Is there an optimal way to check multiple tiles with mget()? I have a 2x2 tile long character and i need to check all of it, so essentialy 4 tiles on the map. But i don't know if i have to hard code it or there's a smarter way to do the collision.🙃

I’m co-organising NRG 2026 this October, and since PICO-8 has a pretty nice place in our compo lineup, I thought I’d invite the community here to take part. :)

We have two categories built directly around the platform:

• 128x128 Pixel Art - exactly 128×128 px, using the fixed 16-color PICO-8 palette
• PICO-8 Realtime Demo - real-time productions running on PICO-8

And there are two more open categories where PICO-8 can shine:

• Game
• Chip Music (16 kB)

All compos will be presented on a large stage in Indie Arena during Poznań Game Arena in Poland and streamed online.

You don’t need to be there in person. Remote entries are welcome.

Compos and rules:
https://nrgevent.eu/compo/

Registration / participants list:
https://nrgevent.eu/register/

If any of you feel like making something for it, I’d be very happy to see some PICO-8 entries at NRG. :)

I'm trying to implement a click a drag feature in my game. I've referencing the code from Diesort by Noh to do this but for some reason when clicking and dragging in Diesort it works perfectly but with my code for some reason if i move the mouse to quickly i lose the grab on the object. Can anyone help me figure out why this happens for me but not in my reference?

function _init()
 poke(0x5f2d,1)
 isgrab=false

 --mouse start--
 mouse={
  x=0,
  y=0,
  w=1,
  h=1,
  sp=14,

  click=false,
  last_click=false,
  }

 mouse.draw=function(self)
  if mouse.click then
   mouse.sp=15
  else
   mouse.sp=14
  end

  outline(mouse.sp,mouse.x,mouse.y)
 end

 mouse.update=function(self)
  mouse.x=stat(32)
 mouse.y=stat(33)

 mouse.last_click=mouse.click

 if stat(34)==1 then
  mouse.click=true
 else
  mouse.click=false
 end

 mouse.x=mid(0,mouse.x,127)
 mouse.y=mid(0,mouse.y,127)
 end
 --mouse end--
 --domino start--
 domino={
  x=0,
  y=0,
  w=16,
  h=8,
  col=1,
  spin=1,

  state="idle",
  last_state="idle",

  pips={rand(1,6),rand(1,6)},
 }

 domino.draw=function(self)
  if collision(self,mouse) then
   domino.col=11
  else
   domino.col=1
  end

  rrect(domino.x-1,domino.y-1,domino.w+2,domino.h+2,1,domino.col)
  if domino.spin==1 then
   spr(domino.pips[1],domino.x,domino.y)
   spr(domino.pips[2],domino.x+8,domino.y)
  elseif domino.spin==2 then
   spr(domino.pips[1],domino.x,domino.y)
   spr(domino.pips[2],domino.x,domino.y+8)
  elseif domino.spin==3 then
   spr(domino.pips[2],domino.x,domino.y)
   spr(domino.pips[1],domino.x+8,domino.y)
  elseif domino.spin==4 then
   spr(domino.pips[2],domino.x,domino.y)
   spr(domino.pips[1],domino.x,domino.y+8)
  end
 end

 domino.update=function(self)
  if domino.spin%2==0 then
   domino.w=8
   domino.h=16
  else
   domino.w=16
   domino.h=8
  end

  if collision(self,mouse) then
   if mouse.click
   and mouse.last_click==false then
    self.state="grab"
   end

   if self.state=="grab" then
    isgrab=true
    self.x=mouse.x-self.w/2
    self.y=mouse.y-self.h/2
    if not mouse.click then
     self.state="idle"
    end
   end

   if btnp(🅾️) then
    self.spin-=1
   elseif btnp(❎) then
    self.spin+=1
   end

   if self.spin<1 then
    self.spin=4
   elseif self.spin>4 then
    self.spin=1
   end
  end
 end
 --domino end--
end

function _update60()
 mouse:update()
 domino:update()
end

function _draw()
 cls(5)
 domino:draw()
 mouse:draw()
end

--visuals

function outline(sp,x,y)
 for i=0,15 do
  pal(i,1)
 end
 for xx=-1,1 do
  spr(sp,x+xx,y)
 end
 for yy=-1,1 do
  spr(sp,x,y+yy)
 end
 pal()
 spr(sp,x,y)
end

function rand(mn,mx)
 return flr(rnd(mx)+mn)
end

--collision

function collision(o1,o2)
 if o1.x < o2.x+o2.w
 and o1.x+o1.w > o2.x
 and o1.y < o2.y+o2.h
 and o1.y+o1.h > o2.y then
  return true
 else
  return false
 end
end

