A list of awesome resources for Playdate (https://play.date) game development and the Playdate SDK (https://play.date/dev/)
694
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153
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Jan 19, 2025
updated
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Awesome Playdate 
A list of awesome resources for game development on Panic's Playdate console.
⚠️ Links may include spoilers
Contents
Game Development
Programming Frameworks & Languages
Pulp + Pulpscript
A "no-code alternative to the full SDK", Pulp provides a "click-and-place" game editor right in your browser.
Articles on Pulp + Pulpscript
Lua
- Learn X in Y minutes, Where X=Lua - A succinct Lua cheatsheet for developers with experience in other languages like Python.
Playdate SDK
Panic publishes two versions of their SDK: a high-level API for Lua, similar to LÖVE, and a lower-level C library for applications with higher performance needs.
Official
Unofficial
- Install Playdate SDK with Package Managers
- Playdate SDK Docker Image
- Playdate API and build tools in Rust
Playdate SDK Previews
- Playdate Programming LIVE - 50 minute long programming demo that shows some of the SDK and simulator.
- Playdate Unboxing + Project Setup
- Early Playdate SDK release notes
- Code sample in /r/PlaydateConsole
Lua Libraries
The following libraries are expected to work well-enough on the Playdate:
- AnimatedSprite - A lua-based library for animating sprites. Containing finite state machine, json configuration and plugNplay behaviour.
- deep - An "action-queue" library; helpful for things like z-indexing (although the Playdate already has z-index support in its draw ordering).
- GFXP - A library with a collection of dithering patterns for the Playdate. An online version of the editor can be seen here.
- Knife - A collection of useful micro-modules for Lua.
- Jumper - A pure Lua pathfinding library for grid-based games.
- lua-star - A* pathfinding in pure Lua.
- middleclass - A simple OOP library for Lua that introduces inheritance, operator overloads, static variables, and mixin support.
- Noble Engine - Noble Engine is a Lua-based game engine library built on top of the Playdate SDK that offers a variety of helpful features.
- profile.lua - Performance profiling for Lua applications.
- rxi/classic - A tiny class module for Lua. Attempts to stay simple and provide decent performance by avoiding unnecessary over-abstraction.
- rxi/json.lua - A lightweight JSON library for Lua.
- rxi/lume - A collection of functions for Lua, geared towards game development.
- rxi/shash - A simple, lightweight spatial hash for Lua.
- rxi/tick - A small Lua module that simplifies the calling of functions at a set interval or after a delay.
- tiny-ecs - An entity component system in pure Lua.
- vector.lua - An alternative 2D vector library for Lua.
- bump.lua - A 2D colission detection library.
- philanc/plc - Pure Lua Crypto. Crpytographic functions and utilities implemented in pure Lua.
- Keyboard Based Menu - A menu that uses the playdate's keyboard to navigate and select.
LOVE
The Lua-based LÖVE framework offers a similar API to the Playdate Lua SDK, useful for prototyping before the public release of the Playdate SDK.
See love2d-community/awesome-love2d for additional resources.
- Sheepolution's "How to LÖVE" tutorial - An oft-recommended intro to game development in Lua. Most concepts should be transferable to Playdate
- love-playdate-emulation - A basic template for previewing games built with LÖVE in a Playdate-like environment.
C
- Playdate Game Development in C - Alberto Benavent Ramón's Bachelor's Thesis in Multimedia Engineering, explores the hardware and software of the Playdate
- Taxman Engine - A 2D, platform-independent game engine designed for the Playdate. Online demo here.
- Prismatic Engine - A 2D game engine designed for faster prototyping and simplified development with the Playdate C API.
Low-level Hardware Documentation & Datasheets
This information was gleaned from a developer preview unit and screenshots.
- Playdate Reverse Engineering - Unofficial documentation covering the Playdate's file formats, USB serial commands, and server API.
- CPU: ST STM32F746
- Audio: Cirrus 42L52CNZ
- eMMC: Kioxia THGBMDG5D1LBAIT 4GB
- SPI Flash: Winbond W25Q32JVS 4MB
- DRAM: Winbond W967D6HBGX7I 16MB
- LCD Module: Sharp LS027B7DH01A
Experimental & Other
These projects represent experiments with the Playdate. Use at your own risk.
