In building alternative worlds and augmented realities, one of the primary tools that digital game designers need are game engines and frameworks. If traditional games like Chess or Snakes and Ladders are played with the help of tools like boards and game pieces, digital apps have game engines that help designers build characters, set game ambiance, and deploy various challenges to keep constant engagement among players. With the almost infinite possibilities that digitalization in game production offers, game engines equip designers, developers, and gamers with the tools necessary to simulate their fantasy worlds or even test possible future realities.
From the overall cinematics (map-making and 3d rendering) to physical game attributes (physics, sounds, animation, and effects), game engines help bring to life the visual and operational aspects of any game as envisioned by game designers. Simply put, they serve as a stage where games are executed, edited, and produced. With features that help simplify 3d processes and complex gameplay configurations, game engines have become sought-after products that can be easily purchased through one-time license payment or subscription fees. As the demand for online gaming and streaming platforms continues to rise, game engine companies are also constantly innovating their program with features centered on improving 3D design optimization, reliable performance, and multi-platform product compatibility.
Although cloud computing and online streaming have enabled gamers access to seamless data transfer and fast data storage, lag-free gameplay, multi-device compatibility, and smooth real-time communication are a few things that still need improvement. Technical difficulties and less-than-ideal speed for digital data migration are often caused by factors ranging from equipment capacity to mismatched software configurations. Luckily, with platforms like Vagon, you can easily launch your games or applications wherever you are in the world. No matter how big a file is or whatever devices you and your team are on, you can easily sync and collaborate by simply logging in to your account and uploading your file to the Vagon server.
Industry Giants
High-quality graphics and innovative 3d tools are the Achilles heel for most game design programs available in the market. With these programs being either too taxing for the normal computer or too complicated to migrate to various platforms, designers are always on the lookout for game engines that are reliable enough to support 3D modeling and animation functions without breaking their equipment. Considered benchmarks in producing quality games in the market, game pioneers such as Unity and Unreal Engine are among the popular engines sought after by designers.
Unity 🔗
A pioneer since the 3-megabit days of gaming, Unity is one of the easily recognizable tools used in game development and design. With popular games like Fall Guys, Pokemon Go, and Among Us _under its belt, _Unity is a gaming program suitable for those looking to develop and distribute their application easily across multiple platforms. Its hierarchal and straightforward C# code meant that it is an ideal program for beginners in this industry.
Unreal Engine 🔗
With comprehensive tools and features that simplify most game design workflows, Unreal Engine is a favorite program used by most developers who are keen on producing high-quality renderings in a jiffy. Although learning C++ coding is not as easy for beginners, working on a project with Unreal becomes easier as you go along since the intuitive memory management helps make the code easier to transfer and faster to edit.
Launching a project with programs such as Unity or Unreal Engine can put strain on the performance of most computers. Hence, top-of-the-line equipment as well as large internet bandwidth is pretty much the standard in running and sustaining such programs in the long term. This can be an expensive up-front cost, especially for startups alongside software licensing requirements. With the ability to support large and demanding programs as well as handle streaming services online, Vagon Streams offers seamless and simultaneous code-free access to your projects making it an invaluable companion for beginner gamers and start-up teams alike.
CryEngine 🔗
CryEngine can be considered a niche development program focused on producing next-level visuals for games. With Cry Engine, developers can easily check the flaws in their games along the way using its stand-alone simulation.
For Indie Developers and Beginners
Having a light, flexible, and portable program with a supportive community to back it up is very important, especially for small indie startups as well as beginner game developers. Aside from limited budget constraints, startup indie companies often seek programs that can provide their work with adequate technical power while still having room to explore their creative visions.
Godot Engine 🔗
Free and open-sourced, Godot’s MIT license allows you to use it on multiple platforms and distribute it easily among colleagues. With a dedicated 2D engine and a 3D engine in the works, Godot is a portable and cross-platform game engine that can be easily maneuvered with a bit of knowledge in scripting. The tight-knit and supportive online community makes the process of navigating the software easier and bearable, especially for beginners. Some nice games made with Godot are Nightmare in Squidville (a game based on the popular series Spongebob) and Legend of Lumina(an adventure game with a Legend of Zelda vibes) among many others.
GameMaker Studio 🔗
Ideal for developing pixel art games, GameMaker’s high-end 2D engine is perfect for beginners and those looking to create portable 2D games without the need for so much coding and programming. Check various games made with GameMaker like Katana ZERO here.
Construct Engine 🔗
With tons of resources available online, this game engine is perfect for beginners and students who are looking to immerse themselves in the field of game design. From puzzles to RPGs, easily download the free program and develop games with the help of downloadable templates. Running on HTML5 and WebGL scripts, you can easily whip up games online like Mighty Goose or work on your game even if you are offline.
Best Engines for Specific Use Cases
Only some people are interested in having that shining and modern aesthetics of modern RPGs and first-player shooter games, some like things to be different from the usual. For those looking for nostalgic retro feels or narrative-driven and experimental games, here is a list of engines suitable for unique and specialized games that can be accessed without the need for complex coding and techniques.
Twine 🔗
Twine is the engine of choice for digital games and complex productions with non-linear stories such as Black Mirror: Bandersnatch. A free-to-download tool that uses basic coding through HTML, Javascript, or CSS languages, Twine can be used to create novel-style navigation and visuals through their online and offline platforms as well.
