Awesome Arcade Extensions Save
This is a list of MakeCode Arcade extensions that I find super useful (or just plain cool) in my projects.
Note: This repository is depreciated by the new Awesome Arcade Extensions website at https://awesome-arcade-extensions.vercel.app/.
MakeCode Arcade Extensions
This is a list of MakeCode Arcade extensions that I find super useful in my projects. If you would like to suggest an extension be added, please open an issue with a link to the extension on GitHub. Or even better, open a pull request for adding an extension! Make sure to include a description, import url, links to it's GitHub repo, GitHub Pages example if any, forum post showcasing the extension if any, and an entry in the table of contents!
You can find the old Gist here.
Table of contents
- Built-in extensions
-
Not built-in extensions
- arcade-tilemap-a-star
- arcade-custom-menu and 1 fork:
- arcade-block-objects
- arcade-story
- arcade-split-screen
- arcade-sprite-util
- arcade-image-text
- pxt-lantern
- pxt-rtttl
- arcade-shader
- small-tilemaps
- Fast-Random-Blocks
- pxt-arcade-image-transform
- pxt-password-save
- pxt-scaling
- notifications
- Achievements
- pxt-countup
- pxt-sight
- smaller-tilemaps
- arcade-background-scroll
- pxt-image-morph
- grafxkid-tiles
- Inventory
- Stats
- pxt-real-multiplayer
- pxt-arcade-database
- TilemapPath
- arcade-premium-life
- ColorBlock
- arcade-camera-offset
- RPGMuisic
- Musical-Images
- pxt-sound-effects
- arcade-snapshot
- pxt-deltatime
- pxt-blur
- pxt-zoom
- arcade-sprite-events
- arcade-mini-menu
- Experimental extensions
- Tools
Built-in extensions
These extensions are already built in to the editor, all you have to do is go to the toolbox, open the Advanced tab, click on Extensions, and click on the extension you want to import!
arcade-sprite-data
It's local variables, but for sprites! Super useful for saving certain attributes of a sprite like the health of an enemy. This will add a section full of blocks called Data under the Sprites category in the toolbox.
Official docs | GitHub repo | Forum post
Timers
It's literal multithreading! Setup a callback for your code or run it in a separate fiber (thread) with this extension! This will add another category in the toolbox called Timer.
Official docs | GitHub repo | Forum post
settings-blocks
Save data in an easy-to-use JSON-like format, now avaliable for the block users! This will add another category in the toolbox called settings.
Official docs | GitHub repo for block defs | GitHub repo for implementation | Forum post
Color Fading
Want some cool fade-in and fade-out effects for your cutscenes? Or want to change the default colors at runtime? This is the extension for you! This extension goes together nicely with the Story extension linked down below. This will add another category in the toolbox called Color.
Official docs | GitHub repo | Forum post
pxt-button-combos
A simple-to-use extension that allows you to have handlers when buttons are pressed in a certain order. Great for a dancing game! This extension adds a section called Combos in the Controller category.
arcade-minimap
Want a map for your tilemap? You've come to the right extension! This will take your tilemap and scale it down to a specified ratio - you can also add sprites that will be drawn on top of the map! This extension adds a new category called Minimap in the toolbox.
Official docs | GitHub repo | Forum post
arcade-grid
Have an extension do that hard work of aligning sprites to a tilemap! This will add a new category called Grid.
Official docs | GitHub repo | Forum post
arcade-storytelling
The new and improved arcade-story now part of the built-in extensions with new improvements! This will add a category called Story in the toolbox. Note the old story extension is not compatible at all with this one!
Official docs | GitHub repo | Forum post
arcade-tile-util
Import this extension with the URL:
This is the updated tilemap extension allows you to do a lot more with tiles animate them move them and much much more.....
pxt-raycasting
Import this extension with the URL:
Raycasting has been implemented in many projects before, but this extension brings along a blocks API, allowing raycasting games in blocks! Many new features have been added (saying text, jumping) and it has also been added as a built-in extension! This extension adds a "3D Render" category to the toolbox!
GitHub repo | Demo | Forum post
arcade-text
Note: This extension has 1 fork! Please take care in selecting the correct extension!
Easily add text in the form of sprites to your game with this extension! It gives a plethora of options to customize your text, plus with Unicode support! (At the expense of the text being larger) This extension adds a "Text Sprite" category.
There is 1 available fork of this extension.
arcade-text by AqeeAqee
Import this extension with the URL:
This fork of the extension adds multi-line support!
GitHub repo | Demo | Forum post
character-animations
A version of the Animation extension but much more easier to handle if your sprites (Ex. main player) has a lot of different movements, like moving up, down, left, and right. The character-animations extension will automatically start and stop animations depending on what the player is doing. This will add another category in the toolbox called Character.
