Game developers at Nintendo have once again come up with something special for users of their Switch console, and it’s released today (Friday 11th June). Game Builder Garage is a powerful and highly playable piece of development software which offers the tools and guidance to make your own video games – and relatively easily.

The software’s 3D engine offers the opportunity to create games in any genre. Though you obviously have to be able to figure out the logic to make your game work, there’s no need to panic! There’s a Lesson mode for total beginners, which gradually introduce game-building concepts, and once you’ve got a grip of those you can use the Free Programming Mode.

Creativity has no limits

Game Builder Garage takes you through making racers, shooters, platformers, puzzlers, and other types of game. You can even connect multiple games together to create something bigger – the possibilities are endless!

Your titles can utilise all of the Switch’s inputs (touch screen controls, motion controls, and IR camera). Nintendo’s usual visual aesthetic means whatever game you come up with won’t look as rough as you might think in advance.

Learn by doing

Interestingly – ideally, in fact, for those who are new to the concept of game building – Game Builder Garage uses visual language for your builds. Bits of code are rendered as small creatures called Nodon. You add them to your game environment to create objects and write the programming. The Nodon system perfectly balances ease of use with impressive build power. If you want to, you can also connect a USB mouse to your Switch for faster editing. Once you’ve completed your game build and feel satisfied that it’s playable, you can share it with friends and family, or online with the world!

Rob Miles – renowned technology author, educator and Microsoft Developer Technologies MVP – spoke about Nintendo’s Game Builder Garage for the Switch on BBC Radio Humberside recently. “I never tell people that writing programmes is easy – because it’s not. You have to apply yourself,” he said. “But Game Builder Garage tries to make things easy and get you keen on the idea that you can make anything. Once you can do that you fall in love with the power it gives you… The Switch is an awesome device.”

Nintendo has toyed with taking game development software to market in the past. Super Mario Maker 2 let you create new Mario levels, and was brilliant for fans of the iconic franchise. WarioWare DIY let you create your own microgames (though these types of game only last for a few seconds). Labo VR Kit was a capable game editor, but the games themselves were tied to the use of a cardboard virtual reality headset. Game Builder Garage takes things to another level. You won’t be able to create Nintendo-branded games, though. You won’t find Mario lurking within the engine waiting to be built into your game.

Obviously you’ll need a Nintendo Switch to play Game Builder Garage on, and Ebuyer stocks these brilliant mini-consoles. Check them out here.