- Crankstart - An experimental Rust crate to write games for the Playdate in Rust.
- playdate-rs - Unofficial Rust binding for Playdate C API.
- playdate4j - Unofficial Java binding for Playdate C API.
- playdate-nim - Nim bindings with extra features for the Playdate SDK.
- VSCode-PlaydateTemplate - VSCode autocompletion with the Playdate simulator. For Windows & Linux.
- VSCode-PlaydateTemplateForLinux - VSCode autocompletion with the Playdate simulator. Linux based system only.
- playdate-vscode-build-macos - VSCode one click build and simple starter template. macOS only.
- mini3d-plus - 3D engine based on the mini3d library provided in the SDK examples.
- pd-usb - JavaScript librarty for interacting with a Playdate connected over USB.
- playbit: Build cross-platform Playdate games, create build scripts, and utilize preprocessor macros!
- GitHub Action: get-playdate-sdk Installs the Playdate SDK in your GitHub Actions Workflows
- pd.sh: A shell script to create a new project from a template, run/stop simulator directly from the terminal.
Development & Graphics tools
- Tiled - 2D map editor
- Thrshold - Figma plugin to apply a threshold effect filter
- LDtk - A modern 2D level editor with a strong focus on user-friendliness
- PlaydateLDtkImporter - Load tilemaps created with LDtk in playdate games
Development Concepts
Game Programming Patterns
- Game Programming Patterns (book) - The Web version is free.
Graphics & Art
- Ditherpunk - An article about monochrome image dithering.
- Stabilized dithering using sphere mapping - A dithering implementation used in Return of the Obra Dinn.
- Playdate Art: Scale - Important notes on designing sprites, fonts, and tiles for the Playdate.
Physics
- Video Game Physics Part I: An Introduction to Rigid Body Dynamics - Core physics material for game developers.
Procedural Generation
- Making Martian Faces - Notes about generating characters for Mars after Midnight.
- Procedural Content Generation Wiki
Graphics
- DrawDate - 1-bit, browser-based sprite editor. GitHub Source.
- Memory Icons - Open Source 1bit icon set
- Pixen - Pixel art editor for Mac and iPad, with recent optimizations for Playdate graphics creation.
Fonts
- Playdate Arcade Fonts - Collection of classic arcade fonts for the Playdate.
- PDFontTool - Converts TrueType Font, OpenType Font to Playdate Font.
Open Source Playdate Games & Example Code
- Artsy Gallery
- Factory Farming
- Game of Life - An implementation of Conway's Game of Life meant to provide a template for games to be built in Love2d and ported to Playdate.
- Gimme Friction Baby - Lua/Playdate port of a classic casual Flash game.
- Klondike Solitaire for Playdate (GitHub Repo)
- Mini3D+ – Enhanced 3D engine for the Panic Playdate.
- Oops You Started An Intergalactic War
- Panels – Build interactive comics for the Playdate console.
- PickPackPup
- Playdate Anticipation Jam Submissions (Unofficial. - Nov. 2020) - A first "pre-Playdate" 1-bit game jam with Playdate-inspired submissions.
- Playlate – A template for Playdate to explore Playdate SDK and build your games faster.
- Playnote Studio - An unofficial Flipnote Studio animation player for the Playdate.
- Six Card Golf - A love2d card game meant to be ported to Playdate.
- Sketch, Share, Solve – Sketch, Share, Solve is a nonogram game for the Playdate.
- Panels – Build interactive comics for the Playdate console.
- Mini3D+ – Enhanced 3D engine for the Panic Playdate.
- BrickCrusher 2000 - Brickbreaker Clone for Playdate
Tutorials & How-Tos
Playdate SDK
- How to Make a Simple Playdate Game - How to make a simple Space Invaders-inspired game (Lua)
- Unlicensed Paddle Game - How to build a Pong clone (Lua)
Pulp
- Pulp Pong - How to recreate the all-time classic Pong
Playdate Games & Dev Blogs
- Crankin's Time Travel Adventure (Official site)
- Daily Driver (Dev Blog)
- HYPER METEOR (Official site)
- Mars after Midnight (Devlog)
- Poly's Roly Rumble (Patreon)
- Pullfrog 2-Bits (Devlog)
- Silverball Tactics (Official site)
- Widget Satchel II: Return of Sprocket (Official site)
Social
Discussion groups
- Unofficial Playdate Discord
- /r/PlaydateConsole/ - A Playdate subreddit. Panic employees comment here occasionally.
