2D tile based game framework in HTML5

The Platypus Engine allows rapid development of 2D orthogonal tile based games for deployment in HTML5 compatible browsers. The engine uses a component based model, and includes many ready to use components to allow users to start adding assets and editing levels right away. The component based model lends itself to community members adding new functionality, we hope you'll share what you've done!

Platypus uses:

• The Tiled map editor for level creation.
• SpringRoll (v2) for application management.
• Pixi.js for rendering visuals.

Install

npm install @makefully/platypus

The npm package ships src/ for import (your bundler compiles it, same as linking the repo) and a UMD build in lib/platypus.js for require or script tags. Your game must also install peer dependencies:

Optional: box2d3-wasm, jsmediatags, poly-decomp (see optionalDependencies in package.json).

Entry points: src/index.js via import platypus from '@makefully/platypus', or lib/platypus.js for require/script tags (plus worker chunks in lib/ for the UMD build).

Bundlers should use the import entry (source). The prebuilt UMD omits Platypus's pixi.js sub-imports from your module graph, which can cause a Pixi collectRenderablesMixin crash on masked sprites unless you add import 'pixi.js' before Platypus.

Include the engine stylesheet in your game's CSS (canvas layout, captions, debug overlay):

@import '@makefully/platypus/platypus.css';

Development

Requires Node.js 20+.

npm install
npm run build:release   # production bundle → lib/ (gitignored)
npm run test:run        # unit tests (Vitest)
npm run docs            # API reference → docs/api/ (gitignored)

Contributor workflow, API docs publishing, and npm publish are described in docs/README.md.

When package.json version changes on main, .github/workflows/release.yml builds lib/, publishes to npm, and creates a GitHub release from the matching CHANGELOG.md section (skips each step if that version already exists).

Key Features

• Deploy on any HTML5 platform supported by SpringRoll v2
• Multi-platform support
• Automatic scaling
• Touch and keyboard input
• Component-based development model
• Documentation — generated from JSDoc in src/

Platypus in action

• Ready Jet GO! Mission Earth
• Wild Kratts Monkey Mayhem

Code · Docs · npm · Changelog

Maintained by Derek Detweiler and Todd Lewis (CONTRIBUTORS.md).

Platypus was originally developed by PBS KIDS and Gopherwood Studios. It is free to use (see licenses.txt); assets in the example games are © Gopherwood Studios and/or © PBS KIDS.