littlejsengine

LittleJS - The Tiny Fast JavaScript Game Engine

🚂 All Aboard!

LittleJS is a fast, lightweight, and fully open source HTML5 game engine designed for simplicity and performance. Its small footprint is packed with a comprehensive feature set including rendering, physics, particles, sound, and input handling. The code is very clean and well documented with many examples to get you started quickly.

Demos | Docs | Trailer | Discord | FAQ

LittleJS Features

✨ Graphics

• Super fast WebGL2 + Canvas2D hybrid rendering system
• Apply Shadertoy style shaders for post-processing effects
• Robust particle effect system and effect design tool

🔊 Audio

• Sound and music with mp3, ogg, or wave files
• Use ZzFX sound effect generator to play sounds without asset files

🎮 Input

• Comprehensive input handling for mouse, keyboard, gamepad, and touch
• Customizable on screen gamepad designed for mobile devices

💥 Physics

• Robust arcade physics system with collision handling
• Fast tilemap collision and raycasting
• Full Box2D integration for realistic physics

🚀 Flexibility

• Compatible with all modern web browsers and mobile devices
• TypeScript and Module support with example projects for both
• Great for size coding competitions like Js13kGames
• Open Source and MIT licensed

🛠️ Developer Tools

• Live example browser with code editor
• Debug overlay and primitive rendering system
• Medal tracking system with Newgrounds support
• Node.js build system

How To Use LittleJS

To get started download the latest LittleJS package from GitHub or install via npm: npm install littlejsengine

• Making Awesome Games With LittleJS - A short talk about LittleJS with some tips on how to use it.
• Tutorial: Breakout - Learn how to make a simple game from scratch
• Tutorial: Make a ski game - This tutorial by eoinmcg that shows how to make a pixel art style game.
• LittleJS Quick Reference Sheet - A reference sheet to help you get started.
• Little JS FAQ - Answers to common questions about LittleJS.
• JS13k Branch - For size coding events like JS13k there is a special branch that builds to a 7KB zip.

Examples

LittleJS comes with a several demos both for learning and using as starter projects to create new games.

• Example Browser - Live example browser with all examples
• Breakout - Block breaking game with post-processing effects
• Puzzle Game - Match 3 puzzle game with HD rendering and high score tracking
• Platformer - Platformer/shooter that loads level data from Tiled Editor
• Box2D Demo - Box2D plugin demonstration and testbed
• Stress Test - Sprite rendering benchmark and music system demo
• Particle System Designer - Particle system editor and visualizer

Builds

File	Mode	Module	Use case
littlejs.js	Debug	No	Debug mode with asserts
littlejs.release.js	Release	No	Optimized for release
littlejs.min.js	Release	No	Optimized for release and minified
littlejs.esm.js	Debug	ESM	Debug mode with asserts
littlejs.esm.min.js	Release	ESM	Optimized for release and minified

Games Made With LittleJS

Here are a few of the many amazing games created with LittleJS...

• Space Huggers - Roguelike platformer shoot-em-up game with procedural levels. by KilledByAPixel
• Black Cat Squadron - One button shooter based on a WW2 Navy squadron. JS13k 5th place! by repsej
• L1ttl3 Paws - Cat glider with procedural art and levels for JS13K! by KilledByAPixel
• KleptoKitty - Cat themed heist puzzle. JS13K 22nd place. by eoinmcg
• The Way of the Dodo - Single button platformer. JS13k 5th place! by repsej
• Undergrowth - An interactive music videogame for the band Squid. by KilledByAPixel
• 204Snake! - A puzzle game that combines 2048 with snake. LittleJS Jam 1st place! by Sodoj and Shai-P
• GATOR - Retro platformer shooter game where you rescue animals. LittleJS Jam 2nd place! by eoinmcg
• A Hedgehog's Search - Adventure game starring a hedgehog. LittleJS Jam 3rd place! by willsm1111
• Wendol Village - Warcraft inspired RTS game. by sanojian
• Dead Again - Top down survival horror. by sanojian & repsej
• Isletopia - Relaxing strategy game of greenifying barren islands. by Gamex Studio
• Tetrimals - A puzzle game mixing Tetris with animals. by nixn
• Bug&Bee - Low fi shoot em up with co-op gameplay. LittleJS Jam 1st place! by eoinmcg
• Little Platformer - Platformer with many mechanics. LittleJS Jam 2st place! by PSEMO, Solita666, GabrielRG, Nate
• Rogue Pong - Roguelike crossed with classic pong gameplay. LittleJS Jam 3rd place! by webdevbrian
• LittleJS Jam 2024 Results - All the games from the first LittleJS Game Jam.
• LittleJS Jam 2025 Results - All the games from the second LittleJS Game Jam.