Extract text from Game Maker backup files (GB2)
To convert GB2 backup files to another format, you need GameMaker or other Backup software.
To convert other file formats to the "Game Project Backup File" file type, you need software like GameMaker or a similar tool.
A .GB2 file is an automated backup file generated by GameMaker, a 2D game development engine created by YoYo Games. It contains a complete snapshot of a game development project, including the game's source code, sprites, room layouts, and sound assets.
The main disadvantage of the .GB2 format is its proprietary, closed ecosystem. You cannot view the embedded images, play the audio, or read the code using standard web browsers, text editors, or media players. It requires the exact or a highly compatible version of the original software to open. Additionally, these rolling backup files can quickly consume significant hard drive space for larger game projects.
Standard online converters fail to process .GB2 files because the internal data structure is a proprietary archive. Normally, users must manually rename the .GB2 extension back to the primary project format (such as GM81 or GMK) to restore the project in GameMaker. Once opened natively, users can export individual assets to standard formats like PNG for images or WAV for audio.
Because this is a closed format, it is extremely difficult to open or convert outside of the original environment. Often, only the original software can properly read or export the data. Our platform can inspect the file and show raw text or internal structure. If our analysis detects a supported underlying or embedded format, partial viewing or extraction may still be possible.
Convert.Guru analyzes your GB2 file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
If you want to convert GB2 file to , you can use GameMaker or similar software from the "Game Project Backup Archiving" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert files to GB2, try GameMaker or another comparable tool in the "Game Project Backup Archiving" category.
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our GB2 converter.