The Game Boy modding scene has never been more active. As retro gaming continues to grow, so does the number of people not just playing classic games, but building their own. Whether you’re restoring a handheld or assembling a custom build, the next step for many is creating something entirely new—and that’s where GB Studio comes in.
GB Studio is a free, open-source tool that makes it possible to develop Game Boy games without writing a single line of code.
Build Games Without Coding
GB Studio offers a visual, drag-and-drop interface that allows you to create top-down RPGs, narrative-driven adventures, platformers, and more. You don’t need to be a programmer to get started. The tool is designed to be accessible, whether you’re creating your first ROM or building something more advanced.
Games built in GB Studio can be exported as playable ROMs, which means they’ll run on emulators or on original hardware using a flash cart like the EverDrive, EZ-Flash or Ferrante Crafts Flash Cart. You can even press physical cartridges of your games.
The software is under active development and runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Because it’s open source, there’s a strong community behind it—one that constantly contributes to its growth and capabilities.
Get Inspired with GB Studio Central
Alongside the tool itself, GB Studio Central serves as a community hub, offering a collection of resources for creators. From tutorials and sample projects to tilesets, sprites, and templates, GB Studio Central helps new users get started and experienced developers go further.
Most of the assets are free or pay-what-you-want, with proceeds going directly toward continued development and support of the platform. If you’re looking for guidance or want to save time in your creative process, this is where to start.
Why We’re Paying Attention
At Hand Held Legend, we’re all about restoring, modifying, and expanding what’s possible with retro consoles. GB Studio fits right into that mission. It’s one thing to relive the classics—it’s another to create something new that runs on the same hardware. For us, that’s where the future of retro is headed.
If you’re already building custom Game Boys or modding original shells, there’s no better time to explore game development. Whether you’re creating a personal project, sharing a demo online, or looking to produce a physical release, GB Studio opens the door.
We encourage our community to try it out, support the creators, and keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on the Game Boy.
Explore the tool: gbstudio.dev
Support the community: gb-studio-central.itch.io
