Getting Started

What is Naucto?

Naucto is a browser-based retro game engine that lets you create 2D pixel-art games using Lua. Everything happens in your browser: draw sprites, paint maps, write code, and play your game – all in one place.

The engine renders on a 320 x 180 pixel canvas using WebGL, with 8 x 8 pixel sprite tiles. It is inspired by fantasy consoles and designed to make game creation accessible and fun.

Your first game in 3 steps

Step 1: Draw a sprite

Open the Sprite Editor and draw a small character on sprite slot 0. Each sprite is an 8 x 8 pixel tile.

Step 2: Write the code

Switch to the Code Editor and type:

function _init()
  x = 160
  y = 90
end

function _update()
  if key_pressed("ArrowLeft") then x = x - 2 end
  if key_pressed("ArrowRight") then x = x + 2 end
  if key_pressed("ArrowUp") then y = y - 2 end
  if key_pressed("ArrowDown") then y = y + 2 end
end

function _draw()
  clear(0)
  sprite(0, x, y, 1, 1)
end

Step 3: Play

Click the Play button. You should see your sprite on a black background. Use the arrow keys to move it around.

That’s it – you just made a game!

What to explore next

• Game Loop – understand how _init, _update, and _draw work together

• Coordinates and Rendering Model – learn about the screen, coordinate system, and sprite sheet layout

• API Reference – browse the full list of Lua functions available to you

• Editors – learn how to use each editor

• Tutorials – follow step-by-step tutorials to build complete games