BitJump
About the Game
BitJump is a fast-paced platformer with retro-inspired visuals and simple, responsive controls.
Currently features 4 playable stages, connected by a newly expanded world map (each region has its own unique music).
Still a prototype — expect plenty more content in future updates!
All graphics created in Aseprite. Coding done in GameMaker (GML) with assistance from ChatGPT. Music created with Suno AI.
Controls & Input
BitJump supports mouse, keyboard, and controller input (controller support currently untested).
🔧 Control Remapping
- From the title screen, open the remapping modal.
- Navigate to the control (arrow keys or mouse).
- Select it (click or press confirm).
- Press a new key/button.
- Confirm to save — or restore defaults anytime.
🎮 Default Platforming Controls
| Action | Key(s) |
|---|---|
| Movement | A / D |
| Jump | Spacebar |
| Crouch | S |
| Boomerang | K (hold to charge) |
| Bomb | J |
| Pause Menu | R |
• Jump on enemies to defeat them.
• Boomerang collects coins, kills enemies, and breaks blocks.
• Throw in directions with W/A/S/D + K.
• Charge throw: hold K, release for more piercing power & speed.
• Fall through semisolids with S (customizable in remap settings).
🌊 Default Swimming Controls
| Action | Key(s) |
|---|---|
| Movement | W / A / S / D |
| Jump (near surface) | Spacebar |
| Boomerang | K |
| Bomb | J |
• Boomerang travels slower and covers less distance underwater.
🌍 Default Level Select Controls
| Action | Key(s) |
|---|---|
| Movement | W / A / S / D |
| Stage Select | Enter |
| Pause Menu | R |
| Go to Test Room | 1 |
Notes
⚠️ This game is a free prototype. Not for commercial sale.
Assets should not be reused without permission.
Thanks for playing and supporting the project!
Development log
- Boomerang Adjustments8 hours ago
- Charged Up: Boomerang & Heart System Updates12 hours ago
- GUI Polish2 days ago
- Jumpers Behave & Hearts Shine3 days ago
- Flow & Customization Update4 days ago
- Adding Some Visual Flair5 days ago
- Slippery Surfaces Arrive5 days ago
- New Level, Springs, Shakes, and Smarter Enemies (its a big one!)6 days ago
Comments
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I love the game it's fun and enjoyable! I don't know if it's intentional, but the jumping enemies in level 2 are jumping off the cliff and unalive themselves xD
Oh ha ha that’s definitely intentional. They are just fine, honest! You can’t see them, but there are actually soft cushions just off screen to catch their fall… *ahem*… it’s totally safe. 😅
Just tested out the latest version feels really smooth now... enjoy it a lot more :) ...
two small things i noticed:
- inside the water level:
(jumping out water don't always works for me... breaks a bit the flow)
- inside the air level:
(if you want to jump down from a leaf plaftform... i would choose just pressing down and sometimes you can stuck in some kind of dead end.. if you don't know how the level is structured at the beginning (but its a minor issue))
Hey there! Thanks for coming back to check out the game again. I appreciate your dedication to offering up feedback, and I'm glad to hear you are enjoying the game even more than before!
Is this the spot you are getting stuck in? (see attached image) This is a tricky spot which I just updated to be a branching path.
Also I just addressed the semisolid platform falling controls in my latest devlog! New configurable controls were added!
Yeah, I think that was the place i got stuck (not for a long time... but was still a bit annoying).
Nice! Thanks for confirming.
It should be solved now! Not a nice thing to punish the player that early in the autoscroll level lol! This is not an "I Wanna Be the Guy" kind of platformer game.
Great game so far! Love the retro style :D
This could 100% turn into an amazing game!
Is the new boxart AI? I'm asking because it looks very 'flat' and sort of generic.
Since you're not selling the game for money - I'm an artist, and I'd happily make you cover/box art of any kind you like. For free, as a collab.
Hey there! Yes this is predominantly Ai created. I had ChatGPT 4o create character designs based on the game and then I arranged them.
Right now I am still nailing down a ton of the elements of the game (enemies, story, main villain, etc.) so I didn’t want to do anything too high effort/ high stakes yet until I understand exactly what everything is going to be.
I really REALLY appreciate the offer. I am a graphic designer (but not a super great illustrator) so I will get back to this cover eventually. 😂
I am genuinely curious to see your work though. Point me in the direction and I would love to check out your art!
https://shinosarna.artstation.com/ - my portfolio, and https://www.deviantart.com/shinobody - my deviantart.
I guess it makes sense to use AI if the current boxart is basically 'placeholder'. It's really fun to see this game evolve and improve. You're definitely inspiring me to get off my butt and like, go back to making games.
Nice work!
I am mostly a layout designer, so not as much an illustrator. Always nice to see others work. It always inspires me!
Glad we could both be inspired by each other ha ha.
Should have some interesting mechanics coming down the pike soon for the game:
Bombs (can destroy crumbled blocks, kill enemies, hurt the player)
Switches that turn on/off certain blocks
Poison water (slowly chips away player health)
Lava (insta kill for player)
Should open up the game to some more interesting scenarios.
Great progress! New levels are pretty cool!
New controls feel a slight bit awkward - one solution would be letting player BOTH Arrow Keys and WSAD for movement at the same time (with jump being space and z, and boomerang being k and x). Or just offer remappable controls, or at least multiple control schemes. Similarly, it feels a bit awkward in level select to have to move your entire hand over to Enter just to select a level.
But I really do like that you can swim freely in every direction, it goes a long way to make the water level a lot more fun.
So far the games feel extremely easy - it's pretty hard to get hit by anyone, and you have six hits - but since these are just the early levels, I think that is just fine. The movement feels nice and that's the important part.
Hey there! Welcome back.
Glad you are enjoying this game so far.
You’ll be happy to know the game now supports mapping your own keys and controller inputs! (Controller mapping should work… but let’s just say it’s in the “early testing” phase. 😅)
Feeling like mixing things up? You can change your controls any time — go wild with your key layout experiments.
I’m not aiming for this to be a full-on “git gud” challenge like Super Meat Boy, but rest assured, there are tougher stages coming down the pipeline. The early levels are meant to ease you in — later ones will keep you on your toes!
In the future, please give an alternative key for jumping. It's really awkward to play platformers where you have to press Up to jump - this only works in fighting game. Shift, S, W or Z would all work.
I'm saying that because I love everything else about the game - it's fun, snappy, charming. Love it. I just want more levels... ;_;
Don’t sweat it! Such a quick and easy update to do (as far as swapping keys for different things)!
You hit the nail on the head. I’m thinking of changing it to WASD for directional movement like for walking/crouching and then have J for jumping and K maybe for the boomerang attack. That might feel better suited for traditional platformer controls.
More levels to come in the future as well! I am planning some interesting things.
Now if I can figure out moving platforms and sloped terrain I will be golden 🫠
Really well done!
Thank you for the comment! I'm glad you like it! :)