Desktop Widget for Desktop Games

GDevelop general Feature requests
1

Hi everyone,

I’m experimenting with GDevelop to create a small idle “widget” game that stays visible on the desktop—just like Cornerpond or Rusty’s Retirement. The idea is a game that automatically “fishes” in the corner of your screen while you work, without using a traditional window.

To make this possible, it would be great if GDevelop provided the following native features:

  1. Borderless Window
  • An option to remove the title bar and window borders on Windows/macOS/Linux.
  1. Per-Pixel Transparency
  • Support for true transparency on individual pixels (alpha channel) rather than only global window opacity, so the desktop shows through and animations remain smooth.
  1. Always-on-Top
  • A built-in “Always on Top” toggle that persists even when switching focus to other applications.
  1. Fixed Window Position
  • Ability to set the initial window position (e.g., top-left or bottom-right corner) and lock it so users can’t drag it around.
  1. System Tray Minimization
  • Option to minimize the game to the system tray instead of closing it, keeping it running in the background.
  1. (For Reference) Godot Engine Support
    *Godot Engine (since v3.1) already offers borderless, per-pixel transparency and always-on-top windows via simple project settings (Display → Window → Borderless & Transparency, plus get_tree().get_root().set_transparent_background(true) in GDScript). Having something equally turnkey in GDevelop would be fantastic!

Currently, GDevelop offers some relevant actions (Window Position, Make Window Always on Top, Window Opacity), but lacks borderless mode and per-pixel transparency. Adding these would open up the possibility to build seamless desktop widgets that integrate perfectly with the user’s workspace.

—
Looking forward to your feedback,
A GDevelop user

6 Likes
2

Yeah would love this. Gdevelop feels like the perfect engine for widget-type apps, so this would see a lot of uses imo

3

Unfortunately since GDevelip games run in electron, they are limited on what they can do in regards to window control.

Electron used to have a way to make the bg transparent but last I remember they did away with this many years ago. (Or chromium did, as they are beholden to chromium.)

For hiding the title bar, you can do that but you’ll need to manually export your project and add what Arthuro lists here:

1 Like
4

I see, thank you very much for your reply. I guess there actually are some games Gdevelop can’t make :sweat_smile:

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