Open-Source 2D Game Engine: the Ultimate Guide

CEO & Founder at RetroStyle Games | May 18, 2023

Based on our experience, choosing the right game engine is crucial for 2D game development because it can affect the overall performance, ease of use, and time-to-market of the game. The game engine is the software that provides developers with the tools to create games efficiently. It handles many of the technical details of game development, such as rendering graphics, simulating physics, and input handling.

Open-source 2D game engines are a popular choice for game developers because they provide a flexible and cost-effective solution. Open-source software is software whose game engine source code is publicly available for anyone to use, modify, and distribute. This means that open-source game engines can be customized to fit specific game development needs, and developers can benefit from the contributions of a large community of users who continuously improve and update the software.

In this article, we will explore the benefits of using open-source 2D game engines for game development and provide an overview of some of the most popular open-source 2D game engines. We will also discuss important factors to consider when choosing a game engine, such as platform support, programming languages, and community support.

What is an Open-Source 2D Game Engine?

Open-source software refers to software whose source code is publicly available for use, modification, and distribution. This means that anyone can access and modify the code to create custom versions of the software.

Open-source 2D game engines are game engines whose source code is publicly available for anyone to use, modify, and distribute. This provides game developers with a flexible and cost-effective solution for game development, as they can customize the engine to fit their specific needs.

A game engine is a software that provides developers with tools to create games efficiently. It typically includes features such as graphics rendering, physics simulation, and input handling. Game engines can save developers time and effort by handling many of the technical details of game development, allowing them to focus on game design and gameplay.

In the next sections, we will explore some of the most popular open-source 2D game engines and discuss important factors to consider when choosing a game engine for 2D game development.

Benefits of Using an Open-Source 2D Game Engine

The availability of the source code is the primary rationale for using an open-source platform. Every developer seeks convenience, and having the source code of a platform allows you to adapt the functionality to meet your requirements. You may also add different plugins, which is a huge advantage.

Certainly, this is not the only advantage that arises when you decide to use free open-source game engines in your work. Based on our observations, we have identified five key benefits that we have placed in the table:

BENEFITS	DESCRIPTION
Cost-effective	Most of them are free open source game engines and save developers significant expenses on licensing fees.
Flexibility and customization	Developers have the freedom to modify and customize the game engine’s source code, tailoring it to their needs.
Active community support	Open-source game engines often have large and active communities, providing valuable resources, tutorials, and assistance.
Collaborative development	Open-source engines encourage collaboration among developers, fostering innovation and sharing of ideas.
Wide range of features	Many open-source 2D game engines offer a rich set of features, including physics simulations, audio, and graphics, enabling diverse game development possibilities.
Learning resource	Open-source game engines serve as valuable learning resources for aspiring developers, allowing them to study the codebase and understand game development principles.

These benefits demonstrate the advantages of leveraging open-source 2D game engines for developers looking to create engaging and cost-effective games.

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Top Open-Source 2D Game Engines

Through trial and error, we have discovered that each of these game engines has its own unique strengths and weaknesses, so it’s important to consider the specific needs of your game project when choosing an engine.

Ultimately, thanks to our practical knowledge, we determined that the right choice will depend on factors such as the programming language you’re most comfortable with, the target platforms you’re developing for, and the specific features you need for your game. And perhaps we will try to settle the dispute among many developers in the Spine vs Unity 2D animation showdown. Let’s see what comes out of it.

Godot

Godot is a versatile game engine and one of the best mobile game engines that support multiple programming languages, including GDScript and C#. It offers a range of 2D tools and features, including sprite management, physics, and animation capabilities. Godot also supports exporting games to multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and the web.

Unity

Unity is a visual scripting game engine and it is primarily known for its 3D capabilities but has a strong 2D feature set. It supports C# programming language and can export games to multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and web. Unity’s robust AI 2D art tools include sprite management, physics, and animation capabilities, making it a versatile game engine for 2D game development.

Unreal Engine

One of the powerful game engines that is widely used for 3D game development. It also has a strong 2D toolset that includes sprite management and animation capabilities. Unreal Engine supports C++ programming language and can export games to multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and the Web.

