Multi-platform game engines
List of frameworks for creating 3D or 3D games for mobile devices, desktop or HTML 5 canvas.
Some of these frameworks are compatible with Android and iOS.
Commercial engines
Professional engines are paid, but offer better services, including collaboration management. Of course, there are independent services for other solutions.
Unity 3D
The most famous, and really portable based on .NET or Mono. Despite the professional license, many services are offered as paid extensions. Unity seems rather destined for smaller publishers. The advantage over UE4 is that the store of elements for inclusion in the game and much more. Perhaps it is better suited for mobile devices.
- Unity 3D.
- AngryBots demo. A beautiful demonstration of a game made with Unity and HTML 5.
- Unity 3D in video. Real-time rendering with version 5.4.
Unreal Engine 4
A competitor to Unity, it does not have the same limitations without having a higher cost. By the way, since version 4, the license has become noticeably cheaper, increasing the share of the engine from 50% to 5% of revenue! The language is no longer the same, you need to return to C++, which is less secure than C #, but using Blueprint, a visual scripting language for managing objects and characters. Unreal Editor allows you to directly generate code for various systems, such as Windows or iOS.
Since March 2015, the use of the graphics engine has become free, a subscription is not required, it is freely downloaded and only 5% is charged from $3000 in revenue per product per quarter!
- Unreal Engine.
- MarketPlace. An overview of the components you can buy to create a game.
Free engines and frameworks
Open 3D (formerly Lumberyard)
Managed by the Linux Foundation, Open-source, Open 3D is a quality framework originally released by Amazon under the name Lumberyard ).
For free, this engine can connect to Amazon's cloud service, AWS, for online multiplayer (this is the only licensed cloud service other than a personal server). It is based on CryEngine and allows you to make so-called 3D AAA games. Source code in C++ is also provided, but modified source code cannot be distributed (it can be distributed in binary form).
Landscape with Lumberyard rendering engine
It allows you to play games and other simulations on PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4. Mobile devices are not supported.
Note that less Terms Of Service du Lumberyard in 57.10 provided for a rule that applies if the virus turns humanity into zombies, as in films and TV shows. We are ready for any opportunity.
In July 2021, Lumberyard becomes Open 3D under the control of the Linux Foundation .
- Open 3D. (Apache license).
- Presentation video.
Years
Expected infrastructure, offers very complete documentation and scene and sprites editor also good level. Works in 2D and 3D.
It has been compared to Unity for its mobility, specifically 2D above and 3D below, but before version 3, which arrived in 2018. Scripting in GDScript is similar to Python, and more recently to C #. Since version 3 it has an element store .
This is undoubtedly the best engine for two-dimensional games. Works on several platforms: PC, Mobile and Web. Works with Node.js.
- Godot. MIT license.
Turbulenz
It can be downloaded on Githube and produce games in 2D or 3D. The Polycraft demonstration shows the perfect fluidity and control of all aspects of the physical world, such as the properties of bodies and their interaction. It includes WebSocket support, mouse, keyboard and multi-touch support. It is a high-level library, and the MIT license allows complete freedom of use. This is a must for ambitious programmers!
It became open in May 2013. The client code was partially executed in TypeScript and converted to JavaScript, and when WebGL is not supported, a plugin is required in IE or the old browser, except for changing the browser.
Phaser
Complete infrastructure for creating 2D games or demos with physical forces, sprites or groups, animation, sound, brick decor control. Requires WebGL and Canvas, it can be programmed using TypeScript.
- Phaser, site. The code is free and open source .
Conva
A simple library for using Canvas on your desktop or mobile devices. Contains all the features you need to create games. Controls the recording of multiple layers. There are 138 KB in one file.
Three.js
This JavaScript graphics library can work with WebGL in Canvas and create smooth applications and quick action sets.
Gladius of Mozilla
Mozilla also has its own version of the engine for creating games based on WebGL. It uses WebAPI, another Mozilla library for web applications and other technologies such as JoystickAPI. It also seems to include the code ammo.js.
Sprite.js
An animation programming library that works with or without Canvas.
It allows you to make games under the Android platform, but the demonstrations on the site are not very exciting, perhaps the framework can be made better.
Online sound generator
JavaScript source code is available on github .