>Devlair/projects/frameworksandengines_

Frameworks & Engines

2 mins


We live in such a wonderful age to be software developers. A few decades back, game development was a pretty challenging task even for intermediate programmers. Nowadays it is very easy to get directly into game development. Modern hardware is powerful, and in fact, a moderately powerful laptop is enough for development. Also, indie devs nowadays have access to a rich library of tools. Just choose the right one… yes?

Well, the more alternatives, the better, sure thing, but it comes with one drawback, how do I choose the right tool for my dream project when we have so many options?

That’s the reason why I started my first blog. I wanted to write articles about my “hunt for the best tool”. In past years I’ve tried almost every at least little known framework/engine and now I want to tell you about my experiences in the form of an informational table with a short product description.

I’ve tried to be as objective as I could. If you have any suggestions, just put a comment below :)

Frameworks/Engines

Explanation:

  • Name: name of the product and link to its official web page.
  • Language: primary programming language. Excludes bindings or any other programming languages used as extensions.
  • Target platforms: platforms on which exported software can run. Includes only official supported ones. *Will add consoles and other misc platforms later.
  • Editor: support for official editor
  • Crossed out: no longer supported or archived
NameLanguageTarget platformsOpen sourceEditor
AmuletLuawin, linux, mac, ios, android, web✔️
BevyRustwin, linux, mac ios, web✔️
Cocos2DLua/JS/C++win, linux, mac, ios, android, web✔️✔️
DefoldLuawin, linux, mac, ios, android, web✔️*✔️
DualityC#win, linux, mac✔️✔️
EbitenGowin, linux, mac, ios, android, web✔️
FNAC#win, linux, mac ios,✔️
Flax EngineC++/C#win, linux, mac ios, android✔️✔️
HaxeFlixelHaxewin, linux, mac ios, android, web✔️
Heaps IOHaxewin, linux, mac, ios, android, web✔️✔️
Löve2DLuawin, linux, mac, ios, android✔️
MonogameC#win, linux, mac, ios, android✔️
O3DEC++/Luawin, linux, android✔️✔️
OrxC++win, linux, mac, ios, android✔️
OxygineC++win, linux, mac, ios, android, web✔️✔️
PhaserJS/TSweb✔️
PyGamePythonwin, linux, mac, web✔️
RaylibCwin, linux, mac, ios, android, web✔️
SDL2C/C++win, linux, mac, ios, android, web✔️
SFMLC++win, linux, mac, ios, android✔️
StrideC#win, linux, ios, android✔️✔️
libGDXJavawin, linux, mac, ios, android, web✔️
AmethystRustwin, linux, mac✔️

*Defold is actually shared source

Mainstream engines

Widely used and well-known engines.

NameLanguageTarget platformsOpen sourceEditor
CryengineC++/Lua/C#win, linux, mac✔️
GameMakerGMLwin, linux, mac, ios, android, web✔️
GodotGodotScript/C#win, linux, mac, ios, android, web✔️✔️
UnityC#win, linux, mac, ios, android, web✔️
UnrealC++win, linux, mac, ios, android, web✔️✔️

Visual programming

Name
RPG Maker
Construct
Buildbox
GameSalad
GDevelop

Fantasy consoles

Name
TIC-80
PICO-8
Liko-12
Voxatron
Pixel Vision 8
Pyxel

last update: 09.06.2023