🕹️ My First GameMaker Game · Series 7 · 5 Episodes · All Free

🕹️ Beginner Friendly · GameMaker · GML · Ages 9+

My First
GameMaker Game

Build 5 real 2D games from scratch in GameMaker no GML experience needed! Each workshop teaches you a new skill, from objects and rooms to particles, live coding and a saved RPG.

🧑 Ages 9+ ✓ Completely Free 🕹️ GameMaker 👨‍👧 Parent & Child ✓ No GML Experience Needed

🏓 Start with Episode 1 →

Episodes

36+

Steps

Age

Free

Always

The Full Series

5 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, particles and a saved RPG. Episode 4 is a change of pace: a live-in-browser coding trainer, no install needed for that one.

Ep 1

🏓

⭐ Start Here · Setup · Objects · GML Basics

Pong, Two Paddles and a Bounce

Install GameMaker and write your first GML code. Build Pong with two paddles, a bouncing ball, scoring and a simple AI, the engine that shipped Undertale, in your hands. Learn objects, rooms, events and variables.

Ages 9+ 6 Steps · ~45 min Start Building →

Ep 2

🏃

Platformer · Collision · Gravity · Camera

Run & Jump, GML Platformer

THE GameMaker genre: pixel-perfect platforming with place_meeting collision, gravity, coyote-time jumping, tile-decorated rooms and a camera that follows, the exact recipe behind countless indie hits.

Ages 9+ 6 Steps · ~1 hr Start Building →

Ep 3

🧱

Breakout · Particles · Screen Shake

Brick Blitz, GML Breakout

Breakout the GameMaker way: spawn a brick wall with two loops, use collision events for bouncing, add particle explosions with the built-in particle system, and screen shake, juice is a first-class citizen here.

Ages 9+ 6 Steps · ~1 hr Start Building →

Ep 4

🚀

⚡ Live in Browser · No Install for This One

Space Shooter, Code It Live

A change of pace: 12 bite-size levels of live GML-style code with no GameMaker install needed, your code runs instantly against a real game right on the page. Movement, shooting, aiming, collisions, health and enemy types.

Ages 11+ 12 Levels · ~1 hr Start Building →

Ep 5

🗡️

Series Finale · Top-Down RPG · Dialogue · Combat

Quest On, GML RPG Basics

The GameMaker finale: a top-down RPG with 8-direction movement, an NPC with a dialogue box, state-based enemies, hearts-and-hits combat, and a saved game, the Undertale-shaped skill set.

Ages 10+ 6 Steps · ~1.5 hrs Start Building →

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.

🕹️

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.

✓ Free · gamemaker.io

💻

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

🎨

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.

✓ Included in GameMaker

📐

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.

✓ Beginner Friendly

🛠️ 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.

🎨

Pixel Studio

Draw pixel art sprites for your characters and enemies at any size. Export as PNG to import directly into GameMaker.

Open Tool →

🗺️

Level Designer

Sketch out room layouts, enemy spawn points and platform placement before building them in GameMaker's room editor.

Open Tool →

🔊

SFX Generator

Generate retro 8-bit sound effects, jumps, shoots, pickups, game over. Export as WAV files to drop into GameMaker.

Open Tool →

🖌️

Colour Palette

Pick a pixel art colour palette to keep your game looking consistent. Export hex values to use in your sprites.

Open Tool →

See all free dev tools →

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 game of Pong in under an hour.

🏓 Start Episode 1 → Get GameMaker (Free) ↗

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. Later episodes involve progressively more GML and suit ages 10-11+ 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 5 episodes, forever. No ads, no paywall, no sign-up required here. GameMaker's free tier and YoYo Games account are both free to create.

Why doesn't Episode 4 need GameMaker installed?

Episode 4 (the Space Shooter) is a live-in-browser coding trainer, a change of pace from the other four episodes. Your GML-style code runs instantly against a real game on the page, no install, no download. Episode 5 goes straight back into the real GameMaker app.

🚀 Keep Going