We present to you our website’s attempt to create a comprehensive list of game engines that will be of interest to indie developers, convenient for initial engine selection, and help you take the next step toward creating your own computer game. Everything is simple, concise, categorized, and color-coded according to relevance.
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| The best | 2D (PC) | 3D (PC) | Cross | MMO + Web | Mobile |
Cross-platform game engines
| Name | Description, advantages | Platforms | Language | Genres | Price |
| 3DVIA Virtools (Virtools 3D) v.5.0.0.15 (1993–2009) |
An engine for creating games, simulators, 3D internet, and virtual reality systems. Realistic HAVOK physics. Games created with this engine include: Siberia. Website: 3ds.com |
Windows, Mac, XBox360, PSP, Wii | — | 3D games of any genre | — |
| Axiom 3D Engine v.0.8 (2012) |
A fork based on the OGRE graphics engine. It uses the .Net Framework, DirectX, OpenGL, and XNA. It’s easy to use. Website: axiom.codeplex.com |
Windows, Linux, Android, iPhone, Windows Phone | C# | 3D and 2D games of any genre | For free |
| C4 Game Engine v.3.5 (2013) |
Engine Developer: Terathon Software LLC (Eric Lengel). This AAA engine features virtually all cutting-edge and cutting-edge technologies. Disadvantages: paid, only for professionals. Games created using this engine include: Greysoul. Website: terathon.com |
Windows, Mac, Linux, PS3 | C++ | 3D and 2D games of any genre | Free – demo, $250, $750, $1500 |
| Chrome Engine v.6 (2003 – 2013) |
A popular engine from the Polish company Techland. It utilizes the latest technologies and a user-friendly GUI. This engine powers the following games: Dead Island, Dead Island: Riptide, the Call of Juarez series, Sniper: Ghost Warrior, Four-wheel Drive: UAZ 4×4, and Dying Light. Website: gdh.techland.pl (unavailable) |
Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 | C++ | 3D games of any genre | — |
| Construct 2 r126 (2013) |
A very simple 2D game builder. No programming knowledge required. The developers’ website has a dedicated store where you can purchase building resources for your game, including sound sets, music, and detailed instructions. Website: scirra.com/construct2 |
Windows, iOS, Android, HTML5 | — | 2D games of any genre | Free, E 79 |
| CopperCube 3D v.4.3 (2013) |
Developer: Ambiera. Easy to learn. Games can be embedded on websites. Create 3D games using Flash or Windows technology. Formats: SWF file or EXE file. Based on the German 3D engine Irrlicht Engine. Multiplayer support is available. Website: ambiera.com/coppercube |
Windows, Mac, web browsers: Flash or WebGL, Android | Javascript, drag-and-drop | 3D games of any genre | Free for 14 days, E 149, E 380 |
| CryENGINE v.3 (2013) |
A top-of-the-line engine from the German company CryTek. It’s at the pinnacle of modern computer graphics performance, and the most advanced of all. Games such as Crisis 3 and Far Cry 3 are built on this engine. Website: crytek.com |
Windows, PS3, Xbox 360, (NextGen Ready) | Javascript, drag-and-drop | 3D games of any genre, MMO | Free, by arrangement |
| Delta3D v.2.7.4 (2012) |
It synthesizes other open source projects such as OpenSceneGraph, Open Dynamics Engine, Cal3D, and OpenAL into an easy-to-use API. Website: delta3d.org |
— | C++, Python | 3D and 2D games of any genre | For free |
| Daybreak motor v.0.1 (2008) |
An object-oriented 3D engine for the XNA framework with source code provided. Most settings are implemented using flowcharts, significantly improving the ease of game development. It leverages the power and ease of use of the .NET platform. Website: dbm.codeplex.com |
Windows, Xbox | C# | 3D games of any genre | For free |
| Esenthel Engine v.2.0 (2013) |
An engine by Polish developer Grzegorz Slazinski. The engine’s graphics are top-notch. Physics utilizes NVidia’s PhysX or Bullet. DirectX 9, 10, 11, OpenGL, and OpenGL ES are supported. Support for anti-aliasing, shadows, and shader effects. Website: esenthel.com (unavailable) |
Windows, Mac, iOS, Android | C++ | 3D and 2D games of any genre | Free, $150, $1000, $10000 |
| Id Tech (Quake engines) (the Rage Engine) v.5 (2013) |
An engine from the American company Id Software. It uses “Sparse Voxel Octree” technology, which utilizes voxels, octrees, ray casting, and megatextures. The following games were created using this engine: Doom 3, Quake 4, Prey, and Rage. Website: idsoftware.com |
Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 | C++ | FPS (3D first-person shooters) | By agreement |
| Infernal Engine (2013) |
