# GB Studio 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.

- MCP server · `type=mcp` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf (Devin Desktop), Cline, Zed, Gemini CLI · ★ 24
- Author: eoinjordan
- License: not stated · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/eoinjordan/gb-studio-agent
- Updated: 2026-06-09
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/gb-studio-mcp-server

## What it 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.

## Requirements
- Needs: Node.js (commands run via npx)
- Environment variables: `CLAUDE_API_KEY` — keys and tokens: ask the human for the values, never commit them or put them in shared files.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

**Platform CLI**
```bash
claude mcp add gbstudio-claude-mcp -e CLAUDE_API_KEY=<CLAUDE_API_KEY> -- npx -y gbstudio-claude-mcp
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Codex

**Platform CLI**
```bash
codex mcp add gb-studio-mcp-server --env CLAUDE_API_KEY=<CLAUDE_API_KEY> -- npx -y gbstudio-claude-mcp
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Cursor

**Config file**
File `.cursor/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "gb-studio-mcp-server": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "gbstudio-claude-mcp"
            ],
            "env": {
                "CLAUDE_API_KEY": "<CLAUDE_API_KEY>"
            }
        }
    }
}
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### GitHub Copilot

**Config file**
File `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "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

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini mcp add -e CLAUDE_API_KEY=<CLAUDE_API_KEY> gb-studio-mcp-server npx -y gbstudio-claude-mcp
```
Replace <…> with your own values

## When to use it
- 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
- 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.

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