Not built-in extensions
The following extensions, while just as good as the ones listed above, will require some slightly different steps while importing. First go to the toolbox, open the Advanced tab, click on Extensions, and you will see a text box that says Search or enter project URL.... This is where you will paste in the URL to the extension. The URL will be posted along with the listing.
arcade-tilemap-a-star
Import this extension with the URL:
Help your sprites find their way around your tilemaps with this extension! Just provide 2 locations on a tilemap and it will automagically compute the fastest path between the 2 spots while also moving around walls using the A* algorithm! This will add another section in the Scene category called Path Following in the toolbox.
GitHub repo | Forum post | Wikipedia article on the A* algorithm
arcade-custom-menu
Note: This extension is depreciated! There is a new better extension called arcade-mini-menu that does the same thing but is much more customizable! Note: This extension has 1 fork! Please take care in selecting the correct extension!
Import this extension with the URL:
One of my favorite extensions, it allows you to make a menu out of a list of strings! Use this for selecting options where using game.askForNumber() and game.askForString() would be unintuitive or clumsy. This will add another category in the toolbox called BlockMenu.
There is 1 available fork of this extension.
arcade-custom-menu by AqeeAqee
Import this extension with the URL:
This fork of the extension adds icons and multi-column support!
GitHub repo | Demo | Forum post
arcade-block-objects
Import this extension with the URL:
OOP is no doubt an important topic in programming. This extension will help you make objects in blocks! Attach all sorts of data to an object, like numbers, strings, images, sprites, locations, and more! This will add a category in the toolbox called BlockObject with 7 sub-categories.
arcade-story
Note: This extension is depreciated! There is a new better extension under the same name but different repo that is now part of the built-in extensions! Check out the Forum post about it here.
Import this extension with the URL:
Need some cutscenes with dialog? This extension is for you! Comes with a variety of blocks designed to make writing stories and scenes much easier. This extension pairs great with the Color Fading extension linked above. This will add a new category called Story in the toolbox.
arcade-split-screen
Import this extension with the URL:
Playing MakeCode games with friends can be hard to do without a second device, without the splitscreen extension! This extension allows the user to split the screen, dividing the play area into two separate canvases, each following a different sprite. The extension adds a Split screen category to the toolbox.
GitHub repo | Demo | Forum post
arcade-sprite-util
Import this extension with the URL:
As the name says, this extension has a bunch of utilities for sprites and more, especially anything dealing with trigonometry. This extension adds a new category called Sprite Utils in the toolbox.
GitHub repo | GitHub pages demo
arcade-image-text
Import this extension with the URL:
Simple but sweet, this extension adds the very much-need blocks to print text onto images. This will add a new section called Text under the Images category in the toolbox.
Official docs | GitHub repo | Forum post
pxt-lantern
Import this extension with the URL
Light up your games with this extension! It allows you to turn the lights on or off and add lanterns to sprites so that they have light around them when you turn the lights off. This will add 2 categories called Lantern and Multilights under the toolbox.
GitHub repo | GitHub pages demo* | Forum post
*Note that the GitHub pages demo only demonstrates the original features of the lantern extension written by @riknoll here. A more up-to-date example can be found here.
pxt-rtttl
Import this extension with the URL:
Play beautiful melodies encoded in the RTTTL language in MakeCode with this extension! You can use this website to turn yoru .mid and .midi files into a RTTTL-compatible string of text! This extension adds a block in the Melody section in the Music category in the toolbox.
GitHub repo | GitHub pages demo | Forum post | MIDI to RTTTL converter
arcade-shader
Import this extension with the URL:
Arcade games can get more realistic with shadows! This extension will add a category called Shaders in the toolbox.
small-tilemaps
NOTE: This extension is depreciated! There is now an 8x8 tilemap block in the built-in tilemaps extension!
Import this extension with the URL:
Easy access to an 8x8 tilemap in blocks! Note: If you are switching from an 16x16 to an 8x8 tilemap, don't forget to switch tiles in your code! And delete the 16x16 tiles in the tilemap editor, otherwise you are going to get really confused. This will add a block under Tiles section in the Scene category.
Fast-Random-Blocks
Import this extension with the URL:
Blocks for Fast Random! Have separate RNG objects for different aspects of your game, and with seeding! This will add a Random category in the toolbox.
pxt-arcade-image-transform
Import this extension with the URL:
https://github.com/robo-technical-group/pxt-arcade-image-transform
Rotate images with this extension! This works best with large images. Don't forget to enlarge the base image so when it rotates it has enough room to spin! This will add a Sprite Transforms category in the Advanced section of the toolbox.
GitHub repo | Example | Forum post
pxt-password-save
Import this extension with the URL:
Shove bytes and bools into a string as a save code! Note: This extensions seems to still be in beta (as of January 30, 2021) as importing the extension causes the example code to run instead of your own. This will add a category in the toolbox called Password Save.
