B8:// Make BeepMini Games
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A couple of months ago I found a strange handheld console in my grandfather’s attic. It looked like a cross between a Game Boy and a tiny CRT television, complete with cassette cartridges. Inside those cartridges I discovered code — surprisingly similar to JavaScript — for dozens of unfinished games.
I’ve been adapting these lost games to run in the browser, and this site is where I’ll share them.
BeepMini - a Fantasy Console for Retro Games
BeepMini is an open-source JavaScript game engine for making retro games in the browser. Inspired by the 8-bit era, it's built to be simple, lightweight, and fun to use. BeepMini includes tools for games, art, and music, so you can build games with minimal code.
It works well for both beginners and experienced developers. BeepMini is free released under the MIT licence, and the source code is on GitHub.
Want to see how it all works? 👉 Read the 1-page explainer
Engine Features
Graphics and Fonts
Get started fast with built-in pixel-art graphics for characters (with animations), tilemaps, and menus. BeepMini also includes retro-style text mode fonts that bring an instant old-school look to your games.
Built-in Sound Effects
Access a library of over 100 retro sound effects, all powered by zzfx and generated live in the browser. You can use them straight away, customise existing ones, or design brand new sounds for your game.
Built-in Game State
Save progress and settings with a single game state system that automatically saves games to localStorage. Player data is stored safely in the browser, so games can be closed and continued without extra setup.
Built-in Music
Create authentic chiptune tracks directly in the browser with no need for external files. BeepMini includes a simple music generator tool that can produce new music automatically, or you can write your own using a lightweight format.
Tilemaps
Design 2D levels quickly with the built-in tilemap system. Define layouts using JSON or even text formats, or take advantage of the map editor. BeepMini automatically handles the loading and drawing of your maps.
Game Utilities
BeepMini includes common features developers need, such as inventory systems, menus, level passcodes, repeatable random numbers, an ECS framework, particles, and more. These tools let you focus on gameplay instead of boilerplate.
Input Handling
Keyboard and touch controls are mapped to the same system, so you only write your input code once. Whether your game is played with a keyboard, touchscreen, or both, everything works seamlessly.
Mobile Controls
Games run smoothly on phones and tablets thanks to touch-based console controls. They appear automatically when the game is loaded on a mobile device, so you don’t need to configure anything.
Browser First
BeepMini games run in any modern web browser without plugins or downloads. Share your project with a link and play instantly on desktop, mobile, or tablet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is BeepMini a fantasy console?
BeepMini is a Fantasy console and a JavaScript library.
Can I run BeepMini games on mobile?
Yes. BeepMini runs in any modern browser and automatically shows touch controls on phones and tablets.
Do I need to install anything?
No. Just include the script tag on a web page and you’re ready to go.
Can I make my own graphics and sounds?
Yes. BeepMini comes with built-in assets, but you can replace them with your own tiles, fonts, music, and sound effects.
Is BeepMini free to use?
Yes. BeepMini is open source and released under the MIT licence.
What kinds of games can I make?
Anything. BeepMini specialises in textmode or tile-based, but has the ability to make anything you like. Puzzles, RPGs, platformers, and more.
Why does the code refer to b8?
B8 is short for BeepMini (8 letters starting with B). In addition the library was originally called Beep8, and the name stuck around in the code.