GameMaker (originally Animo, Game Maker (until 2011) and GameMaker Studio) is a series of cross-platform game engines created by Mark Overmars in 1999 and developed by YoYo Games since 2007.
As of September 2026, the current long-term stable release is GameMaker LTS 2026.0, published on 21 May 2026.
GameMaker accommodates the creation of cross-platform and multi-genre video games using a custom drag-and-drop visual programming language or a scripting language known as GameMaker Language (GML), which can be used to develop more advanced games. GameMaker was originally designed to allow novice programmers to be able to make computer games without much programming knowledge by use of these actions. Recent versions of software also focus on appealing to advanced developers.
GameMaker is primarily intended for making games with 2D graphics, allowing out-of-box use of raster graphics, vector graphics (via SWF), and 2D skeletal animations (via Esoteric Software's Spine) along with a large standard library for drawing graphics and 2D primitives. While the software allows for limited use of 3D graphics, this is in the form of vertex buffer and matrix functions, and as such not intended for novice users.
What is GameMaker?
GameMaker is a proprietary pc game program for Windows from YoYo Games Ltd. (developed by YoYo Games). The first release dates back to 1999. Besides Windows, it is available for macOS and Ubuntu.
Installation and requirements
Official installers exist for 64-bit as EXE (NSIS). The main installer is 186.3 MB. It can be installed for the current user only, without administrator rights. The installer supports unattended (silent) installation.
Updates and version history
The current version is 2024.14.4.222, released on March 31, 2026. 27 versions are listed since March 14, 2023, each with links to its own installer files. That is about 8.9 releases a year.
Popularity and file types
Wikipedia has an article about it in 30 of our languages. On Windows it registers 2 file types, including .yyp and .yyz. Similar programs include OpenTTD, RetroArch and Steam.
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Documented silent install
- Installs without administrator rights
- Frequent updates (about 8.9 a year)
- Also runs on macOS and Ubuntu
- Mature project (since 1999)
Cons
- Proprietary licence: check the terms and price
- No native ARM64 build
In short: GameMaker is a pc game tool for 64-bit PCs. It is actively maintained. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Is GameMaker safe to download?
- The file is served by gms.yoyogames.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
60D94C510DC139A4192DF0F90098FC3A676CAC5B9FC31B3B9A932607F9C24992· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link answered when we last checked it (October 22, 2026)
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 27 versions ›27 versions over 3 years · about 8.9 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024.14.4.222Latest | March 31, 2026 | 186.3 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2024.14.4.221 | March 24, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2024.14.3.217 | January 21, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2024.14.2.213 | December 16, 2025 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2024.14.2.212 | December 9, 2025 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2024.14.1.210 | November 17, 2025 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2024.14.0.207 | October 29, 2025 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2024.13.1.193 | April 16, 2025 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id YoYoGames.GameMaker.Studio.2 -eGameMaker-Installer-2024.14.4.222.exe /SRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Also for other systems
brew install --cask gamemakerInformation
- Publisher
- YoYo Games Ltd.
- Developer
- YoYo Games
- Category
- PC games
- Licence
- Proprietary
- Price
- See the publisher’s site
- Interface languages
- English
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit
- Installer
- EXE (NSIS)
- Other platforms
- macOS, Ubuntu
- Version
- 2024.14.4.222
- Released
- March 31, 2026
- First release
- 1999
- Added to the catalogue
- June 20, 2023
- Versions listed
- 27
- Updates / year
- 8.9
- winget ID
- YoYoGames.GameMaker.Studio.2
File types it opens (2)
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Alternatives to GameMaker
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Frequently asked questions
Is GameMaker free?
GameMaker is proprietary (closed-source) software (licence: Proprietary). Whether it costs money depends on the edition: check the publisher’s site for prices and free tiers.
Is GameMaker safe to download?
The download comes from gms.yoyogames.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install GameMaker with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can GameMaker be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Does GameMaker run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of GameMaker?
The versions page lists all 27 versions with links to their official installer files, back to March 14, 2023.
Can I use GameMaker without administrator rights?
Yes, there is a per-user installer that does not need administrator rights.
What are alternatives to GameMaker?
OpenTTD, RetroArch, Steam, PPSSPP and Celestia. The alternatives page compares them.
