Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Voxatron VS TIC-80

Compare Voxatron VS TIC-80 and see what are their differences

Voxatron logo Voxatron

Voxel-based fantasy console

TIC-80 logo TIC-80

TIC-80 is a fantasy computer where you can make, play and share tiny games.
  • Voxatron Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-21
  • TIC-80 Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-20

Voxatron features and specs

  • Unique Visuals
    Voxatron features a distinctive voxel-based graphical style that is both retro and innovative, providing a fresh aesthetic compared to traditional pixel or 3D graphics.
  • Comprehensive Creation Tools
    The game includes tools for players to create and share their own levels and content, fostering a creative community and extending the game's longevity.
  • Diverse Gameplay
    Voxatron offers a mix of action, adventure, and puzzles, providing a varied gameplay experience that appeals to a wide range of players.
  • Active Community Support
    The game has a dedicated community of players and creators who actively produce and share content, enriching the game world with a range of user-generated levels.

Possible disadvantages of Voxatron

  • Limited Graphics Appeal
    The voxel graphics, while unique, may not appeal to all players, particularly those accustomed to high-definition textures and more realistic visuals.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    The game's creation tools, although powerful, can be complex and intimidating for newcomers, requiring time to learn and master.
  • Niche Audience
    Given its unique style and gameplay mechanics, Voxatron might cater more to a niche audience than to mainstream gamers seeking conventional experiences.
  • Lack of Updates
    Some users have expressed concerns over the lack of frequent updates, which can lead to uncertainties about the game's ongoing development and support.

TIC-80 features and specs

  • Portability
    TIC-80 can run on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and even web browsers. This allows for a wide range of accessibility and convenience.
  • Integrated Development Environment
    TIC-80 offers an all-in-one IDE with code editor, sprite editor, map editor, sound and music editors. This integrated environment simplifies the development process by keeping all the necessary tools in one place.
  • Retro Aesthetic
    It provides a nostalgic development experience with its retro-style visual and audio capabilities, appealing to fans of old-school gaming.
  • Free Version Availability
    A free version is available with most features accessible, making it easy for beginners and hobbyists to get started without any initial cost.
  • Community and Resources
    TIC-80 has an active community and a growing number of tutorials and resources, which can be very helpful for new developers to get support and learn new tricks.

Possible disadvantages of TIC-80

  • Limited Resources
    Due to its retro hardware constraints, TIC-80 has limitations on resources such as memory and performance, which can be a restricting factor for more complex or resource-intensive projects.
  • Learning Curve
    While it is beginner-friendly in many aspects, the environment and API have unique characteristics that may require some time and effort to get used to, especially for those unfamiliar with retro-style development.
  • Feature Restrictions in Free Version
    Although a free version exists, it comes with some feature limitations compared to the Pro version, which might be necessary for more advanced projects.
  • Niche Audience
    The focus on retro-style game development may not appeal to everyone, particularly those looking for modern development tools or more powerful engines.
  • Limited Market Share
    Compared to more established game development platforms, TIC-80 has a smaller user base and market share, which might limit exposure and collaboration opportunities.

Analysis of TIC-80

Overall verdict

  • TIC-80 is a well-regarded tool for hobbyists and indie game developers looking to create retro-style games. Its simplicity combined with a comprehensive feature set makes it an excellent choice for both learning game development and creating polished projects. If you enjoy the challenge and charm of retro game design, TIC-80 is a great option.

Why this product is good

  • TIC-80 is considered a good fantasy console because it offers a complete suite of development tools within a retro-style environment reminiscent of early gaming consoles. It is particularly appreciated for its ease of use, cross-platform compatibility, and active community support. The console provides an 8-bit system with built-in tools for coding, drawing sprites, creating music, and designing levels, making it a perfect choice for developing small games and creative projects. TIC-80 also has a straightforward scripting language (Lua), which is accessible for beginners while still being powerful enough for more experienced developers.

Recommended for

    TIC-80 is ideal for beginners in game development who want to learn in a fun, manageable environment. It's also suitable for experienced developers looking to quickly prototype game ideas or participate in game jams. Fans of retro gaming aesthetics and developers interested in mastering an 8-bit style will find TIC-80 particularly appealing.

Voxatron videos

Voxatron with CaptainSparklez - Part 1

More videos:

  • Review - Voxatron Alpha Review :: GameTunnel Application Video
  • Review - Voxatron | Indie Spotlight Ep. 6 (Gameplay/Review)

TIC-80 videos

RetroArch TIC-80 Core | Let's Play

More videos:

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Voxatron and TIC-80)
Game Engine
14 14%
86% 86
Game Development
15 15%
85% 85
Graph Databases
32 32%
68% 68
3D Game Engine
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Voxatron and TIC-80

Voxatron Reviews

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TIC-80 Reviews

16 Scratch Alternatives
TIC-80 is an online marketplace based on an open source network through which users can quickly get help regarding building, sharing, and playing numerous games. This platform lets its users get the complete development tools, such as code, maps, sprites, sound editors, command lines, and much more. It can even permit clients to have the cartridge file at the end to easily...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, TIC-80 seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 72 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Voxatron mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Voxatron yet. Tracking of Voxatron recommendations started around Mar 2021.

TIC-80 mentions (72)

  • RPG in a Box
    You'll probably love [TIC-80](https://tic80.com/). - Source: Hacker News / 25 days ago
  • Antirez/load81: SDL based Lua programming environment for kids similar to Codea
    And TIC-80 (https://tic80.com/). It can be used with "lua, ruby, js, moon, fennel, scheme, squirrel, wren, wasm, janet or python". - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • X11-Basic (1991-2020)
    Like this maybe? https://tic80.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • The Fennel Programming Language
    You'll always need to deal with a bit of Lua afaik. If you like fantasy consoles, you can use TIC-80[1] to not have to deal with any Lua. [1] https://tic80.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • Ask HN: What's the most fun you've had developing for an older gaming system?
    Not 100% retro but I've had a lot of fun doing Tiny Code Christmas[1] the last couple of years on TIC-80 [2] For actual retro system. 68000 assembler on the Atari ST is fun or for a slightly different challenge the Amiga [1] https://tcc.lovebyte.party/ [2] https://tic80.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Voxatron and TIC-80, you can also consider the following products

PICO-8 - Lua-based fantasy console for making and playing tiny, computer games and programs.

Godot Engine - Feature-packed 2D and 3D open source game engine.

LIKO-12 - Fantasy console built with the Love 2D game engine.

LOVE 2D - Hi there! LÖVE is an *awesome* framework you can use to make 2D games in Lua.

Bitsy - Bitsy is a small, fast, embeddable, durable in-memory graph database that implements the Blueprints API.

Pyxel - Retro game engine for Python inspired by fantasy consoles.