GrafX2
An open-source bitmap editor inspired by Deluxe Paint, with indexed color, palette cycling, grids, and scripting.
Why use it
GrafX2 works well for characters, backgrounds, and tiles that need strict color counts, vintage-console aesthetics, or pixel-level control.
Where it fits
Use art, animation, audio, levels, and narrative to make the game easy to read and its world convincing.
What to check
The interaction model is intentionally old-school and harder to learn than modern paint apps; it is not for high-resolution photo compositing.