RetroZone is a free, open source display engine that brings authentic retro visuals to HTML5 games. Built by Marco van Hylckama Vlieg (TheMarco) using Phaser and Claude Code, it applies CRT and vector post-processing effects to any canvas via WebGL shaders, with no game-engine lock-in. Works with Phaser, PixiJS, Three.js, or plain Canvas2D.
Two Retro Display Modes
Vector Mode emulates the look of the vintage Vectrex console and the 1983 Star Wars arcade game. It features blue phosphor CRT rendering with multi-pass bloom, per-channel persistence trails, chromatic aberration, and grain.
CRT Mode simulates a 256×224 NTSC display with gaussian beam scanlines, Trinitron aperture grille, halation, warm color temperature, and interlace flicker.
Both modes follow the same core principle: draw bright shapes on a black background, and the WebGL shader overlay adds the glow, bloom, scanlines, and phosphor trails automatically.
How to Use RetroZone with Phaser
RetroZone does not render game objects. It post-processes whatever you draw on your canvas. For Phaser games, setting your Graphics object to additive blending ensures overlapping glow passes add light instead of obscuring each other. Glow rendering draws each shape in three passes: a wide dim outer glow, a mid-width bloom, and a sharp bright core, simulating the look of a real phosphor beam.
Two Games Built with RetroZone
HexaX is a modern retro arcade tunnel shooter with authentic 1980s vector graphics. Rotate the hexagonal tunnel, dodge enemies, and survive. Buy once, own forever, no ads or in-app purchases.
Vectronix is a space shooter inspired by classic arcade games, featuring custom particle explosions built with 16 radial particles using manual drag decay, bypassing Phaser's built-in particle emitter entirely. Both games are solid references for developers looking to see RetroZone in action before integrating it into their own projects.