GB Studio MCP Server — Claude Code MCP server
An MCP server that lets an agent build and edit GB Studio projects: scenes, actors, assets and logic checks. Useful when you want a Game Boy game from a text prompt.
claude mcp add gbstudio-claude-mcp -e CLAUDE_API_KEY=<CLAUDE_API_KEY> -- npx -y gbstudio-claude-mcpWhat GB Studio MCP Server does
The server is written in TypeScript and talks to GB Studio projects over MCP. It exposes tools for finding a project, validating it and creating game assets such as scenes, actors and graphics. There is also a testing mode: smoke runs that surface logic errors before you build a ROM.
Startup comes in two parts. A REST server listens on http://localhost:3000, and the stdio MCP mode proxies to it, so bring the REST side up first. Change the port with GBSTUDIO_API_URL or GBSTUDIO_API_PORT. A CLAUDE_API_KEY is required, passed when you register the server with your client.
Install it globally with npm (npm install -g gbstudio-claude-mcp) and launch gbstudio-claude-mcp. Skip the key in the client config and nothing works. The readme also points GBA Studio users at the author's GBA fork of GB Studio.
What it helps with
- scaffold a Game Boy game from a written description
- generate scenes and actors for a fresh project
- drop starter assets and graphics into GB Studio
- run smoke tests on project logic before building a ROM
- review and extend an existing teaching template
Example prompts for the agent
- Check the scene logic in my GB Studio project and point out where transitions break.
- Build a simple Pong clone for Game Boy: two paddles, a ball, a score counter.
How to install GB Studio MCP Server
Platform CLI
claude mcp add gbstudio-claude-mcp -e CLAUDE_API_KEY=<CLAUDE_API_KEY> -- npx -y gbstudio-claude-mcpReplace <…> with your own values
Platform CLI
codex mcp add gb-studio-mcp-server --env CLAUDE_API_KEY=<CLAUDE_API_KEY> -- npx -y gbstudio-claude-mcpReplace <…> with your own values
Config file
{
"mcpServers": {
"gb-studio-mcp-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"gbstudio-claude-mcp"
],
"env": {
"CLAUDE_API_KEY": "<CLAUDE_API_KEY>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values
Config file
{
"servers": {
"gb-studio-mcp-server": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"gbstudio-claude-mcp"
],
"env": {
"CLAUDE_API_KEY": "<CLAUDE_API_KEY>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values
Platform CLI
gemini mcp add -e CLAUDE_API_KEY=<CLAUDE_API_KEY> gb-studio-mcp-server npx -y gbstudio-claude-mcpReplace <…> with your own values
Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to add an MCP server to Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Gemini CLI and more
Questions about GB Studio MCP Server
How do I install GB Studio MCP Server in Claude Code?
Install the package first: npm install -g gbstudio-claude-mcp. Then register the server: claude mcp add gbstudio-claude-mcp -e CLAUDE_API_KEY=<CLAUDE_API_KEY> -- npx -y gbstudio-claude-mcp.
What does GB Studio MCP Server do?
It gives an agent tools for GB Studio projects: project discovery, validation, creating scenes, actors and assets, plus smoke tests of game logic.
What does the server need to run?
A CLAUDE_API_KEY in your client config and a running REST server on http://localhost:3000, since the stdio MCP mode proxies requests there.