Marmalade

This game engine supports C++ and Lua programming languages. It allows for easy multi-platform development, including support for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and others. Marmalade offers a comprehensive toolset for 2D game development, including sprite management, physics, and animation capabilities.

GameMaker

GameMaker is a popular game engine that is easy to use and has a drag-and-drop interface.

It supports its own GML programming language and allows for easy exporting to multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and web. GameMaker’s 2D tools include sprite management, physics, and animation capabilities.

RPG Maker

This game engine specializes in creating role-playing games (RPGs). It offers a map editor, typically based on tile sets (referred to as chipsets in pre-XP versions), a scripting language for event scripting, and a battle editor.

Each version of RPG Maker comes with pre-made tilesets, characters, and events that can be utilized when creating new games. Notably, the PC versions of RPG Maker programs allow users to create custom tilesets and characters, as well as incorporate additional graphics according to their preferences.

Corona

Corona is a game engine that uses Lua programming language and offers a range of tools and features for isometric 2d games. It is a cross-platform framework that allows you to quickly create apps and games for mobile devices and desktop computers. That means you can build your project once and then publish it to a variety of platforms, including the Apple iPhone and iPad, Android phones and tablets, Windows Desktop, and even connected TV.

So if you are looking for the best engine for isometric games this text is for you.

GameMaker Studio 2

GameMaker allows you to write on the platform for multiple users. Various types of files are connected everywhere with extensions: gml, dll-libraries on Windows, Windows Phone, Xbox One, js-scripts for HTML5, so-libraries on Linux and Tizen, dylib-libraries on macOS, prx on PS4, suprs on PSVita, and also a special placeholder for iOS and Android.

It is possible to create proxy extensions for projects on many platforms, which allows you to use function naming in code, but access platform-specific libraries.

GDevelop

GDevelop is an open-source game engine that offers a drag-and-drop interface and supports HTML5 export. It includes a range of 2D tools and features, including sprite management, physics, and animation capabilities.

GDevelop also supports exporting games to multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.

Phaser

Phaser is a JavaScript-based game engine that can be used for both 2D and 2.5D games. It is suitable for creating cross-platform game apps. Its plugin support and big community of developers producing games using Phaser make it simple to get started with the framework. Phaser is also a fast, free, and enjoyable open source HTML5 game framework that supports WebGL and Canvas rendering in desktop and mobile web browsers.

Buildbox

The new Buildbox AI tool allows anyone to instantly construct unique, high-quality characters, locations, or objects for their video game projects with a single click. Simply type your desired content into the prompt box to get amazing assets in seconds. Drag and drop your creations onto the Creator Wheel to begin developing your game – no prior coding or design experience is required.

MonoGame

MonoGame is an open-source game engine that uses C# programming language and is designed for cross-platform game development. You can develop modern, fast, and reliable game code by using C# and other.NET languages on Microsoft and Mono platforms. All of the code is open to you, ensuring that you may make changes as needed or even port to entirely other platforms.

Construct 2

Construct 2 is a game engine that uses a drag-and-drop interface, allowing for easy game development without the need for coding. The program interface has a visual (WYSIWYG) editor, it is possible to create a game without programming skills. The editor has “events” and “actions” that create the logic of games. The app is updated regularly. The editor positions itself as “suitable for people with different levels of programming experience.” The function of creating a prototype of the game, demos, presentations, tutorials is available.

Amazon Lumberyard

Amazon Lumberyard is a game engine that uses C++ programming language and is designed for creating immersive, high-quality games. It includes a range of tools and features for 2D and 3D game modeling and development, including sprite management, physics, and animation capabilities.

libGDX

libGDX is an open-source game engine that uses Java programming language and is designed for cross-platform game development. It includes a range of tools and features for 2D art for games and game development. It is a well-proven and reliable framework with a sound base and documentation.

Stencyl

Stencyl is a game engine that uses a drag-and-drop interface, allowing for easy game development without the need for coding. With wide platform compatibility, you can be confident that all gamers will be able to access your game.

The best Stencyl games have risen to the top of the App Store and Google Play, where they are highlighted in the “Best New Game” section of their respective shops.

Panda3D

Panda3D is a 3d game engine open source that uses Python programming language and is designed for 3D game development. An easy-to-use API exposes the entire capabilities of the graphics device.

