Playscii
Create ASCII art, animation, and games with Playscii, an open-source tool available for Windows, Linux, and macOS.
About Playscii
Playscii is an open-source tool for creating ASCII art, animation, and games, developed by JP LeBreton. It is available as a free download for Windows, macOS, and Linux via the itch.io platform. The tool is still in active development, and requires an OpenGL 2.1-capable GPU with GLSL 1.30 or higher support to run. The macOS build is 32-bit and not notarized, making it incompatible with macOS versions that have removed 32-bit support or enforce notarization requirements for software.
Key features
- Create ASCII art, animations, and games
- Cross-platform support for Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Accepts keyboard and mouse input
- Exports created work as image files
- Released under the MIT license
- Free to download and use
Best for: Hobbyist game developers, retro art enthusiasts, and creators working on ASCII-based projects benefit most from Playscii.
Good for
- No stated cost for download and use
- Cross-platform compatibility for major desktop operating systems
- MIT license permits user modification of the tool
Watch out for
- 32-bit, not notarized macOS build is incompatible with newer macOS versions
- Some Windows antivirus tools may incorrectly flag the build as malware
- User reports note compatibility issues with Ubuntu 24.04 and some macOS versions
Playscii at a glance
- Website
- jp.itch.io/playscii
- Category
- Software & Utilities › Text Editors
- Type
- Website
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Platforms
- Linux, macOS, Web, Windows
- Open source
- Not stated
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 6, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
Guides for Text Editors
Playscii alternatives
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Playscii FAQ
What are the minimum system requirements for Playscii?
It requires an OpenGL 2.1-capable GPU with GLSL 1.30+ support, Windows 7 or 10, macOS 10.10 or later, or a compatible Linux distribution.
Is Playscii free to use?
Yes, it is offered as a free download on the itch.io platform.
Why might Playscii fail to run on a newer Mac?
The macOS build is 32-bit and not notarized, so it will not run on macOS versions that removed 32-bit support or require notarized software.
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