Accounts to follow
Official Playdate accounts
- @panic - Official Panic Twitter.
- @playdate - Official Playdate Twitter.
- @playdateAlerts - Official Playdate news.
- @panic@panic.social - Official Panic Mastodon.
- @playdate@panic.social - Official Playdate Mastodon.
Game Dev Accounts
Playdate & Panic
- @gregmaletic - Project lead on Playdate at Panic.
- @mrgan - Designer at Panic. Contributes to Discord server.
- @shauninman - Playdate Developer & Designer at Panic. Developing The Ratcheteer.
- /u/dave__h - Playdate Developer, contributes to /r/PlaydateConsole and the unofficial Discord.
- /u/gregmaletic - Project lead on Playdate at Panic, contributes to /r/PlaydateConsole.
- /u/sardinebrunch - Playdate Developer at Panic, contributes to /r/PlaydateConsole.
- @cabel@social.panic.com - Playdate Developer at Panic.
Third-party Devs
- @amanogames - Developing Pullfrog 2-Bits.
- @andreintg - Developing Date of Life.
- @aronegal - Developing Omaze.
- @bfod - Developing Zipper.
- @castpixel + @Nelsormensch - Developing Forrest Byrnes: Up In Smoke.
- @ChuhaiLabs - Developing Whitewater Wipeout.
- @cmakcmak - Developing Saturday Edition.
- @dadakogames - Developing Questy Chess.
- @davemakes - Developing Executive Golf DX and other Playdate games.
- @davemakes - Developing Robot Fishing.
- @dmierau - Developing Playmaker.
- @Dovuro - Misc. Jam games, including a version of Chess, and a port of Bubble Factory.
- @dukope - Developing Mars after Midnight.
- @DuncanFyfe - Developing Demon Quest 85.
- @frankjonen - Developing Silverball Tactics.
- @GerudoGibbs - Developing Spellcorked.
- @gingerbeardman - Developing Daily Driver.
- @helvetica - Developing Snak.
- @kataStatik - Developing Direct Drive.
- @matthew_ej - Developing Oxy Con Brio.
- @mayli - Developing Boogie Loops.
- @michaelfrei10 - Developing Getting There.
- @mobeenfikree - Developing HYPER METEOR.
- @NicMagnier - Developing Pick Pack Pup.
- @noblerobot - Developing Widget Satchel II: Return of Sprocket.
- @Radstronomical - Developing Casual Birder.
- @RNGParty - Developing Poly's Roly Rumble.
- @Rokashi - Developing Faraway Fairway.
- @SamanthaZero - Developing Echoic Memory.
- @serenityforge - Developing Flipper Lifter.
- @SweetBabyInc - Developing Lost Your Marbles, Recommendation Dog and Reel Steal.
- @tpmcosoftworks - Developing Battleship Godios.
- @uvulaLLC - Developing Crankin's Time Travel Adventure.
- @veubeke - Developing Down the Oubliette.
Contributing
Contributions welcome! Read the contribution guidelines
Footnotes
Official Links
- Official Playdate Site
- Playdate Developers Site
- Playdate Store
- Panic Official Site
- Panic Podcasts
- Panic Blog
- Teenage Engineering
- Playdate Media Kit & FAQ
- Panic Mastodon Instance
News, Background, and Fluff
Panic & TE Announcements
- 2021-07-29: Panic Podcast Episode 6: The Story of Playdate
- 2021-06-08: Say Hello to Playdate! (Panic)
- 2021-06-08: Playdate Update - 6/8/2021 (Panic)
- 2020-09-22: Make Games for Playdate (Panic)
- 2019-12-01: December 2019 Update
- 2019-06-01: Small Wonder: Edge Magazine's Playdate Cover Story
- 2019-05-31: "The Talk Show" - Interview with Cabel Sasser, Steven Frank, and Greg Maletic about Playdate
- Teenage Engineering: Introducing Playdate
Contributors
Similar repos
A list of awesome resources for Playdate (https://play.date) game development and the Playdate SDK (https://play.date/dev/)
694
stars
153
commits
Jan 19, 2025
updated
awesome
awesome-list
awesome-lists
gamedev
game-development
love2d
lua
panic
playdate
pulp
pulpscript
README
Awesome Playdate
A list of awesome resources for game development on Panic's Playdate console.
