Awesome GameMaker

A curated list of awesome libraries, snippets, guides, and projects for GameMaker. 😎

Contents

• Getting Started
• Utilities
• Debugging
• Input Handling
• User Interface
• Localization
• Physics
• Sprites
• Audio
• Levels
• Particles
• Lighting
• Shaders
• 3D
• Sprite Stacking
• Networking
• Integrations
• Camera
• Sequences
• State Machines
• Pathing
• Useful Extras
• Blogs
• YouTube
• Community
• Special Thanks

Getting Started

• GameMaker Manual

• GameMaker Release Notes

• GameMaker Marketplace

• Beginner GameMaker Tutorials - Tutorials from Shaun Spalding. A comprehensive introduction to basic features of the IDE. Highly recommended to check out the full playlist if you're a complete beginner.

• Advanced GameMaker Tutorials - Tutorials from DragoniteSpam that dive into more advanced topics related to the GML language. They also have comprehensive 3D and shader introduction videos.

General Recommendations

• If you already have programming experience, learn the GameMaker Language (GML) instead of the Visual (Drag and Drop) feature.

• For pixel art, AESprite is a popular alternative to the native sprite editor. 💸

• Don't be afraid to use other developer libraries. A lot of them are free for a reason. Just be mindful of the license.

• Updates to the IDE and runtime can break your game (like syntax changes to GML). If you are working in a group, make sure you are running on the same version of GMS and only update when given a fair warning. You can reinstall previous versions of your IDE at the GMS download page.

• Unless your game requires complex physics interactions, it's generally advised to avoid GameMaker's built-in physics system.

• Schedule routine backups for projects. If you are dealing with larger media files in your repo, try Git LFS.

Utilities

• gm-core - Foundational utility suite and a great starting point for new GameMaker projects. Comes with quality of life methods, networking tools, testing framework, delta timing, and more.

• FAST - Flexible Assistant Toolkit. Similar to gm-core but comes with input and resolution handling.

• Stitch - Pipeline Development Kit. Includes cross-project imports, batch-creating/updating sprites and sounds, texture page management, and more. Tested on Windows only.

• Outside the Box - More system-level utility tools. Includes saving/loading files outside of the GameMaker sandbox, toggling borderless/windowed modes at runtime, and querying detailed memory usage information.

• DDDEditor - General purpose game editor.

• handytools - A collection of Juju's libraries in one convenient project.

• Iota - Lightweight timestep library.

• Stopwatch - GameMaker alarm replacement.

• wTimer - Robust alternative for alarms.

• FrogAlarm - Another easy alternative to GameMaker alarms.

• fuwafuwa - Easy-to-use timer system.

• Timer - Timer methods based on setTimeout and setInterval from JS.

• Broadcast - Event handling library.

• EventGML - Lightweight and fast Node.js style Events Library.

• Polarca - Interpolation functions.

• Twerp - Easing function similar to lerp().

• Coroutines - Asynchronous functions for GameMaker.

• gm-cadence - Schedule code to run at certain times and for certain durations, similar to Coroutines.

• GML-OOP - A constructor library for operating the primary functionalities of GameMaker.

• GML-Classes - Another project that adds OOP functionality to GameMaker.

• Map - Hash table implementations.

• Matrices - A collection of matrix handling scripts.

• gm-stream - Data structure manipulation.

• Promises - An adaptation of JavaScript Promises.

• Destructors - Allows you to use ds_* types such as lists and maps inside of structs.

• SNAP - Easy data format saving and loading. Please note that newer versions of GameMaker contain json_parse and json_stringify. However, if you are converting csv, ini, xml, etc, you may find this very useful.

• Dynamo - Dynamic data loader.

• LWO - Lightweight objects using structs.

• Gumshoe - Simple deep file search function.

• Lock And Key - String and file encryption.

• Mathematical Scripts - A collection of math scripts.

• Seedpod - A collection of scripts to improve the GML programming experience.

• Trixscript - Juices up your game with useful functions.

• CoreExtension - A collection of CC0 programming libraries.

