Playdate Dev

Overview

Build Playdate games in Lua using the official Playdate SDK. The Playdate is a small yellow handheld with a 400×240 1-bit display, a physical crank, A/B buttons, and a D-pad. Understanding its constraints and unique input is essential.

Hardware specs:

• Display: 400×240 pixels, 1-bit (black/white only)
• Memory: ~16 MB RAM (aim for <8 MB peak usage)
• CPU: 180 MHz Cortex-M7 (device is slower than simulator — always profile on hardware)
• Input: A button, B button, D-pad (up/down/left/right), crank, menu button
• Audio: 44.1kHz stereo, Synth + SamplePlayer APIs
• Accelerometer: 3-axis, opt-in to save battery

Quick Start Workflow

1. Clarify the request scope (gameplay goal, target device vs simulator, SDK version, release vs prototype).
2. Choose inputs and accessibility (buttons, crank, accelerometer; provide non-crank alternatives; respect reduce-flashing setting).
3. Choose rendering approach (sprites vs immediate draw, image sizes, refresh rate, 1x vs 2x scale).
4. Implement the core loop (define playdate.update(), update game state, call playdate.graphics.sprite.update() and playdate.timer.updateTimers() when used).
5. Add metadata and launcher assets (pdxinfo, buildNumber, launcher card and icon sizes).
6. Test in the Simulator and on hardware (screen legibility, crank feel, audio balance, performance).

Starter Project

• Copy assets/lua-starter into a new project folder.
• Keep Source/main.lua and Source/pdxinfo in the source root.
• Replace placeholder values in pdxinfo and extend the update loop.

Build with:

pdc Source GameName.pdx      # compile to .pdx bundle
# Then open GameName.pdx in the Simulator, or drag to device

Core Game Loop

-- main.lua
import "CoreLibs/object"
import "CoreLibs/graphics"
import "CoreLibs/sprites"
import "CoreLibs/timer"

local gfx <const> = playdate.graphics

-- Game state
local playerX, playerY = 200, 120

function playdate.update()
    -- 1. Handle input
    if playdate.buttonIsPressed(playdate.kButtonLeft) then
        playerX -= 2
    elseif playdate.buttonIsPressed(playdate.kButtonRight) then
        playerX += 2
    end

    -- 2. Handle crank
    local crankDelta = playdate.getCrankChange()  -- degrees since last update
    playerY += crankDelta * 0.1                    -- map crank to movement

    -- 3. Update sprites and timers (required each frame if used)
    gfx.sprite.update()
    playdate.timer.updateTimers()

    -- 4. Draw (if not using sprites)
    gfx.clear()
    gfx.fillCircleAtPoint(playerX, playerY, 10)
end

Input API

Buttons

-- Check if button is held this frame
playdate.buttonIsPressed(playdate.kButtonA)
playdate.buttonIsPressed(playdate.kButtonB)
playdate.buttonIsPressed(playdate.kButtonUp)
playdate.buttonIsPressed(playdate.kButtonDown)
playdate.buttonIsPressed(playdate.kButtonLeft)
playdate.buttonIsPressed(playdate.kButtonRight)

-- Single-frame press/release events
local pressed, released = playdate.getButtonState()
if pressed & playdate.kButtonA ~= 0 then
    -- A was pressed this frame
end

-- Callbacks (simpler for menu-style code)
function playdate.AButtonDown()
    -- A pressed
end
function playdate.AButtonUp()
    -- A released
end

Crank

-- Angle in degrees (0-359.99, clockwise = positive)
local angle = playdate.getCrankPosition()

-- Delta since last frame (positive = clockwise)
local delta = playdate.getCrankChange()

-- Detect if crank is docked (folded away)
if playdate.isCrankDocked() then
    -- Show "pull out crank" hint or use button fallback
end

-- Request dock/undock alerts
playdate.setCrankSoundsDisabled(true)  -- suppress built-in clicks

Accelerometer

-- Must opt-in (saves battery when off)
playdate.startAccelerometer()

-- Read in update()
local x, y, z = playdate.readAccelerometer()
-- x,y,z each in range ~[-1, 1] (1G = 1.0)
-- x: tilt left/right, y: tilt front/back, z: up/down

