๐Ÿ•น๏ธ My First GameMaker Game ยท Series 7 ยท 3 Episodes ยท All Free
๐Ÿ•น๏ธ Beginner Friendly ยท GameMaker ยท GML ยท Ages 9+

My First
GameMaker Game

Build 3 real 2D games from scratch in GameMaker no GML experience needed! Each workshop teaches you a new skill, from objects and rooms to enemies and scoring.

๐Ÿง‘ Ages 9+ โœ“ Completely Free ๐Ÿ•น๏ธ GameMaker ๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿ‘ง Parent & Child โœ“ No GML Experience Needed
๐Ÿš€ Start with Episode 1 โ†’
3
Episodes
30+
Steps
9+
Age
Free
Always
The Full Series

3 Games to Build Step by Step

Start at Episode 1 to install GameMaker and write your first GML. Each game teaches new skills objects, rooms, physics, enemies and polish.

Ep 1
๐Ÿš€
โญ Start Here ยท Setup ยท Objects ยท GML Basics
Space Shooter โ€” Your First GML Game
Install GameMaker and write your first GML code. Build a top-down space shooter โ€” move a ship, fire bullets, destroy enemies and track your score. Learn objects, rooms, events and variables.
Ages 9+ 10 Steps ยท ~1 hr Start Building โ†’
Ep 2
๐Ÿƒ
Platformer ยท Physics ยท Tiles ยท Enemies
Platformer Jump, Run & Explore
Build a side-scrolling platformer with gravity, jumping, tile-based levels, moving platforms and enemies to stomp. Learn GML physics, tile maps and collision detection.
Ages 9+ 12 Steps ยท ~1.5 hrs Start Building โ†’
Ep 3
๐Ÿง™
Top-Down RPG ยท Maps ยท Dialogue ยท Inventory
Pixel Quest A Tiny RPG Adventure
Combine everything you've learned to build a tiny top-down RPG. Walk between rooms, talk to NPCs, pick up items and fight enemies. A complete mini-game to show off your GML skills!
Ages 10+ 14 Steps ยท ~2 hrs Start Building โ†’
Before You Start

What You Need to Install

GameMaker is free for non-commercial use. You'll need to create a free YoYo account and download the editor we walk through it all in Episode 1.

๐Ÿ•น๏ธ
GameMaker (Free)
Download GameMaker and sign in with a free YoYo Games account. The free tier lets you export to Windows more than enough for these workshops.
โœ“ Free ยท gamemaker.io
๐Ÿ’ป
Windows or Mac
GameMaker runs on Windows 10/11 and macOS. It's lighter than Unity or Unreal most computers made in the last 8 years will run it fine.
Windows or Mac
๐ŸŽจ
Built-in Sprite Editor
GameMaker includes its own pixel art sprite editor so you can draw your characters and objects right inside the engine no extra tools needed.
โœ“ Included in GameMaker
๐Ÿ“
No GML Needed
We explain every line of GML (GameMaker Language) code as we write it. If you can follow instructions and type carefully, you can build these games.
โœ“ Beginner Friendly
๐Ÿ› ๏ธ Free Browser Tools

Design Your Game Assets

Use these free browser tools alongside GameMaker's built-in editor to plan levels and design characters before you start coding.

๐ŸŽจ
Pixel Studio
Draw pixel art sprites for your characters and enemies at any size. Export as PNG to import directly into GameMaker.
Open Tool โ†’
๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ
Level Designer
Sketch out room layouts, enemy spawn points and platform placement before building them in GameMaker's room editor.
Open Tool โ†’
๐Ÿ”Š
SFX Generator
Generate retro 8-bit sound effects โ€” jumps, shoots, pickups, game over. Export as WAV files to drop into GameMaker.
Open Tool โ†’
๐Ÿ–Œ๏ธ
Colour Palette
Pick a pixel art colour palette to keep your game looking consistent. Export hex values to use in your sprites.
Open Tool โ†’
See all free dev tools โ†’

Ready to build your first GameMaker game?

Download GameMaker for free, create a YoYo Games account, then start Episode 1. You'll have a playable space shooter in about an hour.

๐Ÿš€ Start Episode 1 โ†’ Get GameMaker (Free) โ†—

Questions & Answers

Do I need to know GML before starting?
No. We explain every line of GML (GameMaker Language) as we write it. GML is a beginner-friendly scripting language it reads almost like plain English and is much simpler than C# or C++.
Is GameMaker really free?
The free tier of GameMaker lets you build and export games to Windows at no cost. A paid subscription unlocks exports to Mac, iOS, Android and consoles but for learning, free is more than enough.
How is GameMaker different from Unity or Unreal?
GameMaker is purpose-built for 2D games and is much simpler to get started with. It runs on almost any computer, starts up instantly and gets you to a playable game faster than either Unity or Unreal. Great for beginners who want to see results quickly.
What age is it suitable for?
Episode 1 works well from age 9 with adult support. Episodes 2 and 3 involve more GML and suit ages 10โ€“11+ who are comfortable copying and editing code. GameMaker is one of the friendliest engines for young learners.
Can I publish my GameMaker game?
Yes! Free tier exports run on Windows. You can upload a Windows executable to itch.io so friends can download and play. A paid subscription lets you export to web (HTML5) and mobile too.
Is it really free?
All 3 episodes, forever. No ads, no paywall, no sign-up required here. GameMaker's free tier and YoYo Games account are both free to create.