{"slug": "tic-80", "name": "TIC-80", "category": "other", "category_name": "Other software", "description": "", "recommenders": 4, "commenters": 4, "warners": 0, "score": 3.541, "rising": 0.02, "first": "2026-01-28", "latest": "2026-08-06", "why": "using TIC-80 and Claude Code and had the best time", "why_is_quote": true, "has_verdict": false, "sentiment": {"recommend": 4, "neutral": 0, "compare": 0, "warn": 0}, "spark": [0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 2, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0], "listed": true, "loved": [], "caveat": "", "short_quote": "using TIC-80 and Claude Code and had the best time", "kind": "", "icon": true, "domain": null, "github_repo": null, "official_url": "https://tic80.com", "pricing": "", "aliases": ["TIC-80"], "verdict": null, "praise": [{"label": "", "summary": "", "quotes": [{"id": 787115249, "item_id": 49194703, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49194703", "by": "trescenzi", "date": "2026-08-06", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "I\u2019d highly recommend pico-8 and tic-80.", "excerpt": "If you enjoy this sort of thing I\u2019d highly recommend pico-8 and tic-80. Both have pretty full featured dev environments and have a set of restrictions that make developing for them fun.", "context": "", "use_case": "retro game development", "switched_from": "", "story": "How to Make a Nintendo 64 Game in 2026"}, {"id": 763317361, "item_id": 47707335, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47707335", "by": "Uncorrelated", "date": "2026-04-09", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "There are also open-source versions of the concept, like TIC-80.", "excerpt": "Seems like you\u2019re describing something like Pico-8: https://www.lexaloffle.com/pico-8.php There are also open-source versions of the concept, like TIC-80. The only thing missing is upgradability.", "context": "", "use_case": "", "switched_from": "", "story": "Introduction to Nintendo DS Programming"}, {"id": 762471792, "item_id": 47654487, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47654487", "by": "opan", "date": "2026-04-05", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "TIC-80 is a nice free as in freedom alternative to PICO-8", "excerpt": "TIC-80 is a nice free as in freedom alternative to PICO-8, and it allows more inputs, which makes for better Tetris games (gotta have that hold piece).", "context": "", "use_case": "", "switched_from": "", "story": "L\u00d6VE: 2D Game Framework for Lua"}, {"id": 748704512, "item_id": 46794032, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46794032", "by": "hebejebelus", "date": "2026-01-28", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "using TIC-80 and Claude Code and had the best time", "excerpt": "For a little while recently I did a weekly vibe game jam for myself using TIC-80 and Claude Code and had the best time. I actually went to college for game development but never really built any games for myself because the time investment was just too large and the payoff too small. I really think that agent-driven development is the way for games, especially small games and to prototype gameplay mechanics. 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Both have pretty full featured dev environments and have a set of restrictions that make developing for them fun.", "context": "", "use_case": "retro game development", "switched_from": "", "story": "How to Make a Nintendo 64 Game in 2026"}, {"id": 763317361, "item_id": 47707335, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47707335", "by": "Uncorrelated", "date": "2026-04-09", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "There are also open-source versions of the concept, like TIC-80.", "excerpt": "Seems like you\u2019re describing something like Pico-8: https://www.lexaloffle.com/pico-8.php There are also open-source versions of the concept, like TIC-80. The only thing missing is upgradability.", "context": "", "use_case": "", "switched_from": "", "story": "Introduction to Nintendo DS Programming"}, {"id": 762471792, "item_id": 47654487, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47654487", "by": "opan", "date": "2026-04-05", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "TIC-80 is a nice free as in freedom alternative to PICO-8", "excerpt": "TIC-80 is a nice free as in freedom alternative to PICO-8, and it allows more inputs, which makes for better Tetris games (gotta have that hold piece).", "context": "", "use_case": "", "switched_from": "", "story": "L\u00d6VE: 2D Game Framework for Lua"}, {"id": 748704512, "item_id": 46794032, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46794032", "by": "hebejebelus", "date": "2026-01-28", "stance": "recommend", "quote": "using TIC-80 and Claude Code and had the best time", "excerpt": "For a little while recently I did a weekly vibe game jam for myself using TIC-80 and Claude Code and had the best time. I actually went to college for game development but never really built any games for myself because the time investment was just too large and the payoff too small. I really think that agent-driven development is the way for games, especially small games and to prototype gameplay mechanics. You no l", "context": "", "use_case": "weekly game jams", "switched_from": "", "story": "Show HN: The HN Arcade"}]}