⚠️ Links may include spoilers
Contents
Game Development
Programming Frameworks & Languages
Pulp + Pulpscript
A "no-code alternative to the full SDK", Pulp provides a "click-and-place" game editor right in your browser.
Articles on Pulp + Pulpscript
Lua
- Learn X in Y minutes, Where X=Lua - A succinct Lua cheatsheet for developers with experience in other languages like Python.
Playdate SDK
Panic publishes two versions of their SDK: a high-level API for Lua, similar to LÖVE, and a lower-level C library for applications with higher performance needs.
Official
Unofficial
- Install Playdate SDK with Package Managers
- Playdate SDK Docker Image
- Playdate API and build tools in Rust
Playdate SDK Previews
- Playdate Programming LIVE - 50 minute long programming demo that shows some of the SDK and simulator.
- Playdate Unboxing + Project Setup
- Early Playdate SDK release notes
- Code sample in /r/PlaydateConsole
Lua Libraries
The following libraries are expected to work well-enough on the Playdate:
- AnimatedSprite - A lua-based library for animating sprites. Containing finite state machine, json configuration and plugNplay behaviour.
- deep - An "action-queue" library; helpful for things like z-indexing (although the Playdate already has z-index support in its draw ordering).
- GFXP - A library with a collection of dithering patterns for the Playdate. An online version of the editor can be seen here.
- Knife - A collection of useful micro-modules for Lua.
- Jumper - A pure Lua pathfinding library for grid-based games.
- lua-star - A* pathfinding in pure Lua.
- middleclass - A simple OOP library for Lua that introduces inheritance, operator overloads, static variables, and mixin support.
- Noble Engine - Noble Engine is a Lua-based game engine library built on top of the Playdate SDK that offers a variety of helpful features.
- profile.lua - Performance profiling for Lua applications.
- rxi/classic - A tiny class module for Lua. Attempts to stay simple and provide decent performance by avoiding unnecessary over-abstraction.
- rxi/json.lua - A lightweight JSON library for Lua.
- rxi/lume - A collection of functions for Lua, geared towards game development.
- rxi/shash - A simple, lightweight spatial hash for Lua.
- rxi/tick - A small Lua module that simplifies the calling of functions at a set interval or after a delay.
- tiny-ecs - An entity component system in pure Lua.
- vector.lua - An alternative 2D vector library for Lua.
- bump.lua - A 2D colission detection library.
- philanc/plc - Pure Lua Crypto. Crpytographic functions and utilities implemented in pure Lua.
- Keyboard Based Menu - A menu that uses the playdate's keyboard to navigate and select.
LOVE
The Lua-based LÖVE framework offers a similar API to the Playdate Lua SDK, useful for prototyping before the public release of the Playdate SDK.
See love2d-community/awesome-love2d for additional resources.
- Sheepolution's "How to LÖVE" tutorial - An oft-recommended intro to game development in Lua. Most concepts should be transferable to Playdate
- love-playdate-emulation - A basic template for previewing games built with LÖVE in a Playdate-like environment.
C
- Playdate Game Development in C - Alberto Benavent Ramón's Bachelor's Thesis in Multimedia Engineering, explores the hardware and software of the Playdate
- Taxman Engine - A 2D, platform-independent game engine designed for the Playdate. Online demo here.
- Prismatic Engine - A 2D game engine designed for faster prototyping and simplified development with the Playdate C API.
Low-level Hardware Documentation & Datasheets
This information was gleaned from a developer preview unit and screenshots.
- Playdate Reverse Engineering - Unofficial documentation covering the Playdate's file formats, USB serial commands, and server API.
- CPU: ST STM32F746
- Audio: Cirrus 42L52CNZ
- eMMC: Kioxia THGBMDG5D1LBAIT 4GB
- SPI Flash: Winbond W25Q32JVS 4MB
- DRAM: Winbond W967D6HBGX7I 16MB
- LCD Module: Sharp LS027B7DH01A
Experimental & Other
These projects represent experiments with the Playdate. Use at your own risk.