GitHub repo | GitHub pages demo | Forum post
pxt-scaling
Import this extension with the URL:
Like pxt-arcade-image-transform, this also allows you to rotate images and scale them too!!! Much better than manually doing it, at the expense of RAM. This extension adds a category called Scaling in the toolbox.
GitHub repo | GitHub pages demo | Forum post
notifications
Import this extension with the URL:
Shows and scrolls notifications like a sprite-say dialog but s c r e t c h e d out! It also supports variable speed and 8x8 icons! (Although it doesn't push notifications down when you display more than one at a time - you need to wait until the current notification is over otherwise you will cover it up - but there are blocks to wait for the notification to finish) This adds a category called Notification.
GitHub repo | GitHub pages demo* | Forum post
*Note that the GitHub pages demo was generated a long time ago so you won't be able to see the code in main.ts or test.ts but the notification still looks the same.
Achievements
Import this extension with the URL:
Your games can ascend to a new level with freaking achievements in MakeCode Arcade! Easily track and display achievements with this extension! This will add a category called Achievements in the toolbox.
GitHub repo | Demo | Forum post
pxt-countup
Import this extension with the URL:
Stop hacking the built-in countdown in your code - it's ugly! Instead, use this extension which does the same thing for you in a nice little extension! This adds a section called Countup in the Info category.
GitHub repo | Demo | Forum post
pxt-sight
Import this extension with the URL:
Inteligent sight now comes to your sprites in MakeCode Arcade! This extension can help you detect whether one sprite can "see" another sprite with some math! (Much better than sending "see" sprites everywhere) This adds a section called Sprite Sight in the toolbox.
GitHub repo | Demo | Forum post
smaller-tilemaps
Import this extension with the URL:
Now we get 4x4, 2x2, and "1x1, at your own risk" tilemaps! Initialize a tilemap and use 4x4 or 2x2 or 1x1 images to manually draw your tiles by code. Note this extension was made in 1 hour so it may be buggy and performance will not be as good as a 8x8 or 16x16 tilemap. This will add a Smaller Tilemaps category.
arcade-background-scroll
NOTE: This extension is depreciated! There is a new better extension under the same name but different repo that is now part of the built-in extensions! As of March 2022, the built-in extension supports parallax! (Forum post)
Import this extension with the URL:
Don't use a sprite to manually scroll the background - use this extension instead! It can scroll your background in with variable vx and vy too! This will add a Scroller category in the toolbox.
pxt-image-morph
Import this extension with the URL:
"Morph" images in MakeCode Arcade! Very cool for switching between images and could be used in say, the reveal of a bad guy's true form! Also very fun for switching between images that are used as instructions instead of a snap change which is boring. This adds an Imagemorph category in the toolbox.
GitHub repo | Demo | Forum post
grafxkid-tiles
Import this extension with the URL:
Don't want to draw up a platformer tileset? @logic_lab on the MakeCode Forums has converted GrafxKid's tileset into MakeCode tiles so you can use them as well! Comes in 4 different seasons and adds 4 new dropdown categorys in the tile category picker in the tilemap editor.
Inventory
Import this extension with the URL:
Man, rendering inventories are a pain in the butt. Until you add this extension! This extension allows you to make items, (which can hold an image, a name, and more) toolbars, (like Minecraft hotbars) and inventories! This extension adds an Inventory category in the toolbox.
GitHub repo | Demo | Forum post
Stats
Import this extension with the URL:
The only reason this extension exists so you can programmatically turn the FPS and sprite count on and off lol. This adds a Stats category to your toolbox.
pxt-real-multiplayer
Import this extension with the URL:
Makes coding multiplayer games over JACDAC easier! It also works in the simulator as well! Note at the time of writing, JACDAC for Arcade is in the middle of a rewrite so things are most likely broken. This will add a Real Multiplayer category to the toolbox.
GitHub repo | Demo | Forum post
pxt-arcade-database
Import this extension with the URL:
Extremely similar to the built-in settings-block extension, this extension also allows you to save data like a database! This will add a Database category.
GitHub repo | Demo | Forum post
TilemapPath
Import this extension with the URL:
Don't manually place walls to make your A-star paths do what you want, use this! You can set a sprite to follow a path between tilemap locations and have handlers when they finish. Note that everytime you set a path, it will recalculate the paths using the A-star extension which can take a long time depending on how big the tilemap is and how many elements there are. This extension adds a TilemapPath category.
GitHub repo | Demo | Forum post
arcade-premium-life
Import this extension with the URL:
It's life but better. This extension uses the default set life and change life by blocks to change the values, but for configuring the look you can use the blocks in the Profile Life category.
