Beat 'em Up Maker

Belt-Scroll Action Game Creation Toolkit

Developed by NEON PRECINCT

Beat 'em Up Maker helps beginners get their first belt-scroll action game running, while giving experienced creators detailed control over combat, characters and boss encounters.

A step-by-step manual comes with it, so you can start even if you've never made a game before.

New to this? Start simple

• Quickstart — No art needed: a one-stage game with the sample characters. About 15 minutes.
• Simple build — A hero, an enemy and two stages from your own art, plus title, music and credits. Half a day.

Know what you want? Tune everything

• Every number is yours — move timing, hitboxes, stats and the feel of every hit
• Characters with real depth — give them special skills and moves of their own
• Boss fights built around any concept — boss specials, part battles, cutscenes, effects, HUD and difficulty
• Full production — start from the included sample game (Hyakki Yako) and take it apart to see how it's made

Seven tools, one game file

• Sprite Forge — assemble single images into a character sheet and clean them up to pixel rules
• Character Forge — actions, move timing, hitboxes, stats and special skills
• Asset Forge — items and obstacles
• Stage Forge — backgrounds, floors, enemy waves, obstacles and items
• Game Forge — gather characters and stages, set title, cutscenes, music and HUD, and build one game file (HTML)
• OpenBOR Importer — bring in characters you made for OpenBOR
• MUGEN Importer — import characters you created or have the appropriate rights to use.

Both OpenBOR and MUGEN Importers display a rights notice whenever you select a folder. Only import characters you created yourself or have the appropriate rights to use.

Your finished game is a single HTML file that runs in any browser. English, Korean and Japanese are supported.

See what it can make

• Hyakki Yako — a samurai cutting down yokai in the night streets of Edo. Two stages, three difficulties. Its source is included as the sample.
• OVERTIME — a boss rush where one cop takes on six bosses in a row. Cutscenes and part battles.

You can use the sample's artwork and sound in your own games — see the README in the sample folder for the terms.

Sell what you make

Games you make with Beat 'em Up Maker are yours to give away or sell — no royalties, no revenue share. See the included LICENSE for details.

Windows app or web version

The Windows app isn't code-signed yet.
If you see "Windows protected your PC" on first launch, click More info → Run anyway. Windows shows this once for new programs that aren't code-signed yet.

On a Mac or Linux, or rather not install anything? Use the web version — same tools, right in your browser: https://app.neonprecinct.com
(Chrome / Edge: use the install icon in the address bar to keep it as an app that works offline.)

For existing users

Previously known as NEON PRECINCT, the toolkit is now called Beat 'em Up Maker. Your existing settings and saved work are preserved.

AI disclosure

Portions of the artwork and sound in this product were created with the assistance of generative AI tools.

Questions or bug reports: support@neonprecinct.com