• Voxeledphoton's FreeGMScripts - Additional GML helper functions. Some may be out of date with 2.3+ syntax.

• ForEach - Adds a foreach implementation for arrays, ds_lists, ds_maps, ds_stacks, ds_queues, ds_priorities and structs.

• DeepCopy - Deep clone class instances / constructed structs, anonymous structs and arrays nested in any order!

• Motion Scripts - Provides replacement methods for built-in motion variables.

• Cottonwool - Safe surfaces without memory leaks.

• Canvas - Another great solution for surface management.

• zlib functions - Simple compression/decompression functions.

• Window Taskbar - Windows only. Flash the game window border and/or its taskbar button.

• GMSDLL - A template project for building DLLs for GameMaker.

• Extension Collection - A suite of various extensions.

• GMLodash - Functional programming in GML.

• GML-Prelude - Another functional programming library for GML.

• Wraptor - A library of wrapper functions.

• Autoframer - Automatically handles resizing the game view across different display and window sizes.

• GML+ - A script collection with a goal to "fill the gaps" in GML. 💸

• GMLive - Livecoding / interactive programming. 💸

• GMEdit - Code editor to use in conjunction with GameMaker.

• YYP Maker - Makes .yyp files for you.

• Rubber - Compile GameMaker projects via the command line. Here's a great guide on how to use it.

• gml-highscorer - Highscore and trophy system.

• SSave - Simple file saving system.

• GMD3D11 - A DLL for interfacing with Windows Direct3D.

Debugging

• rt-shell - Easy to use in-game shell. Create your own commands, command meta data, command suggestions, history, etc.

• Olympus - Testing Framework.

• Crispy - Unit testing in GameMaker.

• Snitch - Crash and logging system.

• DeerLog - Small log writer.

• gms2-test - Unit testing framework.

• Meta - Runtime asset inspector.

• FPS Speedometer - Pretty framerate display.

• Duck - A fast GML analyzer to enforce code styling and detect errors.

Input Handling

• Input - No nonsense gamepad/keyboard library.

• XeroInput - Another library to handle multiple inputs for a single action.

• InputCandy - Similar to Input as it acts as a wrapper for SDL, but also provides testing, on-screen diagnostics, and some other UI components related to peripherals.

• Good Vibes - Device vibration.

• Mouse Queue - Tracks the Windows mouse pointer with high precision.

• Native Cursors - System-level custom cursors. 💸

User Interface

• Scribble - Efficient multi-effects text renderer.

• Scripture - Another easy to use, highly compatible text renderer. 💸

• Chatterbox - Narrative scripting tool.

• Textboxy - Simple textboxes.

• Crochet - An interactive dialogue editor for writers and programmers.

• NotificationSystem - Notifications in GameMaker.

• YUI - A UI system with live reloading, template system, data binding, and a drag and drop feature.

• Guido - Simple immediate mode GUI framework.

• GMUI-Framework - A pure GML solution to structure and control your menus, drawing parallels to .NET UI.

• GMS2-UI-Library - A Library Full of useful scripts for implementing your UI designs in GameMaker.

• Emu UI - Common UI elements (text input, checkboxes, radio buttons, dialog boxes, etc).

• Easy And Fast Menu - Simple implementation to have a menu up and running in seconds. Seems like a great fit if you're not looking for a bigger solution like GMUI.

• Pause Menu - Another smaller implementation but has a cool animation between menu options.

• Shampoo - GUIs using a markup-like language. 💸

• Magpie - Generic Inventory System.

• ImGuiGML - DLL/GML wrapper of Dear ImGui.

• GUI Framework - GUI implementation from Niris Games.

• Menu Tutorial - FriendlyCosmonaut.

• Smart Clickable GUI - PixelatedPope.

• RTS Selection Tool - Mouse dragging feature to select pawns in an real-time strategy game.

• zitk - Another interesting, Dear ImGui-inspired GUI toolkit. In development, but worth keeping an eye on.

Localization

• polyglot - Localization library.

• gm-i18n - Internationalization of texts simply and quickly, using JSON files.