ColorBlock
Import this extension with the URL:
Imagine memorizing the values of colors in MakeCode Arcade. This extension will add a block at the very bottom of the Images category.
arcade-camera-offset
Import this extension with the URL:
This simple extension adds a block to the Scene category that allows you to follow a sprite with the camera with an offset! Much better then hacking a sprite to always be off a certain amount.
RPGMuisic
Import this extension with the URL:
This extension adds another category called Music which contains a block to play some (very nice) looping music made by @LucasMayhew!
GitHub repo | Demo | Forum post
Musical-Images
Import this extension with the URL:
This extension allows you to easily add complex music to your games with a script! This adds a new category called "MusicalImages" to your toolbox.
pxt-sound-effects
Import this extension with the URL:
This extension allows custom sound effects other than the boring square wave! This adds a new category called "Sound Effects".
GitHub repo | Demo | Forum post
arcade-snapshot
Import this extension with the URL:
This extension allows you to take a screenshot of the screen, or a snapshot of the current tilemap and print it on the console! It will add a category called "Snapshot".
pxt-deltatime
Import this extension with the URL:
This small extension adds a category called "Delta" which has a single block that exposes the delta time function in blocks, so projects that rely movement or time based on frames can work when the game is running slower than expected! Make sure to look at the example on how to use it!
GitHub repo | Demo | Forum post
pxt-blur
Import this extension with the URL:
This extension allows you to blur the screen in and out, just like the Colors extension does with fading! This adds a category called "Blur".
GitHub repo | Demo | Forum post
pxt-zoom
Import this extension with the URL:
This extension allows you to smoothly zoom in or out of the screen by calling a single block! A very simple (0 < x < 1 for zoom out, and x > 1 to zoom in, and negatives for flipping screen upside down) extension that adds a "Zoom" category in the toolbox.
GitHub repo | Demo | Forum post
arcade-sprite-events
Import this extension with the URL:
The default sprite overlap and tilemap overlap blocks are called for every frame it is happening, which can lead to unexpected results. You can use a state variable to only run code when you start and stop overlapping sprites/tiles/areas, but that is annoying. This extension adds new blocks which make it great for advanced tilemap games or making sprite overlaps easier! This adds a category called "Sprite Events".
arcade-mini-menu
Import this extension with the URL:
This extension is a much more advanced and highly customizable version of (the now depreciated) arcade-custom-menu that has tons of options to customize your menus to fit your game's theme! The menu is also a sprite, which allows you to use all standard sprite blocks on it. This adds a category to the toolbox called "Mini Menu".
GitHub repo | Forum post | Demo
Experimental-extensions
Shouldn't need an explanation: "VERY UNSTABLE" - @livcheerful
arcade-soundtrack
Import this extension with the URL:
In this extension you can make soundtracks within images! But it is pretty confusing and "might break your game." This extension was made by @livcheerful in a hackathon.
GitHub | Forum post | Demo
Tools
Yes, this is about useful MakeCode Arcade extensions but these tools will level up your game-making experience!
Convert-Image-to-MakeCode-Arcade-Sprite
This tool will convert your images (like .png files) to Arcade code! Simply copy the output, open JavaScript mode in your project, navigate to where you want the image block to go, and paste in the image code! You may need to remove some redundant characters. Remember that Arcade has a maximum image size of 500x500!
Find this tool here:
https://kristianpedersen.github.io/Convert-Image-to-MakeCode-Arcade-Sprite/
pxt-arcade-asset-tool
This tool will also convert you images to Arcade code, but it also supports using 16-color palettes, in case you don't want to use the default palette! Simply copy the output, open JavaScript mode, navigate to where you want the image to go, and paste away! You may need to remove some redundant characters. Remember that Arcade has a maximum image size of 500x500!
Find this tool here:
arcade-sprite-pack
Have a bunch of images you want to send to someone, but they hate exercising their pinkie and pointer finger? This will convert a set of images into a MakeCode project that, when you import, will put the images into the image gallery! And as of December 2021, this tool has been updated to be even better than before, with support for animations, tiles, and tilemaps! (Forum post)
Find this tool here:
arcade-image-tools
The ultimate Arcade image manipulator! Rotate and flip your sprites with this!
Find this tool here:
arcade-font-renderer
Stop drawing your title screen text by hand! With this tool, you can render any (well, any font on your computer and in Google Fonts) font onto a Arcade image with outlines and shadows!
Find this tool here:
games-gallery
@jacobcarpenter on GitHub has written a neat tool that scrapes the MakeCode Forum's arcade section and shows the games in a gallery-like view! So you don't have to suffer and scroll through debug programs and tons of comments to find that dang link. You can also view the most liked-games of all-time and by author, like me for example hehe.
Find this tool here:
Image-to-MakeCode-Arcade
I have written a Python script that will turn images and multi-frame GIFs into MakeCode Arcade images and arrays! Note that this tools requires at least Python 3.9 on a computer, and command line knowledge is highly recommended!
Find this tool here:
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