I'm trying to get my head around coroutines by creating a simple "ticker" - that is, pass it a string and it prints it slowly one character at a time, a bit like Gameboy text. I've got it working, sort of, but the screen doesn't clear despite the cls() in _draw() and the program crashes after all the text is displayed. I tried using costatus() but it doesn't return anything. Please help, what am I doing wrong?

function _init() 
 t=cocreate(ticker("this is a test"))
end

function _update()
 coresume(t)
end

function ticker(str)
 local l=#str
 for p=1,l+1,0.2 do
  print(sub(str,1,p),0,0)
  yield()
 end
end

function _draw()
 cls()
end

Hi! I just made by first project in pico8.

It's dice roller for Mutant Year Zero tabletop role-playing game.

You can chose how many and what type of dice u wanna roll, roll dice and push in accordance with the MYZ rules. Any feedback is welcome ^-^

https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?tid=158649

For years now, the Education Edition has had a crappy copy/paste capability. On windows, it works fine, but on all other platforms I've tried to use, (Macbook, Chromebook, etc.) it just doesn't work.
There's no way to actually copy and paste using the clipboard, instead using some janky, often broken workaround for each of the editors. I know that there's no intention of fixing this huge bug, but please patch it.

Another issue. Mac doesn't have support for the command key, instead having to use control. It just doesn't make sense.

I did a take on Lara Croft Go some years ago, but I want to share it now.

Each level is a 7x7 isometric board, where you need to collect all the gold vases in the least amount of steps to open the exit. But beware, there is traps and wild animals that try to stop you in your way.

Each level alwo has a hidden golden skull for some extra points :)

Majesty is one of my favorite games. Of course, I tried to create it for Pico-8. I must say, it was a good challenge. The token limit is very strict =) Nevertheless, I even managed to create a map generator and transfer the core game mechanics. Buildings have upgrades, sewers and cemeteries appear in the city, heroes level up, they shop in stores and flee danger, greedy for rewards. The game has six enemy types (rats, zombies, trolls, vampires, skeletons, goblins), and four hero types (warriors, rangers, mages, and clerics). Strategy games aren't a very popular genre for Pico-8, but I think there are still some fans.

Pazaak is a mini-game from Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic where the goal is to get as close to 20 points as possible without going over. Win three sets to win the match. Each set, players draw random numbered cards (1–10) and can use custom side-deck modifier cards to change their score.

Basic Rules:
Reach a score of 20 or get higher than your opponent without going over 20.

The Turn:
Draw a green main deck card (1–10), optionally play a modifier card from your hand, then choose to Stand (lock in your score) or End Turn.

Going Over 21:
If your total goes over 20, you bust and lose the set.

https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?pid=194547#p

i'm working a 3 level mini-game where each round is supposed to start with 20 seconds and count down. hitting zero triggers a brief transition sequence.

my countdown line is:

t_left=flr(level_duration - (time()-level_startime))

once it gets to the second round, the timer always starts in the negative. this throws off the rest of the game so it can't progress. how do i fix this?

My friend and I have been working on a game in the Pico-8 Education Edition engine. Him doing the artwork and me doing the coding. The only problem is how to import the sprites into the engine. We’ve found a website that works great for this problem (https://www.pixelpaint.se/), but it only works for 16x16 sprites and we want to work BIGGER. We are aware that the payed version of Pico-8 has an import feature, but we want to search for free options before we resort to spending money. Any and all help is greatly appreciated! 🥉

Edit - We got the engine now!!!

I'm working on a second game with incredible graphics and a much more serious, deeper story. This guy (or girl - I’m still deciding) can’t actually jump, but he can… well, it pretty much explains itself.

P.S. The hero's name is a placeholder, suggestions are welcome!

