GameMaker Studio 2

Game development is not a huge deal anymore, since everyone has access to modern tools that can get the job done with minimal effort and a very small team. In fact, even huge, triple-A graphics engines like Unreal Engine 4 are (somewhat) free nowadays, although indie developers do not have the necessary resources to get the most out of it. In case that’s a bit too overwhelming for you, on the other hand, there are even simpler choices out there.

GameMaker Studio 2 is the long-awaited second installment of the very popular engine designed for the beginners of the industry, and it brings a wide variety of improvements, as well as many new features that should allow you to build even better games. The trademark of the engine is its approachable controls and simple interface, which makes it the perfect tool for those who are just starting out in the industry.

To emphasize on the fact that the editor is designed for small projects, the whole thing is optimized for laptop users, since you do not need multiple monitors to fit everything on the screen in a cozy way. The workflow has also been simplified and improved, given the fact that you can now easily create sprites on the fly and switch between different objects with ease. Handy tiles brushes and an inheritance feature for objects are also part of the deal, plus a few other interface improvements.

Although you can use a drag-and-drop design method to simplify things even further, the application can also be used in a more professional manner by writing actual code. The Game Maker Language is a simplified version of C, so it shouldn’t be difficult to learn the basics and write your first scripts. Integrating them with the characters that are part of the game might be a bit tricky, but there’s no shortage of learning resources.

Speaking of which, the game features a plethora of tutorials, guides and video lessons to get you started on virtually any part of the editor. It’s possible to download entire game projects and open them inside the editor in order to see how a complete game looks like, which is a neat way to learn how to make your own.

Even if GameMaker Studio 2 is not necessarily a revolutionary engine and it might not be the perfect choice for a more complex project, it’s still one of the best tools out there for total beginners in the video game development business. Thus, you can create your first game in a matter of days or even hours if you are committed enough, because the application certainly has all the resources you need.