There are tools for optimizing game performance. Supports crowd scenes with hundreds of characters on-screen. The engine was used in games such as Ghostbusters and Mushroom Men: Spore Wars. Website: infernalengine.com (unavailable) |
Windows, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PSP | C++ | 3D games of any genre | By agreement |
| Irrlicht SDK v.1.8.1 (2012) |
A fairly lightweight, open-source 3D engine written in C++. It supports OpenGL and DirectX 9. The following games were created using this engine: Democracy 3. Website: irrlicht.sourceforge.net |
Windows, Mac, Linux, FreeBSD, Xbox, PSP, SymbianOS, iPhone | C++ | 3D games of any genre | For free |
| Gamebryo LightSpeed (1999 – 2013) |
Engine developers: Numerical Design Limited and Emergent Game Technologies. The engine’s technology offers limitless possibilities for creating projects of any genre. Advantages: professional, powerful, cross-platform, advanced technology, high quality. Games created using the engine include: Bully, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Empire Earth II, Fallout 3, Sid Meier’s Civilization IV, and Divinity 2. Website: gamebryo.com |
Windows, GameCube, Wii, PS 2, PS 3, Xbox, Xbox 360 | C++ | 3D games of any genre | By agreement |
| Havok Vision Engine v.8 (2004 – 2013) |
This physics engine supports virtually every gaming platform imaginable. The following games were created using this engine: Arcania: Gothic 4 (2010), The Settlers 7 (2010), Stronghold 3 (2011), and Orcs Must Die! (2011). Website: havok.com |
Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, PS3, PS Vita, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360 | C++ | 3D games of any genre | Free, by arrangement |
| KjAPI | Engine by Kanda & Jeckle. Supports OpenGL and DirectX. Website: kjapi.com |
Windows, Xbox | C, C++ | 3D games of any genre | For free |
| Leadwerks Engine v.3.1 (2013) |
A modern 3D game engine based on OpenGL. It supports an advanced lighting system, high-quality shadows, OpenAL and EAX audio, and features built-in realistic Newton physics and the Leadwerks Sandbox game editor. Popular among indie developers. Multiplayer: LAN and IP. Website: leadwerks.com |
Windows, iOS, Android | C++, C#, VB.NET, Lua | 3D games of any genre | $199, 30-day free trial |
| Maratis v.3.21 (2005 – 2012) |
A game engine developed by French student Anael Seghezzi (France). It’s open source. The games Le Jardin de Mirabelle and Save Our Souls were created using this engine. Website: maratis3d.org (unavailable) |
Windows, Linux, Mac, iOS, Android | C++, Lua | 3D games of any genre | For free |
| Nebula Device (Nebula3 SDK) v.2 |
Nebula is a free and open-source game engine from the German studio Radon Labs. It supports Direct3D and OpenGL rendering. The following games were created using the engine: Project Nomads, Drakensang: The Dark Eye, and Drakensang Online. Website: devmaster.net/the-nebula-device-2 |
Windows, Mac, Linux, Irix, Xbox | C, C++, Tcl, Python, Lua | 3D games of any genre | For free |
| Ogre SDK (OGRE3d) v.1.9 (2013) |
Ogre is a free, open-source, object-oriented graphics engine used for developing high-quality 3D games. Pros: Popular engine, large community, and extensive capabilities. Games built on this engine include: Torchlight. Website: ogre3d.org |
Windows, Mac, Linux, MinGW, Ubuntu, iOS | C++ | 3D games of any genre | For free |
| PixelLight v.1.0.0-R1 (2012) |
A free, open-source system. Its modular design makes it suitable not only for games but also for any type of 3D application. Supports OpenGL and OpenGL ES. Website: pixellight.org |
Windows, Linux, Android | C++ | 3D games of any genre | For free |
| Power Render v.6.0 (2011) |
The primary purpose of this package is to develop games and 3D visuals. It is based on the Power Render SDK. Website: devmaster.net/power-render-6 |
Windows, Xbox | C, C++ | 3D games of any genre | Free, $100 |
| Retribution Engine v.1.10.5 (2008) |
Retribution Engine is an open-source game engine developed by the APGSoftware development team. The games Corridors of Power, Sinister, The Depot, and Slime Pits are all based on this engine. Website: apgardner.karoo.net |
Windows, Xbox, PlayStation 2 | C++ | FPS (3D first-person shooters) | For free |
| Shark 3D (2013) |
Shark 3D is a middleware engine from Spinor. It is used to create 3D applications and computer games. The engine is used in the following games: Dreamfall: The Longest Journey. Website: spinor.com (unavailable) |
— | C++ | 3D games of any genre | — |
| ShiVa 3D v.1.9.2 (2013) |
