Tiled

2D games have to make due with small maps, because of the technological limitations caused by the simple engines. However, that doesn’t mean these maps cannot be detailed, regardless of how small they are. Hence, a lot of effort and time can go into isometric RPGs as well, especially those that emphasize on atmosphere and environment to tell a story.

Tiled is a useful tool for those of you who enjoy modding their favorite 2D games, because it allows you to easily create and export tile maps. Hence, with just a few simple clicks and all the necessary visual elements provided by you, the entire thing can be created in a very short amount of time, depending on how difficult your design is and how familiar you are with the interface.

Technology-wise, the application uses XML to hold the data for the creates maps, which should be compatible with most video games out there. Orthogonal, hexagonal and isometric perspectives are all supported, so that certainly won’t be a problem. Naturally, the process and the techniques differ a bit depending on the perspective, but none of them are particularly complicated to handle.

Once you are done designing the map, it can be easily saved in the desired format and exported to your computer in order to be used somewhere else. Not only that, but you can also resize and offset it if needed, using a few core functions that should be fairly straightforward and obvious. You can also use stamps and fill brushes to ease your work.

As far as the actual user interface is concerned, everyone can figure it out in a matter of seconds, especially if you have dealt with other modding utilities in the past. In essence, you do not need to know a lot of coding to handle this tool, but it could give you an edge, at least when it comes to understanding the parameters you can customize. However, a programming background is certainly not needed.

All these being said, Tiled should be a no-brainer choice for those who deal with a lot modding, or just want to create their own 2D game from scratch. Hence, the plethora of options and the powerful functions make the application a must-have in your inventory.