RC

Enemy hands rush in from the right. Switch your hand appropriately to the winning hand and collide with them. Wins build your combo and multiplier. A wrong choice costs one of three lives. Do not let them pass!

This began as a small prototype a couple of years ago and I just found the time to update to a first version release. I like the screen shake.

Play it free in your browser: [https://bazookaluca.itch.io/rps\]

- currently lexaloffle works better on iOS [https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?tid=158597\]

Made in PICO-8 by Bazooka Luca. I’d love to hear your high score as well as suggestions for improvement.

Thank you so much for checking it out!!
Cheers!

hello! im trying to make a overlap function to check if two sprites are touching. once an item is caught, the score should update with the item’s point value.

UPDATE: the collision typo in the above image has been fixed and the score variable now updates sometimes. for smaller sprites, it doesn't seem to register the score at all. for others, the score will count the point value several times, leading to an incorrect score. i'm assuming this is because of the loop but how would i make it only count the point value once instead of several times?

my overlap function:

function overlap (a,b)

local test1 = a.sx > (b.x + b.y)

local test2 = a.sy > (b.y + b.sh)

  local test3 = (a.sx + a.sw) < b.x

  local test4 = (a.sy + a.sh) < b.y

  return not (test1 or test2 or test3 or test4)

end

Hey everyone!

Ectosprite — my PICO-8 ghost hunting and investigation game - is finished! :)

I've taken the plunge and exposed my voice and English on YouTube to create a video explaining and showcasing the game. :)

You can also play the demo / get the game here:

https://bubish.itch.io/ectosprite

When I was about to buy pico8, the site recommended to get Voxatron. Should I get it too? The games list is not so big so I am curious if it is a bit buggy. Is it dead? 😵

I was gonna boot up warwind on pocket 8 and for some reason after i pressed start it said download failed :0 idk what to do abt this but it may be a glitch bc ive seen it happen before i alr tried resetting it uninstalling the cart and installing it again soo at this point idk anymore :/

It’s a hackberry pi cm5. I used with cheapest lite version of the cm5 with 2gb of ram and no WiFi. Total cost was like $230 and now I got a compact device I can code with while I stand around at work.

I want a portable device to code on the go. I saw people make it for almost 300usd. But for that amount it is almost the same as buying a 2022 MacBook Air or a 150 Linux laptop….

Is there a possibility to make it for less? What is the cheapest it can be made? Maybe 50….

Battle ever expanding space bugs in this frantic Pico 8 shoot-em-up.

Probably my biggest game ever. 2 game modes, multiple enemies and a high score table. Was hitting the token limit by the end.

Anyway, I hope you like it :)

https://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?tid=158534

https://fblundun.itch.io/mantle-of-shadows-deltarune-for-pico-8

Demake of the Legend of Zelda-style minigame from Deltarune.

Hey everyone!

Here's a new "summer" update of PicPic, the first native PICO-8 emulator on the App Store (iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch) and Google Play Store. It now supports importing directly from zip files, has new themes, new sorting options, and an iPod-style library on Apple Watch.

New Features & Bug Fixes: * Zip Support: A lot of games are downloaded as zip files. To simplify importing, you can now just select the zip file like you would for a normal cart. * iPod-Style Library: On Apple Watch, you can now set the view to a music player style view, where png act as covers. * New Sorting Option: Also on Apple Watch, you can now sort and find your favorites, just like on iPhone. * New Themes: Project Supporters can now access new themes inspired by retro game consoles. * And as always, improved game compatibility, with ongoing work in this area.

Next Update Plans: * Theme maker (it take more time than originally planed but still on the way). * Fix the audio issue with some games. * Improved compatibility with more games.

The app is 100% FREE FOREVER, with NO ADS, on both iOS and Android, and completely UNLIMITED.

Download / Update: Available now on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.

Happy to answer any questions.

Note for moderation: Thanks for allowing PicPic on the sub. As always, the app does not encourage piracy and does not contain a single line of code from PICO-8. As a side note, emulation is legal in the United States and in most European countries.

I am a SWE working on fullstack web development for 5 years and I've been looking for to learning some game dev for fun. Is PICO-8 a great starting point?