Panda3D combines the speed of C++ with the simplicity of Python to allow for rapid development without losing performance.

How to Choose the Right Open-Source 2D Game Engine

If you’ve been wondering are 2D games still popular, our answer is a resounding yes! When choosing a free game making engines for your 2D project, there are several factors to consider, including:

1
Programming language
The programming language used by the game engine can affect the ease of use and flexibility of the engine. Make sure to choose an engine that supports a language you are familiar with or one that you are willing to learn.
2
Target platforms
Consider the platforms you want to develop for and ensure that the game engine you choose supports those platforms. For example, if you want to develop a game for mobile devices, make sure the engine supports iOS and Android.
3
Game genre
While not essential, it can be helpful to choose a game engine that is specifically designed for the genre of game you want to develop. For example, if you are creating a platformer game, choose an engine that has strong physics and animation capabilities.
4
Community support
Look for a game engine that has a strong community of users and developers who can provide support and resources. This can include online forums, documentation, and tutorials.

Based on these parameters, you will be able to confidently choose the best 3D game engine for Android or other platforms that you may need for creating game sprites.

What is the best game engine for 2D Game?

The best game engine for 2D game development will depend on your specific needs and preferences.

Earlier in the text, we mentioned a long list of free game engines, but now it’s time to talk about the very best ones that we, as a team, consider to be the top choices. This list is compiled based on our team’s experience in game development and feedback from colleagues and like-minded individuals. Here are the open source game development programs that we have highlighted:

1
Godot
This engine provides a visual scripting system, allowing developers to create game logic without writing code. This feature is especially useful for beginners or designers who are not proficient in programming.
Additionally, developers can also use traditional programming languages like GDScript, C#, or C++ to create their games. And also Godot offers a rich set of tools and features for both 2D and 3D game development. It provides a comprehensive set of 2D and 3D rendering options, physics simulation, animation tools, particle systems, and more. Whether you’re creating a simple 2D platformer or a complex 3D game, Godot has the tools to support your vision.
2
Unity
Of course, where would we be without this engine? Some developers and game artists choose this software to create 3D and 2D characters in a 3D environment. Undoubtedly, it has numerous advantages that could be the subject of a separate text, but we strive to emphasize only the most important ones. And that is: Unity is the best free game engine for beginners. However, experienced game creators will also be able to work with it without difficulties. Of course, as we have already mentioned, it is a free application. The limitations will only apply if you are not an independent developer but a studio; then you will have to pay a small amount to ensure smooth functioning of Unity.
3
LibGDX
LibGDX is designed to deliver high-performance games. It provides efficient rendering and optimized code execution, resulting in smooth gameplay experiences. Additionally, it offers various tools and features to optimize memory usage and handle asset loading efficiently.
You will also be impressed with the feature set! It includes built-in support for graphics rendering, audio playback, input handling, physics simulation, networking, and more. And last but most important LibGDX is free and one of the best open source game engines, making it an affordable choice for indie developers or small studios with limited budgets. It eliminates the need for expensive licenses or royalty fees, allowing developers to focus on creating their games without financial constraints.
4
Phaser
Phaser offers a powerful and versatile platform for game development, combining cross-platform compatibility, performance, flexibility, and a supportive community. It also provides optimized rendering and efficient asset loading, allowing games to run smoothly even on lower-end devices. Additionally, Phaser offers a physics engine and other performance-enhancing features, making it suitable for a wide range of game genres.

As you can see, we have highlighted a sufficient number of free to use game engines that you can install and start using right now. We have tested all these programs based on personal experience to make an informed choice in favor of the best ones. Some of these game engines use Python, HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, and other programming languages, so you will be able to find the one that best suits your requirements.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we can say that choosing a game engine is a complex and responsible task. It requires thorough research and careful consideration on your part. By exploring our guide, you as developers can find comprehensive information about different game engines, including their features, performance, cross-platform compatibility, and extensibility.

We hope that our text will help you find and choose the best open source game engine that you will use and improve your game with each passing day.

What is an Open-Source 2D Game Engine?

Benefits of Using an Open-Source 2D Game Engine