Boba, a one button platformer for PICO-8

Name: Boba, a one button platformer for PICO-8
Availability: InStock
Author: zeta0134

by zeta0134·Jun 15, 2026·3 points·2 comments

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AI Analysis

●●●BangerWizardryCozyNiche Gem

One-button platformer that fits 7922 tokens into PICO-8's 8192 limit.

Strengths

•Single-button control scheme creates genuinely novel platformer mechanics.
•Uses 7922 of 8192 Lua tokens while including code, art, and music.
•Complete game with three areas, upgrades, and 15 collectible coins.

Weaknesses

•Steep learning curve may frustrate casual players initially.
•PICO-8's token limits prevent additional features or content expansion.

Post Description

While learning pico8 for use in an upcoming game jam, I implemented a single-button control scheme for a platformer character. It was so fun to see how many different actions I could squeeze into a single button. I fleshed it out with as many screens of level as I could squeeze into pico8's tiny constraints, and polished it as well as I could.

It certainly has a bit of a learning curve, but I think it turned out pretty well all things considered. The entire project took about three weeks, including code, pixel art, and music. I'm really pleased with pico8's built-in editor and some smart choices in the music tracker. It's limited, but the tools I really needed are all in there.

Enjoy!