• lexicon - Another localization solution focused on simplifying implementation.

• GMLocalize - Not a full localization solution. Extracts text strings for localization from a GameMaker Studio 2 project and saves it to a JSON file.

• Small Pentapop Localization Tool - Similar export tool to GMLocalize but exports to a csv.

Physics

• Loj Hadron Collider - A robust, pixel-perfect collision engine.

• On Slopes and Grids - A tutorial to implement 45° slopes.

• GMS2 Platforming System - GameMaker implementation by Ben Allen and an expansion on Shaun Spalding's original 1.4 platformer tutorial.

• Inverse Kinematics Extension - A library for working with inverse kinematics.

• Verlet Integration Library - Verlet integration by Sarek Lambert.

• GMVerlet-Integration - Verlet integration example used for visuals.

• Top-Down Movement & Collision - Robust object-based collision system from the pope. 💸

Sprites

• AESnips - A sprite playback system.

• phgen - Placeholder asset generation.

• Disarm - A spriter skeletal animation at runtime.

• Spritely - Image correction and cleanup for 2D video game sprites.

• PixelUpscaler - Pixel art upscaling shader for awkward resolutions for GameMaker.

• ASESync - Automatically syncs aesprite files in GameMaker.

• conveyorbelt - Similar to ASESync. Export Aesprite files to GameMaker sprites.

• Collage - Texture page builder and image manager. Mimics GameMaker's texture page packing while offering higher flexibility.

Audio

• FMODGMS - Supposedly this doesn't support everything FMOD has to offer and the project itself has been put on-hold. Keep in mind that GameMaker may be getting native FMOD support soon.

• WWiseGMS2 - Bindings for the WWise API. Windows only.

• Echo/Delay Effect - Optimized delay effect. 💸

• wavload - Demonstrates how to externally load .wav files.

• SoLoud - Portable audio engine that "can" work with GMS with some limitations. See here.

• audioExt - Sound External Loader/Unloader Manager.

• ExternalAudio - Load external .wav files at runtime.

• Phonix - Compact audio system. Great for dynamic music!

Levels

• LDtk to GMS - LDtk Importer.

• LDtkParser - Advanced LDtk Importer.

• Room Data Inspector - Collects room data and stores it into a JSON for later use.

• Random Dungeon Generator - Combines user-defined chambers to create a dungeon.

• Random Level Generator - A random level generation example (similar to Nuclear Throne) using GameMaker.

• World Generator - 2D "Top Down" world generation / visualization.

• Wave Function Collapse - Generates a random tile map but not production ready in its current state.

• Draw A Dungeon - Converts your room layouts into a randomized dungeon.

• Destructible Terrain - An example of collidable, destructible terrain in GameMaker Studio using surfaces and grids.

• Cellular Automata Caves - Generates huge caves in a few hundred milliseconds.

Particles

• Particle Editor - Create particles with an easy UI and export into GML code.

• Particles Wrapper - A simplistic particle system wrapper that is designed to make creating particles fun and easy.

• Advanced Particles - A particle implementation that comes with it's own delta timing methods.

Lighting

• Bulb - 2D lighting and shadows.

• Lighting System 2D - Requires GameMaker 2.2+ according to the repo.

• GameMaker Lighting Engine - Tile-based Lighting Engine that projects shadows.

• Lighting Systems - Very fast dynamic 2D lighting implementation from GrizzliusMaximus using shadow casting.

• 3D Fragment Point Lights - 3D point lights using shaders. 💸

Shaders

• TransFX - Transition Library.

• Post Processing Effects - 36 high-quality, customizable effects. 💸

• BJRTFX - Zik's CRT Utility Shader.

• bktGlitch - Glitch shader.

• H O R R I - F I - VHS Shader.

• Cyberpunk Hologram Effect - Create and customize your own holographic effect using this easy-to-implement asset.

• Depth Sorted Sillouettes - Example project to demonstrate shader-based depth sorting sillouettes. Tested on PC, Mac, HTML5, and Android.

• GMShaders.com - Shader tutorials from Xor. Originally hosted at "xorshaders.com".