-- Remember to stop when not needed
playdate.stopAccelerometer()

Graphics

Drawing Modes

local gfx <const> = playdate.graphics

-- Screen is black (0) and white (1) only
gfx.setColor(gfx.kColorBlack)  -- or kColorWhite, kColorClear, kColorXOR
gfx.setImageDrawMode(gfx.kDrawModeFillBlack)  -- for rendering images

-- Immediate drawing (clears each frame)
function playdate.update()
    gfx.clear(gfx.kColorWhite)  -- clear to white
    gfx.drawRect(10, 10, 100, 50)
    gfx.fillRect(20, 20, 80, 30)
    gfx.drawLine(0, 0, 400, 240)
    gfx.drawCircleAtPoint(200, 120, 40)
    gfx.fillCircleAtPoint(200, 120, 40)
    gfx.drawText("Hello Playdate!", 10, 10)
end

Images

-- Load from .png file (must be in Source/)
local img = gfx.image.new("images/player")  -- no extension needed

-- Draw image
img:draw(x, y)
img:drawCentered(x, y)

-- Flip/transform
img:draw(x, y, gfx.kImageFlippedX)

-- Image tables (sprite sheets)
local table = gfx.imagetable.new("images/walk")  -- walk-table-32-32.png format
local frame = table:getImage(frameIndex)  -- 1-indexed

Fonts and Text

-- System fonts
local font = gfx.font.new("fonts/Roobert-10-Bold")  -- SDK includes several
gfx.setFont(font)
gfx.drawText("Score: " .. score, 10, 10)

-- Centered text
gfx.drawTextInRect("Hello!", 0, 100, 400, 30, nil, nil, kTextAlignment.center)

Sprite System

-- Create sprite
local playerSprite = gfx.sprite.new()
playerSprite:setImage(gfx.image.new("images/player"))
playerSprite:moveTo(200, 120)
playerSprite:setZIndex(10)
playerSprite:add()  -- add to sprite list

-- Custom sprite class (OOP pattern)
class('Player').extends(gfx.sprite)

function Player:init()
    Player.super.init(self)
    self:setImage(gfx.image.new("images/player"))
    self:add()
end

function Player:update()
    if playdate.buttonIsPressed(playdate.kButtonRight) then
        self:moveBy(2, 0)
    end
end

-- In playdate.update():
gfx.sprite.update()  -- required every frame

Collision Detection (via Sprites)

-- Set collision rect
playerSprite:setCollideRect(0, 0, playerSprite:getSize())

-- Query collisions after move
local actualX, actualY, cols, len = playerSprite:moveWithCollisions(newX, newY)

-- Collision response
for i = 1, len do
    local col = cols[i]
    print("Hit:", col.other:getTag())  -- other sprite's tag
end

Audio

-- Sample playback
local sfx = playdate.sound.sampleplayer.new("sounds/jump")  -- .wav or .aif
sfx:play()

-- Background music (loops by default)
local music = playdate.sound.fileplayer.new("sounds/bgm")
music:play(0)  -- 0 = loop forever
music:setVolume(0.7)

-- Synthesizer (procedural audio)
local synth = playdate.sound.synth.new(playdate.sound.kWaveformSquare)
synth:setFrequency(440)
synth:setVolume(0.5)
synth:playNote("A4", 0.5, 0.25)  -- note, volume, duration

Timers

import "CoreLibs/timer"

-- One-shot timer (fires after 2000ms)
playdate.timer.performAfterDelay(2000, function()
    print("Two seconds passed!")
end)

-- Repeating timer
local t = playdate.timer.new(500, function()
    -- fires every 500ms
end)
t.repeats = true

-- Value timer (lerp a value over time)
local vt = playdate.timer.new(1000, 0, 100)  -- 1000ms, from 0 to 100
-- In update: use vt.value

-- IMPORTANT: Must call every frame
playdate.timer.updateTimers()

pdxinfo Metadata

# Source/pdxinfo (required)
name=My Game
author=Your Name
description=A short game description
bundleID=com.yourname.mygame
version=1.0.0
buildNumber=1
imagePath=images/
launchSoundPath=sounds/launch
contentWarning=Contains flashing lights

