AI game maker, free to start: what costs nothing and what costs gems
If you are looking for an AI game maker that is free, Shiny Gen lets you make, play, and share games at no cost. What is not free is AI generation, which runs on gems. This page lays out exactly where the line is, so you know before you start.
New accounts start with free gems and a few free AI turns.
The free-versus-paid breakdown
| What you do | Cost |
|---|---|
| Browse and play the catalogue of games | Free, no account needed |
| Make a game, edit it by hand, edit its code and assets | Free |
| Share a game by link, remix a game, play with others | Free |
| Have your own AI assistant (such as Claude or ChatGPT) write code through the MCP server | Free: the code it writes costs no gems |
| Ask Shiny Gen's AI agent to build, change, or generate things | Uses gems. New accounts start with free gems and a few free AI turns, then one free AI prompt per day |
| Generate images, 3D models, animations, sound, and music | Uses gems. The agent tells you how many first |
| Download your game as a file (web zip, ROM, .dol, .nds) | Needs any one purchase, from $2.99, once |
Prices and gem amounts are on the Shiny Gen pricing page, which is the source of truth.
How far does the free part go?
The free tier is meant to let you find out whether AI game making works for you. Here is a realistic run of it:
- Sign up. You get free gems and a few free AI turns to start.
- Describe a game. Use a free AI turn on a small, specific first request: one mechanic, one screen.
- Play and tweak by hand. Editing code, art, and the world yourself costs nothing, so you can keep refining without spending.
- Come back tomorrow. After the starting turns, you get one free AI prompt per day, enough to keep a small project moving.
What the free tier can make
These games come from the catalogue and were made with Shiny Gen. You can play them without an account and remix any of them into your own copy.
- Godot
Shiny Skyline
Build a tower one floor at a time with a single tap. Climb out of the city and into space.
AdventureTidelamp
Light seven glowstones in a grotto to bring the tide-lamp back.
SportsPutt
Nine holes of mini golf with rails, a bunker, a ramp, and a bridge.
Touch gameShiny Shepherd
Herd the flock into the pen before wolves come out at dusk.
StrategyHexhaven
Settle an island of tiny hexes against up to three AI rivals, or play online with friends.
Godot, 3DShiny Rapids
Paddle a raft down a river that never ends.
Free to make, honest about the rest
Where it is generous
- No subscription is required.
- You own what you make and may sell it, with no revenue share.
- Hand-editing costs nothing, and neither does sharing.
- Gem packs never expire.
Where it costs
- AI generation uses gems once the free turns run out.
- Exporting a file needs any one purchase.
- Android cannot save a ROM file yet; export from a browser (same account, same single purchase).
On a phone? The same free account works in the iPhone, iPad, and Android apps.
Questions about the free AI game maker
Is there a free AI game maker?
Yes, you can start for free. In Shiny Gen, making, playing, sharing, and remixing games cost nothing. The part that costs money is AI generation, which uses gems. New accounts start with free gems.
Is it unlimited and free?
No, and we would rather say so. AI generation draws on gems. New accounts get a sign-up gem grant and a few free AI turns, and after that you get one free AI prompt per day. If you want more AI generation than that, gem packs start at $2.99.
Do I need a subscription?
No. A subscription is not required. You can buy gem packs that never expire, or choose an optional membership that adds monthly gems.
Do I need an account just to try games?
No. The catalogue of games is free to browse and play without an account. You need a free account to make your own.
What does exporting a game cost?
Downloading your game as a file (a web zip, or a ROM, .dol, or .nds for the retro engines) needs any one purchase, from the $2.99 starter pack. Any purchase counts, once, for good. Sharing a link to your game stays free.
Can I sell a game I make with the free version?
Yes. You may sell what you make, and Shiny Gen takes no revenue share. The terms of service allow commercial use.
Are my games mine if I stay on the free tier?
Games are real projects you own. The free tier is about what the AI generation costs, not about who owns your work.
What is the catch?
There is no hidden one. The AI services behind generation cost real money to run, so generation uses gems. Everything you can do by hand, including editing code and assets, is free.
Start free, see how far it takes you
Make a game, play it, share it. The AI only spends gems when it generates something.