• 1PassBlur - Blur Shader with adjustable radius.

• Bokeh Blur - Extension of the 1PassBlur which provides a different look. Similar to a real lens blur. Although it's much slower than 1Pass or Dual-Kawase.

• Dual-Kawase - Blur Shader that limits radius but is very efficient.

• Xor's Halftone - A wonderful, versitile halftone shader. Lots of tweakable settings.

• Voronoi - Sampled pixels on a Voronoi diagram.

• Fire-Fun - Some fun magic fireballs.

• Jump Flooding - Jump Flooding Algorithm for GameMaker made with shaders.

• Outline Shader - Outline shader.

• Chameleon - Palette Swapper.

• Xpanda - Include code from external files in your shaders.

• Shadertoy to GameMaker - Convert shadertoy.com GLSL shaders to run in GameMaker.

• Shader Tutorials - Gaming Reverends.

• Shader Tutorials - DragoniteSpam.

3D

• 3D-2D - Official tool to turn 3D models into 2D sprites.

• BBMOD - 3D Rendering Solution. Comes with several modules to import obj, 3D camera setup, integration with ColMesh, and more.

• ColMesh - 3D Collision Library from TheSnidr.

• dotobj - Lightweight .obj/.mtl 3D model loader written in native GML.

• Bronze Box - Example of how to build 3D world models from a 2D grid.

• Camera3D - Simple 3D camera setup.

• Blender to GameMaker - A collection of scripts to export and import Blender models to and from GameMaker.

• DmrVBM - Import/Export tools to load vertex buffer data out of Blender and into GMS.

• Penguin - 3D model conversion tool.

• Three Mice In a Trench Coat - Source for a GameMaker 3D game.

• sPart - 3D Particle System from TheSnidr.

• Terrain Editor - Terrain editor. Exports to gm models, obj, or vertex buffers.

• Cardboard - Isometric 3D Renderer.

• Snowy Snow - 3D Snow Shader.

• 3D GameMaker Playlist - DragoniteSpam.

• 3D Collisions Playlist - DragoniteSpam.

• 3D Optimization Playlist - DragoniteSpam.

Sprite Stacking

• Beginners Guide to Sprite Stacking - A primer on sprite stacking from Avis. Check out part 2 from dev_dwarf as well.

• Fauxton3D - Sprite stacking engine.

• Sprite Stacking Tutorials - Gizmo199.

Networking

• Warp - A feature-rich framework for multiplayer games, written in GameMaker and Node.js.

• EZ Networking - Host/client implementation with a chat feature.

• Patchwire-GM - The network library from gm-core if you want to use this implementation without the entire gm-core suite.

• GMHandshake - A Gist demonstrating a network handshake.

• HTTP GML - Recieve GET requests and upload files in GML.

• GMNest - Socket.IO extension for HTML5 games.

• MultiClient - Non-dll, multiple client launcher for network development.

• Multiplayer Networking Tutorial - Wizirdi.

Integrations

• DHook - Discord integration.

• GMS2_RPC - Another Discord integration.

• NekoPresence - Oops, all Discord integration.

• Dissonance - Knock knock. Who's there? Discord integration.

• Steamworks.gml - Various expansions to Steamworks SDK support in GameMaker: Studio.

• Parworks - Additional functionality for the YYG Steamworks extension.

• GOG.gml - A native extension for GOG.com SDK support.

• GMTwitch - Twitch integration.

Camera

• GameMaker Cameras: As Simple as Possible - Pope's guide on GameMaker's camera system.

• Camera System Guide - Getting started with cameras in GameMaker.

• Pixel Perfect Smooth Camera - An example of pixel-perfect yet smooth camera.

• Dynamic Splitscreen - Local multiplayer split screen implementation that merges the camera when players are close.

• STANNcam - Camera and resolution manager.

• Camera All-In-One - Editor, screenshake, view-resizing, follow modes, screen effects, etc. 💸

Sequences

• Sequences Tutorial - Shaun Spalding.

• Making Splash Screen Sequences - Mash Arcade.

