Game Builder Garage, Nintendo’s new game design tool, coming this June

By Giovanni Colantonio May 5, 2021

Game Builder Garage on nintendo switch — Digital Trends Graphic/Erik Mclean via Unsplash

Nintendo has announced Game Builder Garage, a programming tool that lets players build their own games, for the Nintendo Switch. An educational tool aimed at kids, it will be available on Nintendo Switch June 11 and retail for $30.

Nintendo describes the title as a game design and visual programming tool that features “step-by-step lessons created by the minds at Nintendo.” A gameplay trailer gives a glimpse at how it works. There are boxes at the bottom of the screen containing different modules, inputs, and outputs. Players can grab an action like “jump” and map it to a button by simply drawing a line between them.

Learn to make games from the minds at Nintendo! Build your own games from the ground up with the colorful and quirky Nodon when #GameBuilderGarage comes to #NintendoSwitch on June 11!https://t.co/OLw5XSTAMs pic.twitter.com/1A5ovEc5ZM

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) May 5, 2021

The game appears to build on the ideas of Super Mario Maker. One section shows a finger dragging platforms onto a level and resizing them. The trailer indicates that players will be able to create background music, textures, and more within the game.

The game features a colorful interface, but can seemingly get pretty complex. A quick reel of example games made in the tool shows everything from a fighting game featuring giraffes to an Asteroids-style space shooter. The game features guided lessons that teach players how to make seven different games as well as a free programming mode. It looks like a more child friendly version of Media Molecule’s Dreams.

Players will be able to share their creations with friends via codes. Nintendo says that the feature allows friends to work on a project together.

It’s a surprising announcement that’s in line with Nintendo’s recent run of educational games. It’s in the same vein as Nintendo Labo, which featured cardboard projects that players could build.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Tech News

Giovanni Colantonio

Section Editor, Gaming

Giovanni is a writer and video producer focusing on happenings in the video game industry. He has contributed stories to…

Gaming

The best Nintendo Switch games for adults

bayonetta

At first glance, the Nintendo Switch seems like a kid's system. The platform has, historically, been considered for children. However, as Nintendo has grown, so has its fan base. The company has worked to change this perspective and try to garner adult viewership. They've primarily done this by focusing on creating games and bringing in ports that focus on adult audiences.

Although the system may not have all the capabilities of the PlayStation or Xbox, the Nintendo Switch can still bring any adult joy. Adults can, and should, pick up the switch, not just for its portability but also for the awesome games you can play. If you're looking for a more grown-up-centered game for your Nintendo Switch, you've come to the right place!

Gaming

The best video games of June 2023: Street Fighter 6, Diablo IV and more

Ryu performs a special move in Street Fighter 6.

June 2023 was a month of old gaming classics successfully resurfacing. Thanks to the flurry of gaming showcases, we got promising looks at new games in stories franchises like Super Mario Bros., Fable, Prince of Persia, Forza Motorsport, and Sonic the Hedgehog. More importantly, this was reflected in some of the month's biggest launches. Franchises like Final Fantasy, Street Fighter, and Diablo, which don't receive new mainline games that often, all got new entries that lived up to expectations.
Even the cult classic Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective got a remaster. This was actually one of the strongest months for AAA games in a while, although there were definitely still some creative indies in the mix, creating a month that was quite exciting from all corners of the gaming industry. In particular, the following games stood out as the best games of the month.
Street Fighter 6

Capcom released a brand new Street Fighter at the start of the month, and it fixed almost every issue that plagued its predecessor. The core fighting gameplay felt as amazing to play as ever, bolstered by a flashy new Drive Gauge system. Those who enjoy the series for its hardcore, competitive elements will like that, as well as its multiplayer Battle Hub mode. That said, Street Fighter 6 is also the friendliest fighting game ever for newcomers to the genre. New modern controls, as well as a meaty RPG World Tour mode that teaches the ins and outs of many of the game's characters and mechanics, means there's a ton of enjoyment to be had no matter one's skill level.
“From its control options to World Tour’s RPG setup, Street Fighter 6 ensures that it can be a fighting game for pretty much any type of player,” I wrote in a four-and-a-half star review of Street Fighter 6. “You’re likely to find your physical, cultural, or gaming background represented within this game somewhere and have all of the tools at your disposal to go from flashy amateur play to seasoned pro, all in one of the best-looking games of this console generation. Street Fighter 6 is the ultimate fighting game and should be the new gold standard for the genre.”
Street Fighter 2 kicked off the original fighting game boom, and Street Fighter 4 brought the fighting game genre back from irrelevancy. There seems to be some magic surrounding even numbered Street Fighter titles, as Street Fighter 6 feels like the most accessible fighting game yet, and one that everyone will be comparing new games in the genre to for years to come. It's available now for PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Diablo IV

Gaming

Katamari Damacy creator’s new game is about a teen stuck in a T-pose

Teens and a giraffe pose for a school photo in To a T.

Katamari Damacy creator Keita Takahashi revealed his latest game during today's Annapurna Interactive Showcase: To a T. The oddball title, currently in development for Xbox and PC, tells the story of a child perpetually stuck in a T-pose.

Annapurna Interactive Showcase 2023