GameMaker Studio 2 Desktop

About

GameMaker Studio 2 About the SoftwareGameMaker Studio 2 is the latest and greatest incarnation of GameMaker! It has everything you need to take your idea from concept to finished game. With a fresh user interface and many new exciting features including; Real-Time Animation Editing, a new innovative workflow and seamless path from Drag and Drop to actual code, developing top quality games has…

Genres & Tags

Educational

Play Modes

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

76%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,638 reviews

optimization6 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

GameMaker Studio 2 is beginner-friendly, making it easy for new users to learn coding and game development.
The software offers a powerful sprite editor and a drag-and-drop interface, allowing for quick prototyping and development of 2D games.
There is a wealth of tutorials and community support available, making it accessible for users to find help and resources.

The transition to a subscription model has frustrated many users, especially those who previously purchased a lifetime license.
The user interface can be confusing and cluttered, making it difficult to navigate and manage projects effectively.
Frequent crashes and bugs have been reported, leading to a frustrating experience for users trying to develop their games.

graphics
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
79%
13%
The graphics capabilities of GameMaker Studio 2 are highly praised, particularly for pixel art style games, with users appreciating its built-in sprite editor and various graphic design tools. While it excels in providing a stable environment for creating interactive artwork, some users note a lack of support for vector graphics. Overall, it is considered an excellent choice for both novice and experienced developers looking to create visually appealing games.
- “Gamemaker helps me a lot with graphics, since it gives you many tools for them and its coding language (GML) has a ton of useful functions that save you even more time.”
- “This is also highly recommended for any digital artists with a Wacom/graphics tablet, and you could even produce an animation/movie within a game.”
- “This product is really good but could do with some support with vector graphics.”
- “Gamemaker 2 has a big improvement on its IDE graphics and comfortability.”
- “In my opinion, this software is the best game development tool if you are focusing your game to be pixel art style and also I prefer 'Game Maker Studio 2' instead of using 'Unity' because to me it feels more stable when making your game pixel art styled.”
gameplay
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
70%
15%
The gameplay in GameMaker Studio 2 (GMS2) is highly regarded for its accessibility, thanks to numerous tutorials available online, making it easier for beginners to grasp complex mechanics and workflows. Users appreciate the robust tools for managing 2D assets, although the software lacks comprehensive support for 3D models. While GMS2 allows for rapid prototyping of basic gameplay loops, it requires users to create their own assets and code, distinguishing it as a professional-grade engine compared to simpler alternatives like RPG Maker.
- “Gamemaker gives you lots of tools for managing 2D assets, including sprite editors, tile editors, and physics. However, it lacks tooling for managing 3D models. The GML language has lists, arrays, key-value collections, structs, classes (which they call objects), and objects (which they call instances), along with a few other data structures built in for use in designing AI and game mechanics alongside the base game engine.”
- “You can have a basic platformer or top-down shooter with a basic gameplay loop up and running in just under an hour.”
- “These games with complicated mechanics were created in this program.”
- “Gamemaker gives you lots of tools for managing 2D assets (sprite editors, tile editors, physics) but not very much in the way of tooling for managing 3D models. The GML language has lists, arrays, key-value collections, structs, classes (which they call objects), and objects (which they call instances) and a few other data structures built in for use in designing AI and game mechanics alongside the base game engine.”
- “For complete beginners: please know that this is a proper professional game engine, being a huge step above software such as RPG Maker or Visual Novel Maker. There are no pre-made assets or mechanics, so for a commercial game, you will have to code and make your own art.”
- “Granted it's not polished, but the core mechanics of the game are working.”
stability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of the program is widely criticized, with users reporting frequent crashes, random freezes, and issues with launching games after creating scripts or objects. Many describe the software as "buggy" and lacking the polish of older engines, leading to frustration and the need for workarounds. Overall, the consensus is that the program requires significant improvements in stability before it can be recommended.
- “I get constant crashes, problems with starting the program, random freezes, and the most annoying in my opinion is sometimes when you create a script or object it refuses to launch your game (whether or not anything in the game refers to said script or the object is even in the game) and exits with a non-zero status.”
- “These are the biggest problems for me with the engine. It lacks a level of polish the old engines had. Hopefully these issues will be fixed with time, but I recommend not paying the money for what is essentially a buggy program that can get very frustrating to use.”
- “The resource tree is still clunky (albeit not as clunky) and buggy to deal with, especially when using a custom view.”
optimization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
Overall, users report that the optimization of the tool is commendable, with performance improvements noted—specifically, a 20% increase in compiled game performance compared to previous versions. While it may not match Unity's C# ecosystem, it is considered a solid choice for serious 2D game developers, especially with the availability of numerous tutorials to aid in development. Users express hope for future bug fixes and further optimizations.
- “You still have to be capable in assigning variables, creating sprites, etc. The price is definitely not the best part, but if you are serious about 2D game development, this is a surprisingly good and optimized tool.”
- “There are many tutorials, and all of them will give you an amazing 2D game that runs smoothly.”
- “Great performance improvement (based on user benchmark, the compiled game would gain about 20% performance over GMS).”
- “I think it offers better performance than the typical Unity 2D project; however, Unity outshines GMS2 for the C# ecosystem.”
- “Anyways, I'm hopeful that bug fixes and optimizations will come, and I'm thankful for another generation of GameMaker.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find the humor in the software's accessibility and the unexpected bugs, describing it as a "hilarious program" that is easy for beginners to use. The ability to download it for free and still create entertaining games adds to the comedic appeal, despite some minor issues. Overall, the lighthearted tone and user-friendly nature contribute to a fun experience.
- “Just a hilarious program that is really, really rookie-friendly.”
- “I can make funny games.”
- “But the funny thing is I found some bugs; I can still open the software, but don't worry (insyaallah), I bought this software again.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
38%
13%
The game features a minimal story, often described as non-existent, yet it is praised for its sandbox gameplay. While the plot is considered decent, it is noted for its significant impact on the indie game movement and its role in educating players about programming and game design.
- “The plot is pretty good though.”
- “It arguably helped to spark the indie revolution (along with the release of Cave Story) and served as an introduction to programming and game design for many people.”
- “So... you want to hear a story, eh?”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The monetization strategy has been criticized for becoming increasingly aggressive, overshadowing more essential features of the game, which has led to a negative perception among users in 2021. While the game supports online play and in-game purchases, the focus on monetization detracts from the overall experience.
- “It also offers great support for online play, in-game purchases, different input devices, and customizing each depending on the platform used.”
- “Increasingly aggressive monetization and neglect of more important features make it a really poor option in 2021.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game is generally considered decent, providing a positive aspect amidst overall negative feedback regarding gameplay.
- “Game sucks but I guess the music is alright”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of time, which can lead to a tedious experience due to the interface.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The interface can get a little tedious over time.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the reviews emphasizes the importance of foundational knowledge in programming for aspiring game developers, suggesting that a lack of experience can lead to frustration and hinder the creative process. Users express a sense of urgency for newcomers to equip themselves with the necessary skills to fully engage in game development.
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of GameMaker 2 is perceived as more serious and professional compared to version 1.4, as it has removed many beginner-friendly elements to appeal to a more advanced user base. This shift aims to establish the software as a credible tool for professional game development.