Mibo is a lightweight, Elmish-inspired micro-framework for F# that helps you build games on top of MonoGame (the underlying game framework). It’s designed to stay fun for small games while still providing an upgrade path for bigger projects (ARPG/RTS-style complexity) without forcing you to rewrite your engine.
Key ideas:
- Keep
updatepure (MVU) - Submit render commands to a
RenderBufferinview - Use explicit boundaries (tick ownership, phases, snapshot barriers) when scaling up
If you prefer learning by example, check out the working sample projects:
samples/2DSample(2D sample)samples/3DSample(3D sample)
- Elmish runtime for MonoGame games (MVU loop)
- optional fixed timestep support
- optional frame-bounded dispatch for stricter frame boundaries
- Input (raw input + semantic mapping / rebinding-friendly)
- Assets (loading + caching helpers)
- Rendering
- 2D SpriteBatch renderer (layers + multi-camera amenities)
- 3D renderer with opaque/transparent passes + multi-camera amenities
- Sprite3D “90% path” for unlit textured quads and billboards
- escape hatches (
DrawCustom) when you need custom GPU work
- Camera helpers + culling utilities
The docs live in docs/ and are intended to be the authoritative reference.
Start here:
- Architecture
- Elmish runtime:
docs/elmish.md - System pipeline (phases + snapshot):
docs/system.md - Scaling ladder (Simple → Complex):
docs/scaling.md
- Elmish runtime:
- Core services
- Input:
docs/input.md - Assets:
docs/assets.md
- Input:
- Rendering
- Overview / composition:
docs/rendering.md - 2D:
docs/rendering2d.md - 3D:
docs/rendering3d.md - Camera:
docs/camera.md
- Overview / composition:
Prerequisites:
- .NET SDK 10
- A working OpenGL setup (MonoGame DesktopGL)
From the repo root:
dotnet --version
dotnet tool restore
dotnet restore
dotnet build
dotnet testMibo provides project templates to get you started quickly.
Install the templates:
dotnet new install Mibo.TemplatesCreate a new project:
# 2D Game
dotnet new mibo2d -n My2DGame
# 3D Game
dotnet new mibo3d -n My3DGame
# Multi-Platform (Desktop, Android, iOS)
dotnet new mibo-multi -n MyMultiPlatformGame2D sample:
dotnet run --project samples/2DSample/MiboSample.fsproj3D sample:
dotnet run --project samples/3DSample/3DSample.fsprojThis repo uses local dotnet tools (see .config/dotnet-tools.json) for MonoGame content:
mgcb/mgcb-editor-*
If you need to edit a content project:
dotnet tool restore
# Run the editor appropriate for your OS
dotnet mgcb-editor-linux
# or dotnet mgcb-editor-windows / dotnet mgcb-editor-macThe repo uses fsdocs-tool.
dotnet tool restore
dotnet fsdocs buildTo watch locally while editing:
dotnet tool restore
dotnet fsdocs watchsrc/Mibo— the core framework librarysrc/Mibo.Tests— unit testssrc/Templates— project templates sourcesamples/2DSample— 2D sample gamesamples/3DSample— 3D sample gamedocs/— documentation source
If you’re interested in using F# beyond simple 2D games—while still staying in the MonoGame ecosystem—issues and PRs are very welcome.