- Crankstart - An experimental Rust crate to write games for the Playdate in Rust.
- playdate-rs - Unofficial Rust binding for Playdate C API.
- playdate4j - Unofficial Java binding for Playdate C API.
- playdate-nim - Nim bindings with extra features for the Playdate SDK.
- VSCode-PlaydateTemplate - VSCode autocompletion with the Playdate simulator. For Windows & Linux.
- VSCode-PlaydateTemplateForLinux - VSCode autocompletion with the Playdate simulator. Linux based system only.
- playdate-vscode-build-macos - VSCode one click build and simple starter template. macOS only.
- mini3d-plus - 3D engine based on the mini3d library provided in the SDK examples.
- pd-usb - JavaScript librarty for interacting with a Playdate connected over USB.
- playbit: Build cross-platform Playdate games, create build scripts, and utilize preprocessor macros!
- GitHub Action: get-playdate-sdk Installs the Playdate SDK in your GitHub Actions Workflows
- pd.sh: A shell script to create a new project from a template, run/stop simulator directly from the terminal.
Development & Graphics tools
- Tiled - 2D map editor
- Thrshold - Figma plugin to apply a threshold effect filter
- LDtk - A modern 2D level editor with a strong focus on user-friendliness
- PlaydateLDtkImporter - Load tilemaps created with LDtk in playdate games
Development Concepts
Game Programming Patterns
- Game Programming Patterns (book) - The Web version is free.
Graphics & Art
- Ditherpunk - An article about monochrome image dithering.
- Stabilized dithering using sphere mapping - A dithering implementation used in Return of the Obra Dinn.
- Playdate Art: Scale - Important notes on designing sprites, fonts, and tiles for the Playdate.
Physics
- Video Game Physics Part I: An Introduction to Rigid Body Dynamics - Core physics material for game developers.
Procedural Generation
- Making Martian Faces - Notes about generating characters for Mars after Midnight.
- Procedural Content Generation Wiki
Graphics
- DrawDate - 1-bit, browser-based sprite editor. GitHub Source.
- Memory Icons - Open Source 1bit icon set
- Pixen - Pixel art editor for Mac and iPad, with recent optimizations for Playdate graphics creation.
Fonts
- Playdate Arcade Fonts - Collection of classic arcade fonts for the Playdate.
- PDFontTool - Converts TrueType Font, OpenType Font to Playdate Font.
Open Source Playdate Games & Example Code
- Artsy Gallery
- Factory Farming
- Game of Life - An implementation of Conway's Game of Life meant to provide a template for games to be built in Love2d and ported to Playdate.
- Gimme Friction Baby - Lua/Playdate port of a classic casual Flash game.
- Klondike Solitaire for Playdate (GitHub Repo)
- Mini3D+ – Enhanced 3D engine for the Panic Playdate.
- Oops You Started An Intergalactic War
- Panels – Build interactive comics for the Playdate console.
- PickPackPup
- Playdate Anticipation Jam Submissions (Unofficial. - Nov. 2020) - A first "pre-Playdate" 1-bit game jam with Playdate-inspired submissions.
- Playlate – A template for Playdate to explore Playdate SDK and build your games faster.
- Playnote Studio - An unofficial Flipnote Studio animation player for the Playdate.
- Six Card Golf - A love2d card game meant to be ported to Playdate.
- Sketch, Share, Solve – Sketch, Share, Solve is a nonogram game for the Playdate.
- Panels – Build interactive comics for the Playdate console.
- Mini3D+ – Enhanced 3D engine for the Panic Playdate.
- BrickCrusher 2000 - Brickbreaker Clone for Playdate
Tutorials & How-Tos
Playdate SDK
- How to Make a Simple Playdate Game - How to make a simple Space Invaders-inspired game (Lua)
- Unlicensed Paddle Game - How to build a Pong clone (Lua)
Pulp
- Pulp Pong - How to recreate the all-time classic Pong
Playdate Games & Dev Blogs
- Crankin's Time Travel Adventure (Official site)
- Daily Driver (Dev Blog)
- HYPER METEOR (Official site)
- Mars after Midnight (Devlog)
- Poly's Roly Rumble (Patreon)
- Pullfrog 2-Bits (Devlog)
- Silverball Tactics (Official site)
- Widget Satchel II: Return of Sprocket (Official site)
Social
Discussion groups
- Unofficial Playdate Discord
- /r/PlaydateConsole/ - A Playdate subreddit. Panic employees comment here occasionally.