State Machines

• SnowState - Robust finite state machine.

• FastSM - Lightweight alternative to SnowState.

• wFSM - Another Easy-to-use Finite State Machine library.

• True State - Feature-rich finite state machine to handle complex objects. 💸

• Pinocchio - State-based animation system.

Pathing

• Aquila - A* Pathfinding implementation.

• A-Star-Pathing - Another A* pathfinding implementation.

• Grid-based Pathfinding Scripts - Flexible pathfinding system with 3 different algorithms.

Useful Extras

• Animated Flag - Vertex-animated flag.

• Video Player Extension - Play videos. However, the latest version of GMS has video support.

• GMESCAPI - Webcam capture.

• Smile - Sentiment analysis.

• Danmaku Project - Bullet hell engine.

• OrbinautFramework - Accurate framework to make classic Sonic games.

• Dynamic Turn System - Great to use as a base for building turn based combat/gameplay.

• Isometric Tactical RPG Framework - Provides starter assets to create an isometric board game. Dynamic Turn System is included.

• Mouse Trail Effect - Shows how to trace a line with primitives to create a colorful trail.

• Starfield Generator - A script to generate starfields in GameMaker's GML language.

• CleanShapes - Antialiased primitives library for GameMaker.

• GMLScripts.com - Dozens of helper scripts, organized similarly to the official documentation.

• GM48 Resources - Free resources from the community to become better at GameMaker Studio, game development and game jams.

• GameMakerHow - Another great site that acts as a GameMaker Q&A repository for various questions you might ask in GameMaker.

• obj_podcast - Gamedev-centered podcast featuring members of the GameMaker community.

• Dracula Theme - A dark theme for the IDE.

• Gruvbox Theme - A retro groove theme for the IDE.

• 2.3 Syntax in Detail - A full guide of the syntax features/changes in GML from Yal.

• GameMaker Garbage Collection - How garbage collection works in GML.

• GitHub Yacc to GML Fix - Tell GitHub your repo is all GML, not Yacc.

• GameMaker Repo Badges - Fancy badges to add to your README files.

• GameMaker Discord Community GitHub - Have you made a gamemaker tool you want to share? Consider submitting it to the official Discord's GitHub.

• Source Control with Git & GameMaker - FriendlyCosmonaut.

• Game Resolution & Aspect Ratio Management - PixelatedPope.

• Setting up a Virtual Machine for GameMaker - MicahTheManiac.

• Making Attacks Feel Good - Blobfish.

• vim-GML - High quality Vim syntax highlighting for GameMaker.

• List of GameMaker Games - A list of published Steam games using GameMaker.

Blogs

• RefresherTowel - Contains several posts on level generation.

• Tony Str - Some great articles on working with json, regular expressions, and drawing circles in gml.

• Katsaii - Some articles on more advanced gml topics.

YouTube

• Jordan Guillou

• DragoniteSpam

• Shaun Spalding

• FriendlyCosmonaut

• PixelatedPope

• Xor

• GamingEngineer

• TheSnidr

• Peyton Burnham

• Gaming Reverends

• Let's Learn This Together

• Matharoo

• GravityShift Games

• Slyddar

Community

Special Thanks

JujuAdams, FaultyFunctions, Gleb Tsereteli, Shaun Spalding, DragoniteSpam, Nick Ver Voort, PixelatedPope, Tony Strømsnæs, HeartBeast, Xor, Gaming Reverends, Matharoo, YellowAfterlife, Gizmo199, Avis, Josh Wilson, Lojemiru

Footnotes

• This is based on a list from GameMaker Libraries and from Gleb Tsereteli with additional links/details.

• A majority of linked resources will only work with GameMaker 2.3+ due to GML syntax changes. However, if you are working in GameMaker 1.4, most library creators would appreciate it if someone makes backport of their project. ☺

• If you need more general game development resources, check out Awesome Gamedev or MagicTools.

GameMaker® is the property of YoYo Games™. This list is not affiliated with YoYo Games.

Contributing

Have something awesome to share? Check out the Contributing Guidelines.