Real8 Explorer

A PICO-8 explorer and emulator front-end for multiple platforms.

Real8 Explorer is the comfort layer around the Real8 VM + Shell: a native host UI for windowing, menus, input, and tooling, so you can browse, launch, and debug carts with less friction.

Not affiliated with Lexaloffle Games, PICO-8, Nintendo, or RetroArch/Libretro.

Quick links:

• Release notes (v1.1.0)
• Demo cart: demos/pico_extended.p8

Highlights (v1.1.0)

• Publishing workflow: GUI exporters for standalone homebrew on GBA (.gba), 3DS (.3dsx/.cia), and Switch (.nro).
• Real8 expandability: extended framebuffer modes, stereo depth pipeline, and motion sensors.
• Performance and stability improvements across supported targets.
• VM goal: PICO-8 compatibility by default, with optional enhancements when you want them.

Platforms

Features

Core

• Cart loading from disk (.p8 / .png), drag-and-drop on desktop
• Library browsing with local folders, genre grouping, and remote repositories
• Save states
• Custom wallpaper support (on/off)
• Video options: fullscreen, stretch modes, interpolation, optional CRT scanlines
• Audio: music and SFX toggles, queued-audio sync
• Input: keyboard and controller support, HID remapping UI, per-player configs (up to 8)
• Modding: boot games with mods created through the Windows version

Real8 expandability

• Multiple framebuffer modes (fullscreen behavior depends on platform)
• Stereo depth pipeline: stereo on 3DS or red/cyan on other platforms, per-sprite depth buckets
• Motion sensors: accelerometer and gyroscope on 3DS and Switch
• Demo: PICO EXTENDED

Framebuffer Modes

By default, the PICO-8 128x128 resolution applies unless you overide it:

First you target a platform e.g. poke(0x5f85,2) for 3DS, and second you set a platform resolution e.g. poke(0x5fe1,3) for 400x240.

Publishing workflow

Publish your PICO-8 cart as a standalone homebrew game using the GUI exporters:

• Pico2GBA: publish a .gba file (optional 240x160 native resolution)
• PicoTo3DS: publish .3dsx or .cia (optional stereo depth, gyro, and 320x240 native resolution)
• Pico2Switch: publish a .nro file (optional gyro and 1280z720 native resolution)

Developer and power-user tools

• Debug console: logging, pause/resume, step, breakpoints, memory tools
• Real-time modding: live variable editing, favorites, command prompt
• Live LUA injection: PEEK/POKE with console feedback
• Export tools: GFX, MAP, and music tracks to a chosen folder
• Crash handling (Windows): exception logging to logs.txt + a Windows dialog

Supported cart formats

Usage

Load a cart (Windows)

• File -> Open and select a cart
• Or drag a .p8 / .png file onto the window

Load a cart (Switch)

• Local Games: place games in the Switch/Real8/ folder
• Local Repo JSON: place gameslist.json in Switch/Real8/Config
• Remote Games: point to a remote JSON in gamesrepo.txt

Save / load state

• Windows: use the menu or the Shell menu
• Switch: use the Shell menu
• RetroArch: use the default RetroArch save system

Compatibility and known issues

• Supports about 80-90% of PICO-8 games
• Switch builds target FW 21.1.0 | AMS 1.10.1
• 3DS is optimized, but some carts run slower
• Sound engine in some games may not emulate correctly
• Save state reliability varies by game (some carts may load corrupted state)
• Compatibility is good, but difficult titles (Poom, R-Type, etc.) still need work

GBA implementation

The GBA target packages a single .p8.png cart into a standalone GBA ROM and boots it directly (no shell). It renders a 128x128 framebuffer centered in Mode 4 and leans on IWRAM/EWRAM optimizations to hit speed. This implementation is optimized to run on real GBA hardware. See GBA README for build steps, memory layout, and tuning tips.

Screenshots

Toolchains

Windows (SDL)

• Toolchain: MinGW
• Dependencies: SDL2

Nintendo Switch (libnx)

• Toolchain: devkitPro + libnx 4.10.0
• Works with FW 21.1.0 | AMS 1.10.1

Nintendo 3DS (citro2d/citro3d)

• devkitPro + 3ds-dev + 3dstools
• 3dstool (for packing assets)
• Curl (for online fetching)

Nintendo GBA (devkitARM / GBA SDK)

• devkitPro / devkitARM + GBA SDK
• Pico2GBA GUI packer/converter

Libretro

• Libretro toolchain / RetroArch environment

Contributing

When reporting bugs, please include:

• Target (Windows / Switch / 3DS / GBA / Libretro)
• Cart format (.p8 / .png) and a repro case
• Logs (for example, logs.txt on Windows) if available

License

This project is licensed under GPL-3.0 (see LICENSE).

Real8 started as a backronym ("Real-Time Emulation Analog Layer"), but it stuck.