Required launcher assets (put in images/ or configured imagePath):

• launcher/card.png — 350×155 pixels
• launcher/card~highlight.png — 350×155 pixels (highlighted state)
• launcher/icon.png — 32×32 pixels
• launcher/icon~highlight.png — 32×32 pixels

Performance Tips

• Target 30fps on device (50fps max, but 30fps is standard)
• Limit gfx.clear() — use gfx.sprite.update() dirty-rect rendering instead
• Prefer sprite system for moving objects; avoids full-screen redraws
• Pool objects — avoid creating new tables/objects every frame
• Use playdate.display.setRefreshRate(30) if 50fps isn't needed
• Profile on device — Simulator is 2-3x faster than hardware

-- Check frame time
playdate.display.setRefreshRate(30)

-- Draw FPS overlay (for profiling)
playdate.drawFPS(0, 0)

Accessibility

-- Respect "Reduce Flashing" system setting
if playdate.getReduceFlashing() then
    -- Avoid strobing effects, use slower transitions
end

-- Always provide button fallback for crank actions
if playdate.isCrankDocked() then
    showCrankHint = false  -- hide crank UI hints
    -- Let D-pad substitute for crank
end

Crank UI Indicators

import "CoreLibs/ui"

-- Show built-in crank indicator (hint to pull out crank)
local crankIndicator = playdate.ui.crankIndicator

function playdate.update()
    if playdate.isCrankDocked() then
        crankIndicator:draw()  -- draws in corner
    end
end

Menu Integration

-- Add items to the system pause menu
local menu = playdate.getSystemMenu()

-- Checkmark toggle
local soundItem, err = menu:addCheckmarkMenuItem("Sound", true, function(value)
    soundEnabled = value
end)

-- Options list
local diffItem, err = menu:addOptionsMenuItem("Difficulty", {"Easy","Normal","Hard"}, "Normal", function(value)
    difficulty = value
end)

Save/Load Data

-- Simple key-value store (persists between sessions)
-- Save
local data = {score = 1234, level = 5}
playdate.datastore.write(data)

-- Load
local data = playdate.datastore.read()
if data then
    score = data.score or 0
end

-- Delete save
playdate.datastore.delete()

Common Patterns

Scene Management

-- Simple scene switcher
local currentScene = nil

function switchScene(newScene)
    if currentScene and currentScene.leave then
        currentScene:leave()
    end
    gfx.sprite.removeAll()
    currentScene = newScene
    if currentScene.enter then
        currentScene:enter()
    end
end

-- Define scenes as tables
local titleScene = {}
function titleScene:enter() ... end
function titleScene:update() ... end

-- In playdate.update():
function playdate.update()
    if currentScene and currentScene.update then
        currentScene:update()
    end
    gfx.sprite.update()
    playdate.timer.updateTimers()
end

Crank-Driven Mechanic

-- Accumulate crank ticks for grid-based movement
local TICKS_PER_STEP = 12  -- degrees per step

local crankAccumulator = 0

function playdate.update()
    local delta = playdate.getCrankChange()
    crankAccumulator += delta

    while crankAccumulator >= TICKS_PER_STEP do
        crankAccumulator -= TICKS_PER_STEP
        moveRight()
    end
    while crankAccumulator <= -TICKS_PER_STEP do
        crankAccumulator += TICKS_PER_STEP
        moveLeft()
    end

    -- Button fallback (for docked crank)
    if playdate.buttonJustPressed(playdate.kButtonLeft) then moveLeft() end
    if playdate.buttonJustPressed(playdate.kButtonRight) then moveRight() end
end

Resources

• references/designing-for-playdate.md — Screen, text, input, audio, UI, launcher guidance
• references/inside-playdate-lua.md — Full Lua API names, file layout, workflow details
• assets/lua-starter/ — Starter project template
• Official SDK Docs — Authoritative Lua API reference
• SDK Download — Free from Panic
• Playdate Developer Forum — Community Q&A and examples