music, no main character, no dialogue, nothing.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The story of Undertale is generally well-received, though some users express frustration with the software's limitations, particularly regarding the accessibility of templates. While the narrative itself is not deemed brilliant, it still holds a certain charm that resonates with players. Overall, the story aspect garners mixed feedback, with some appreciating its uniqueness and others feeling hindered by technical issues.
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report that the emotional impact of the game is profound, with some expressing that the physics engine evokes strong feelings, leading to a deeply moving experience that can even result in tears.
- “The physics engine made me cry myself to sleep.”