Gorest is a no-UI, Codex-assisted platform for generating 2D game assets and compositing animation scenes locally. It targets game developers and animators seeking to simplify asset creation and prototyping by describing desired outcomes rather than manually operating complex tools. The platform offers rapid visual iteration and reduces reliance on traditional, manual animation pipelines.

How It Works

This project employs a novel "vibe-code" approach, leveraging Codex to directly modify the software and generate assets based on natural language prompts. Instead of a fixed UI, users interact by describing their needs, allowing the agent to adapt the tool. It combines a local agent for spritesheet generation and scene compositing with a browser-based visual surface for previews and arrangement, bypassing video generation models for a spritesheet-centric workflow.

Quick Start & Requirements

• Installation: Requires Node.js (v20+). Clone the repository, then run npm install.
• Running: Execute npm run dev to start the local development server. The application is accessible at http://localhost:3000 (or an alternative port if 3000 is in use).
• Dependencies: No API keys are required for the local workflow. GPT-5.5 is recommended for Codex-assisted operations.
• Links: Official Website and Gorest Discord are mentioned but not linked directly in the README.

Highlighted Details

• Codex Integration: Enables direct code modification and asset generation via natural language prompts, including revising the application's framework.
• No-UI Workflow: Interacts by describing desired tools or workflows, which the agent then implements.
• Scene Compositing: Features a 2D Canvas acting as a freeform scene-flow board for arranging backgrounds, characters, and props as editable layers.
• Spritesheet Management: Supports generating or importing spritesheets, with detailed metadata editing per animation clip (e.g., trigger type, game state, loop mode).
• Local-First: Designed for offline operation, with most editing and preview work occurring without cloud API dependencies.

Maintenance & Community

The project welcomes contributions via GitHub pull requests. A Discord server is available for community engagement. Specific details on maintainers, sponsorships, or roadmap are not provided.

Licensing & Compatibility

The source code is released under the MIT License. However, all media assets (images, artwork, spritesheets, etc.) are provided for demonstration and project preview purposes only and are not released under MIT or CC0. Reuse, redistribution, or commercial use of these assets requires explicit written permission from the rights holder.

Limitations & Caveats

The primary limitation is the restrictive licensing of included media assets, which are not suitable for general commercial reuse or model training without explicit permission. The Codex-assisted workflow, while powerful, may require specific prompt engineering skills and relies on external AI models. The project appears to be under active development, with an emphasis on evolving the workflow.