Accounts to follow
Official Playdate accounts
- @panic - Official Panic Twitter.
- @playdate - Official Playdate Twitter.
- @playdateAlerts - Official Playdate news.
- @panic@panic.social - Official Panic Mastodon.
- @playdate@panic.social - Official Playdate Mastodon.
Game Dev Accounts
Playdate & Panic
- @gregmaletic - Project lead on Playdate at Panic.
- @mrgan - Designer at Panic. Contributes to Discord server.
- @shauninman - Playdate Developer & Designer at Panic. Developing The Ratcheteer.
- /u/dave__h - Playdate Developer, contributes to /r/PlaydateConsole and the unofficial Discord.
- /u/gregmaletic - Project lead on Playdate at Panic, contributes to /r/PlaydateConsole.
- /u/sardinebrunch - Playdate Developer at Panic, contributes to /r/PlaydateConsole.
- @cabel@social.panic.com - Playdate Developer at Panic.
Third-party Devs
- @amanogames - Developing Pullfrog 2-Bits.
- @andreintg - Developing Date of Life.
- @aronegal - Developing Omaze.
- @bfod - Developing Zipper.
- @castpixel + @Nelsormensch - Developing Forrest Byrnes: Up In Smoke.
- @ChuhaiLabs - Developing Whitewater Wipeout.
- @cmakcmak - Developing Saturday Edition.
- @dadakogames - Developing Questy Chess.
- @davemakes - Developing Executive Golf DX and other Playdate games.
- @davemakes - Developing Robot Fishing.
- @dmierau - Developing Playmaker.
- @Dovuro - Misc. Jam games, including a version of Chess, and a port of Bubble Factory.
- @dukope - Developing Mars after Midnight.
- @DuncanFyfe - Developing Demon Quest 85.
- @frankjonen - Developing Silverball Tactics.
- @GerudoGibbs - Developing Spellcorked.
- @gingerbeardman - Developing Daily Driver.
- @helvetica - Developing Snak.
- @kataStatik - Developing Direct Drive.
- @matthew_ej - Developing Oxy Con Brio.
- @mayli - Developing Boogie Loops.
- @michaelfrei10 - Developing Getting There.
- @mobeenfikree - Developing HYPER METEOR.
- @NicMagnier - Developing Pick Pack Pup.
- @noblerobot - Developing Widget Satchel II: Return of Sprocket.
- @Radstronomical - Developing Casual Birder.
- @RNGParty - Developing Poly's Roly Rumble.
- @Rokashi - Developing Faraway Fairway.
- @SamanthaZero - Developing Echoic Memory.
- @serenityforge - Developing Flipper Lifter.
- @SweetBabyInc - Developing Lost Your Marbles, Recommendation Dog and Reel Steal.
- @tpmcosoftworks - Developing Battleship Godios.
- @uvulaLLC - Developing Crankin's Time Travel Adventure.
- @veubeke - Developing Down the Oubliette.
Contributing
Contributions welcome! Read the contribution guidelines
Footnotes
Official Links
- Official Playdate Site
- Playdate Developers Site
- Playdate Store
- Panic Official Site
- Panic Podcasts
- Panic Blog
- Teenage Engineering
- Playdate Media Kit & FAQ
- Panic Mastodon Instance
News, Background, and Fluff
Panic & TE Announcements
- 2021-07-29: Panic Podcast Episode 6: The Story of Playdate
- 2021-06-08: Say Hello to Playdate! (Panic)
- 2021-06-08: Playdate Update - 6/8/2021 (Panic)
- 2020-09-22: Make Games for Playdate (Panic)
- 2019-12-01: December 2019 Update
- 2019-06-01: Small Wonder: Edge Magazine's Playdate Cover Story
- 2019-05-31: "The Talk Show" - Interview with Cabel Sasser, Steven Frank, and Greg Maletic about Playdate
- Teenage Engineering: Introducing Playdate