Game Builder Garage Reviews

Game Builder Garage is ranked in the 67th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Sep 13, 2021

"These games will stay inside your garage."

Review in Finnish | Read full review

Jun 11, 2021

Game Builder Garage attempts to turn a scary and complex task like programming into something easy and fun with its simple mechanics, clever design and bags of personality. While it can feel frustratingly restrictive at times (especially in the beginning) and the tutorials don’t so much hand hold but grab on tight with no intention of letting you go, they do make it a playful and charming experience.

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Dave Aubrey
Top Critic
Jun 10, 2021

In reality, Game Builder Garage feels like the perfect place to build a game prototype. You can create a basic idea, see if it works and is fun, and then maybe take that concept into a real game engine development kit - but not much more. It can truly pique the curiosities of kids, and I hope it does, but it's launched in a world where it has big competition, and the depth and charm of those tutorials which only Nintendo could pull off so well can't carry the rest of the experience.

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6.5 / 10.0
Jun 18, 2021

If you have aspirations of making your own video game but haven’t taken that first step, Game Builder Garage is for you. Just keep your expectations in check. You probably won’t be able to make your perfect game with just this software, but it could provide the creative spark that pushes you to turn your game developer dreams into a reality.

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Jun 17, 2021

Game Builder Garage seems like a game that will live or die based on the strength of its community. If players pick up where Nintendo left off and provide quick online tutorials for achieving the trickier game-building techniques that Bob doesn't cover well enough, it might become something special. Even without that, it's a decent first step for anyone looking to learn about programming, especially kids.

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Nintendo News
Top Critic
7 / 10.0
Jun 14, 2021

While it may not reach the lofty creative heights of Dreams on PlayStation 4, or match the accessibility of the Super Mario Maker franchise, Game Builder Garage offers the tools to help realise some of your dream gaming creations. If you’re not a creative type and don’t care much about programming, I would avoid stepping into this Garage. However, if you do decide to peek inside out of curiosity and you’re happy with some deep learning, you’ll have everyone else’s creations to experience, and it’s just a matter of time to see what the online community will come up with.

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7 / 10
Jun 20, 2021

Game Builder Garage makes programming fun, with easy-to-follow tutorials and plenty of in-game resources to help you if you get lost. It’s easy on the eyes too, although a lack of visual customisation options was disappointing to see. With so many things it does right, it’s astounding that Nintendo would shoot themselves in their own foot so badly by not including any in-game search function. It may find an audience with some budding game designers, but it’s unlikely to become the phenomenon it could have been.

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Jun 24, 2021

Game Builder Garage is an excellent choice for any gamers who are fascinated by the video game designing process but have little experience with how it all works. Its simplicity and cutesy approachability make it the best entry point for those with no experience, and a great learning tool for kids in particular. Without the ability to share creations or more complex design features, Game Builder Garage probably won't hold anyone's attention for long, but it fills a niche well and accomplishes all the major goals it sets out to with its presentation.

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7 / 10
Jun 10, 2021

Game Builder Garage is a frighteningly powerful game creation tool dragged down by a few limiting factors. The lack of an object creation tool (and pyramids) means that most games are going to look like they were made in a game creation suite, but the sheer scope of what's possible helps to take the sting out of the tail. This will actually teach you how to make games, the tutorials that lead you through are by-and-large excellent, and the inclusion of USB mouse support is a godsend. We're probably unable to even conceive of half of what Switch owners will be able to create using this software, but we're certain this is going to help propagate the next generation of game developers.

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7 / 10.0
Jun 10, 2021

An interesting videogame development software with a bit of a target audience issue.

Review in Italian | Read full review

7 / 10
Jun 21, 2021

Much like most people's first efforts with Game Builder Garage, it's a good first effort. It's just not something people will be revisiting after a few weeks pass.

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7 / 10
Jun 21, 2021

Nintendo's new game creation software may not let you make the game of your dreams, but it's a fun-to-use toolkit nonetheless.

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Metro GameCentral
GameCentral
Top Critic
7 / 10
Jun 16, 2021

An impressively visual approach to building your own games, with a fully formed tutorial that demystifies complicated ideas with typical Nintendo charm and aplomb.

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75 / 100
Jun 25, 2021

Game Builder Garage manages to explain the logic of making games in a fun way with its simple interface and Nodon system.

Review in Turkish | Read full review

7.5 / 10.0
Jun 10, 2021

As a learning tool, Game Builder Garage provides an easy-to-follow experience that makes learning the basics of game programming fun. With that in mind, there are definitely more comprehensive and robust ways to create games on console.

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Spaziogames
Top Critic
7.5 / 10.0
Jun 10, 2021

If you would like to create your own video games, this is key that may open that door.

Review in Italian | Read full review

7.5 / 10.0
Jun 18, 2021

Realistically, adults who want to program are just going to go learn an actual programming language and/or pick up a tool like GameMaker. But for impressionable preteen children, which arguably seems to be the prime demographic for this software, Game Builder Garage on Nintendo Switch can provide a comprehensive and accessible introduction to programming, despite a few glaring oversights. However, not just anyone is going to instantly click with and love this game. It takes time, determination, and raw passion to get the most out of Game Builder Garage. But maybe that's a good thing.

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75 / 100
Jul 2, 2021

Game Builder Garage is a great way to learn the basics of game programming through an easy to use visual language. The tutorials may be overbearing for some, holding your hand through each step, but the engine is surprisingly robust and will let you create whatever you want. However, there is no active sharing or receiving interface in the game itself which is incredibly frustrating and limits learning opportunities.

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79 / 100
Jun 10, 2021

An interesting game making tool, easy to learn and powerful enough to create and share our own minigames. Still we miss some utilities such as importing assets or composing music.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

8 / 10
Jul 1, 2021

With all of this said, is Game Builder Garage worthwhile? The answer to this question largely depends on the mindset one goes into the game with. Keep in mind that this isn’t a traditional video game. Rather, it’s an application for game development. This isn’t Super Mario Maker 2 where, despite the focus on level creation, a full-fledged game exists within it. Game Builder Garage is all about building levels and projects from the ground up. This isn’t to say that the game lacks value for those uninterested in game development. This is where the user-generated content mentioned earlier comes into play. Within days of Game Builder Garage‘s initial release, a number of promising projects hit the internet. Everything from a first-person shooter level inspired by Doom Eternal to a Super Mario Kart track to a recreation of Minecraft can be seen and downloaded right now. Furthermore, even without an online sharing option in the game, there are fan communities that ensure such creations are found and experienced. YouTube channels such as GameXplain have been actively showcasing many of the best Game Builder Garage creations, generating that much more awareness. If you’re willing to do some digging online, you can find an ever-growing treasure trove of concepts waiting to blossom.

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