RPG Maker 🔗
Interesting plots, unpredictable maps, stimulating battleplay, and good background music make adventure-based games like Castlevania and Touhou Wandering Souls popular among amateur and professional gamers alike. With the RPG Maker, you can build similar games without the need to code as much. Developed by Japanese firm ASCII, the program allows the designer to set up their game’s storyline easily with the help of tools such as character maker, tilemap creator, and battle editor built into its UI. Quickly add effects and actions later on via free plug-ins or by encoding with Javascript and HTML5.
PICO-8 🔗
This virtual machine aims to bring the retro style back to contemporary gaming trends. Often considered more of a game emulator, this portable game engine developed by Team Loxaloffle allows developers to program 8-bit games with the help of LUA coding. Together with its built-in program code, music, and map editor, users can use the program to store mini-games into cartridges digitally. True to the nostalgia of the 1980s, these digital cartridges can then be exchanged or shared either as an app or an executable file playable via PICO-8.
LÖVE 🔗
Considered more of a LUA-based framework than a game engine, LÖVE is an open cross-platform tool ideal for those who like to code. Being a framework meant that users were expected to create their UI from scratch through the program’s scripting language. A great choice for those who are into designing 2D games and code-based prototyping, having a reliable online community and
a large library of resources available via Discord is a good starting point.
Ren’Py Visual Novel Engine 🔗
Translated from its Japanese meaning, the Ren’Py engine would mean “Love, Python”. This game development platform is focused on helping designers create narrative-heavy and story-based games using Python. The program has a built-in UI where designers can easily choose between options for scenes, labels, and characters via the dropdown menu.
Gdevelop 🔗
With no coding required, GDevelop is an intuitive program that allows users to create mobile games fuss-free. With Typescript and Javascript as its main development language, new designers can use the program to learn and explore the capabilities of the software for game design with ease. The built-in asset store also offers designers easy-to-download assets for art and characters, helping them supercharge their workflow and efficiently facilitate a smooth game development experience.
For Mobile and Web Optimized Engines
Whether through independent websites, social media apps, or mobile applications, games have become a portable entertainment choice for most people. Not only that game expansion packs and fast updates important factors for client satisfaction and retention, but lag-free gaming and streaming are also slowly becoming the benchmarks in determining the standards for this sector of the industry.
Solar2D (formerly Corona SDK) 🔗
This C++ and Open GL-based cross-platform program was released in 2009 primarily for those looking to develop 2D mobile apps for iOS and Android. With a simulator that can handle game physics, sound, and fluid engines, Solar2D is considered to be an innovative and popular tool for mobile app production.
Phaser 🔗
Advanced features, outstanding animation, and rendering features can be executed with the help of this program. Fast, free, and open-sourced, this HTML5-supported program has been used to produce simple yet entertaining games such as Valhalla. Export and power up your game through WebGL and third-party tools, libraries, and assets within the Phaser online shop.
Cocos2d-x 🔗
Having the option for C++ coding and a similar workflow with Unity makes this a strong contender against Phaser in making mobile-based app games. The only downside is that this program is primarily focused on catering to the Chinese gaming market and has fewer resources available online.
For the Code-Conscious Developer
Developers or enthusiasts with high-level knowledge of code and interested in full control of the games they develop might be interested in delving into some code-friendly game engines from this list:
Haxe 🔗
A program dedicated to translating your single code to multiple languages, Haxe is a portable and reliable tool for making your game programming works easier to handle and transfer. By partnering this program with various game engines and frameworks, you can quickly formulate web and mobile applications with just a single code. Although the program can handle Java, ActionScript 3, and C#, this program is strictly typing-based and can be challenging for beginners to navigate.
Defold 🔗
A completely free and fully supported game engine, Defold is an accessible program that can help designers develop games quickly. Much like a plug-and-play program, Defold gives you the option to easily build a game using the coding language of your choice. With a built-in UI, you can equip your game with effects and features such as tilemap and particle effect options. The only downside of this game engine is that it still has a lot of catching up to do in terms of advanced lighting and game physics. Games like Family Island and Tales of Ori can provide you with a preview of what this engine can offer.
For those with high-level code experience, managing a game through coding might be the preferred option. With programs like Monogame, you are guaranteed a code-first experience as it is a framework designed for those looking to build their engine from scratch. This lightweight program allows designers to create their games and build their engines at the same time. Perfect for 2D games and those who are looking at custom formats with Microsoft XNA-based rendering for their game.
Developing a game is not just about choosing the right game engine, but also about understanding your options and tools available to you. To start, choosing a game engine or a framework to develop should depend on your project size, needs, and skills. For some, working from the ground up with a framework is much easier than modifying commands through an existing game engine.
Whether you are working on a simple 2D project or with a custom 3D RPG with complex special effects, setting the scope and scale of your project can help provide a clear picture of your project and identify the turning points for your workflow. For one, timelines, resources, and costs vary immensely when you are working as a team as opposed to a beginner developer experimenting with various game engines. For beginners and mid-level practitioners, having resources, community, and an easy-to-learn interface is crucial to delivering projects on time and still gaining additional experiences. Whereas, for high-level code developers, having technical support, free assets, or resources can be a major consideration, especially for those looking to commercialize their work.
Technicalities such as platform incompatibility and streaming lags as well as unforeseen hurdles can greatly impact your production time and budget. With Vagon Streams, editing and coordinating changes in your work can be delivered quickly and easily without worrying much about compatibility and transfer speed. Vagon and Vagon Streams supercharge your processes by providing your team access and a stable platform to access your project anytime regardless of the device you are in. Learn more about it here.
