In Game Builder Garage, the player uses a visual programming language centralized on the concept of creatures called Nodon. The Nodon represent various facets of input, game output, and game logic, such as a Stick Nodon that reports input from the Joy-Con analog stick or a Person Nodon that represents an on-screen character. The player builds a program by adding Nodon and making connections between the various nodes on Nodon, such as connecting the Stick Nodon to the Person Nodon as to tie the analog stick to movement of the character on-screen.[2] Nodon are available to interface nearly all features of the Switch and Joy-Con, including the infrared sensors and motion controls.
The game features a lesson mode to guide the player through using the Nodon language and to help them understand some of the principles of game development though a series of seven built-in games that the player can create.[2][3]
Games built within Game Builder Garage can support up to eight different Joy-Con, effectively allowing up to eight-player local multiplayer games to be built.[3]
Game Builder Garage has a share function, that allows creators to upload their games and share them with other people. However, it does not feature a game browser, but rather a code has to be shared by the creator for other people to access it. Fans of the game have been creating their own platforms for sharing their games; the most popular one being MyGarage Games.[4]
The game also allows for the use of commercial USB computer mice.[5]