GameMaker Lite

Name: GameMaker Lite
Availability: Discontinued
Author: YoYo Games

GameMaker Lite was the free version of GameMaker, a drag-and-drop game development tool that let beginners create 2D games without programming knowledge. It provided a visual event system where you defined game logic by selecting actions from menus rather than writing code.

What it did

The program organized game development around objects, sprites, rooms, and events. You created game objects (player, enemy, bullet), assigned sprites (images) to them, and defined their behavior through events (on collision, on key press) with drag-and-drop actions. Rooms served as game levels where you placed objects.

For users who outgrew the visual system, GML (GameMaker Language) allowed scripting custom logic. The Lite version had limitations on resources and export options compared to the paid versions.

Advantages

No programming required for basic games
Visual event system was beginner-friendly
GML scripting for advanced users
Active community sharing tutorials and assets

Drawbacks

Lite version had resource limitations
This old version is no longer available
Export options were restricted in the free tier
Modern GameMaker is free for non-commercial use since 2023

Who it was for

GameMaker Lite was for beginners learning game development without coding experience. The current GameMaker is free for non-commercial use (since November 2023) with far more features and export to multiple platforms. Godot is a free open source alternative. GDevelop offers similar no-code game creation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was GameMaker Lite?

The free version of GameMaker with drag-and-drop game creation, visual events, and basic GML scripting for making 2D games without programming.

Is GameMaker still free?

Since November 2023, GameMaker is free for non-commercial use with full features and multi-platform export. The old Lite version is obsolete.

What free game engines are available?

GameMaker (free for non-commercial), Godot (free, open source), GDevelop (no-code), and Unreal Engine (free until $1M revenue) are popular options.

Features & How-To Guide

#	Feature	How to use
1	Room editor (game level)	Double-click a Room in the asset tree. Drag objects onto the layers (background/objects/tiles/paths).
2	Object and event editor	Assets › Create Object. Each object has events (Create/Step/Draw/Collision) with reaction code assigned to them.
3	Sprite and animation editor	Assets › Create Sprite. Draw and animate 2D graphics with an animation FPS setting.
4	Programming in GML language	Assets › Create Script. A custom scripting language with JIT compilation - variables/loops/conditionals/functions/object events.
5	Game export to multiple platforms	File › Preferences › Platform Settings › Create Executable. Export to Windows/macOS/Ubuntu/HTML5/Android/iOS.
6	Visual drag-and-drop programming	GML Visual - drag action blocks onto an object event sheet without writing code. Switch between modes in the editor.
7	Tile set editor	Assets › Create Tile Set. Create tile sets from a single texture, setting the cell size and animation.
8	In-game sound management	Add WAV/OGG/MP3 files. Control the priority/loop/3D range. Play them with audio_play_sound() in GML.
9	Object motion path editor	Assets › Create Path. Define a movement route as a Bezier curve or a straight line. Assign it via path_start() in GML.
10	Marketplace with ready assets	Tools › Import Local Package (.yymps). Access the official Marketplace with graphics/sounds/scripts/extensions.
11	GLSL/HLSL shader editor	Assets › Create Shader. Write your own graphics shaders in GLSL ES (mobile/HTML5) or HLSL (Windows).
12	GX.games publication	File › Publish to GX.games. Publish games directly on the GX.games platform for free with no commercial license.