Game Engine Software

Overview
Products
FAQ

Best Game Engine Software include:

Unity, Unreal Engine, and Godot.

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Game Engine Software Overview

What is a Game Engine?

A game engine is software designed to support the creation of video games, though some are also used to create animated video. Game engines provide rendering functionality to display graphics and handle audio, and typically provide prebuilt scripts for common game elements such as physics or collision detection. They also provide a single interface where developers can access all of their art assets and scripts.

Businesses use Game Engines as an environment for the entire game development process. While many game engines support both 2d and 3d games, many specialize in one or the other, with some even specializing in specific genres.

Game Engine Features & Capabilities

Game Engine features and capabilities depend on what the engine specializes in, but here are a few of the more common features that game engines may provide.

  • Graphic Rendering

  • Audio Rendering

  • Asset Management

  • Version Control

  • Networking

  • Physics

  • User Input Management


Game Engine Comparison

When selecting a Game Engine, consider some of the following factors before making a final decision.

  1. Game Specialization: Game engines specialize in different areas. Most notably, if you want to make a 3d game you should be sure to select an engine that supports 3d graphics and animation, while a 2d developer may prefer a different option. If you don’t know exactly what you want to do, consider trying a free tool, or one that supports a variety of different types of games.

  2. Supported Languages: Some game engines support multiple programming languages, but most specialize in one or two. When selecting a game engine, be sure to pick one that supports languages your developers are comfortable coding in.

  3. Licensing: Some game engines work on a single payment model, while others are free, but require you to give up a portion of any profits from games you release on the platform. Consider what makes most sense for your organization financially when choosing a game engine.


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Game Engine Products

(1-5 of 5) Sorted by Most Reviews

Unity

Unity

8 reviews

Unity Technologies headquartered in San Francisco offers the Unity real-time 3D and 2D development platform.

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GameMaker

GameMaker

GameMaker is designed to be an accessible game engine that can be used by users with limited programming knowledge. It can be used to create 2d and 3d games.

Core Games

Core

Developed by Manticore Games, Core is a game engine with an endless arcade of games to play and worlds to explore created by a global community. They have thousands of Unreal-powered games in every genre, and allows one to create, share, and earn from their own games. Free, high-…

Godot

Godot

Godot is an open source game engine based on C/C++. It supports making games for PC, mobile, and web environments.

Unreal Engine

Unreal Engine

0 reviews

Originally designed in 1998, Unreal Engine is a game engine designed to build games of all type, with sharp graphics and control, using the C++ language.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a team of strong developers to use a game engine?

While many game engines require coding, some include drag and drop interfaces that are usable for non developers, and others include pre built code chunks that can be used. That said, all game engines are less extensible without code, so you may run into some limitations without skilled developers.

Can I use multiple game engines?

While any given project will be built and completed in a single game engine, you may consider using different engines for other projects at the same company. Notably, adding another engine should be a measured decision since developers may lose productivity as they have to learn new software instead of working with what they are familiar with.

Are there free or open-source game engines?

Some of the most popular game engines are free for individual users or small companies, and there are also open source engines available for free to any user or business.