A powerful, cross-platform engine from ShiVa Technologies, Stonetrip. Supports MMO technologies. A ShiVa web player is available, allowing you to run games on website pages. Website: shivaengine.com |
Windows, Mac, Linux, Wii, Palm webOS, Windows Phone, Android, iOS, Flash and WebPlayer | C, C++, Objective-C | 3D and 2D games of any genre | E 169, E 1499 |
| Source Engine v.24 |
A game engine developed by Valve. Its key features include a modular foundation and flexibility, emotion-expression technology, and a network-based physics system. The Source SDK is free to use. To purchase the full engine, please contact Valve. Games built on this engine include Half-Life 2, Counter-Strike: Source, Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, Portal, and Left 4 Dead. Website: source.valvesoftware.com |
Windows, Mac, Linux, Xbox, Xbox 360, PS 3, P PS4, Xbox One | C++ | 3D games of any genre | Free, by arrangement |
| Torque 3D (Torque Game Engine) v.3.0 (2001 – 2013) |
The engine was developed by Dynamix and is currently supported by GarageGames. Multiplayer support is available. Starter packs are available for a first-person shooter, a racing game, or a real-time strategy game. Alternatively, you can start developing from scratch. The following games were created using the engine: Tribes 2. Website: garagegames.com |
Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Wii, Xbox 360, iPhone | — | FPS (3D first-person shooters) | Free, by arrangement |
| Unreal Engine v.4 UDK (Unreal Development Kit) v.2013 UDK Beta |
A popular high-tech engine from Epic Games. Over a hundred games have been created using various versions of this game engine, including the Unreal Tournament series, Deus Ex, Dishonored, Lineage II, Thief: Deadly Shadows, Postal 2, and many others. Website: unrealengine.com/udk |
Windows, Xbox, 360, One, GameCube, Wii, Wii U, PS 2, 3, 4, PSP, Vita, iOS, Android | C++ | 3D games of any genre | Free, by arrangement |
| Unity 3D v.4.3 (2013) |
One of the most popular game engines. Applications created with Unity support DirectX and OpenGL. It can also create web applications. The game engine is fully integrated with the development environment, allowing you to test your game directly in the editor. Resource manipulation is possible via simple drag and drop. The editor interface is customizable. Network support is built-in. Recent well-known games created with this engine include DmC, Wasteland 2, Slender: The Arrival, King’s Bounty: Legions, and Deus Ex: The Fall. Website: unity3d.com/unity |
Windows, Mac, Linux, Xbox 360, Wii, Wii U, PS 3, PS 4, Vita, Windows Phone, iOS, Android, Flash, Unity Web Player | C, C++, C#, JavaScript, Boo | 3D and 2D games of any genre | Free for 30 days, $500, $20/month, $1500, $75/month |
| Vicious Engine v.2 (2005 – 2013) |
The following games were created using this engine: Puzzle Quest, Despicable Me, and Man vs Wild: The Game. Website: viciousengine.com (unavailable) |
Windows, PS2, Xbox, PSP | — | 3D games of any genre | — |
| Visual3D.NET (RealmForge Game Engine) | A 3D platform for visual environment development, built on Microsoft .NET 2.0 and the XNA Framework. Website: visual3d.net |
PC, Xbox 360, Windows Mobile | C#, Visual Basic, Java, C++, .NET, visual scripting | 3D games of any genre | $150, $250, $2995, $9950 |
| Unigine (2013) |
Engine creator: Alexander Zapryagaev. It is used for various 3D simulators with photorealistic graphics (educational, medical, military, and transportation). Support for all new technologies, including DirectX 9, DirectX 11, and OpenGL. The following games were created using the engine: Oil Rush (2012) and Syndicates of Arkon MMORPG (2010). Website: unigine.com/products/unigine |
Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, PS 3, iOS, Android | C++, Unigine Script | 3D games of any genre | Free, $1299, $2995, $30000 |
| Xamarin’s Mono engine (Xamarin.iOS, Xamarin.Android) v.3.2.4 (2013) |
A software platform that allows developers to easily create cross-platform applications. Mono is an open-source implementation of Microsoft’s .NET Framework based on the ECMA standards for C# and the Common Language Runtime. Website: monogame.net |
Windows, Linux, Mac, iOS, Android, PS Mobile, Windows Phone, OUYA | C# | 3D and 2D games of any genre | For free |
| ZenGL v.0.3.12 (2013) |
A cross-platform game development library from a Russian developer. It provides the necessary functionality for 2D graphics output, input processing, sound playback, and more. Supports OpenGL, OpenGL ES 1.x, and Direct3D 9. Website: zengl.org |
Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android | FreePascal, Delphi | 2D games of any genre | For free |
