| Name |
Language |
Platform |
License |
Graphics |
Sound |
Networking |
Scripting |
Other features |
Plus |
Minus |
|
3DCakeWalk
|
Python |
Windows/Linux |
Commercial |
2D/3D via DirectX and OpenGL |
Yes |
Soon |
Python scripting with 3DCW helpers |
Many
|
|
A6 Game Engine
|
C++/Delphi |
Windows |
Commercial |
3D via DirectX |
Yes |
Yes |
Custom C-Script scripting language |
Physics |
|
AGL Engine
|
C++ |
Windows |
Commercial |
2D via DirectDraw, Direct3D or OpenGL |
Yes |
No |
No |
High-level game states framework |
Easy to start, several layers of abstraction, automatic resources management, custom filesystems support |
|
Allegro
|
C++ |
DOS, Unix, Windows, BeOS, QNX, MacOS |
Free (Open Source) |
2D and 3D |
Yes |
No |
No |
|
|
Artificial Engines
|
.NET |
Windows |
Free |
3D via DirectX |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Axiom
|
.NET |
|
Free |
3D via OpenGL |
No |
No |
No |
|
Baja Engine
|
C++/Lua |
Windows, Mac Os X |
Free |
3D via OpenGL |
Yes |
Yes |
Lua |
Professional Results, Includes all tools |
Shaders, Shipped a Commercial game, Easy to use, Flexible |
|
Blitz3D
|
Basic |
Windows |
Commercial |
2d/3D via DirectX7 |
Yes |
Yes |
BlitzBasic |
Big community, a lot games |
Easy to start, support BSP, 3DS, better for shareware games |
No OOP, basic syntax |
|
BlitzMax
|
Object Basic |
Windows, Linux, MacOS |
Commercial |
2d via OpenGL |
Yes |
Yes |
BlitzMAX Script |
Have more modules (GUI, 3D, Sound, Physics, etc ). Easy to start |
Fast 2D engine, better for casual games(Arcanoids, Puzzles etc.), OOP, LUA Bind |
Not have 3D module |
Brume Game Engine
|
.NET 2.0 (C#) |
Windows |
Free |
3D via DirectX |
Yes |
No |
No |
Have more modules (GUI, Sound, Physics, Collisions, Animations, etc ). Easy to start |
Easy to use, object oriented, animation system, integrated physics |
|
|
C4 Engine
|
C++ |
Windows/MacOS |
Commercial |
3D |
Yes |
Yes |
Visual Scripting
|
Many
|
Active development, good support |
Incomplete feature-set |
|
Cipher Game Engine
|
C/C++ |
Windows |
Commercial |
3D |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Collision Detection, AI |
|
ClanLib
|
C++ |
Windows, Linux, MacOSX |
Free (Open Source) |
Accelerated 2D |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Open Source. Excellent lightweight networking |
|
Classical Moon GDK
|
C/C++ |
Windows |
Free/Commercial |
2D via OpenGL |
Yes, via OpenAL |
Yes |
Custom C/C++ Script scripting language |
Chinese |
|
Clockwork (Unfinished) |
None needed |
Windows, Linux |
Indie/Commercial |
3D via OpenGL |
via OpenAL |
Planned. May use RakNet. |
Lua |
CRM32Pro
|
C++ |
Windows, Linux (Port to MacOS X x86 in 2007 aprox.) |
Closed Source; LGPL announced on site |
2D via SDL/glSDL and optimized MMX blitters |
API built on top of SDL_mixer |
API built on top of SDL_Net |
No |
XML parser, Log, propietary file system to package your resources with full protection and useful EditorDPF to manage them, graphics primitives, cursors, tiles, sprites, fonts, several FX effects, GUI system, accurate timer, MPEG-I video, full support of OGG,modules,WAV and VOC, useful network API and more... |
Full documentation (english and spanish). Cross-platform. Heavily optimized for each current CPU (MMX and SSE). Available as a DLL or static library(only Win32). EditorDPF, a resources manager. SetupProyect, a customizable config system. Everything is free! |
|
Crystal Space
|
C/C++ |
Linux, Windows, MacOS X |
Free (LGPL) |
3D via OpenGL |
Yes |
No |
Python, Perl or Java |
|
DaBooda Turbo Engine
|
VB |
Windows |
|
2D via DirectX |
Yes |
No |
No |
|
Daimonin
|
C (server), C++ (client), java (editor) |
Linux, Windows, MacOSX |
GPL |
2d/3d via SDL and OGRE3D |
Yes |
Yes |
Lua |
complete MMORPG engine |
|
Delta3D
|
C++ |
Linux, Windows, MacOSX |
Free(LGPL) |
3D via OpenSceneGraph (OpenGL) |
Yes |
Yes - Client/Server and HLA |
Python |
ODE Physics, STAGE Game Editor, Much More |
A well-supported open source project. Built upon other open source projects (OSG, ODE, OpenAL, etc.). Great for games, simulations, or other graphical applications. Supports massive terrains. Used by many large scale companies (e.g., Boeing, Lockheed Martin, etc.), educational institutions, and small developers. |
|
DarkbasicPro
|
Basic |
Windows |
Shareware |
2d/3D via DirectX9 |
Yes |
Yes |
Darkbasic |
Big community, a lot games |
Easy to start, support BSP, 3DS, better for shareware games |
No OOP, basic syntax |
|
DizzyAGE
|
C++ |
Windows |
Free |
2D via DirectX |
Yes |
No |
GS9 scripting language |
Tool used to create Dizzy games, in the classic adventure style |
|
DXGame Engine
|
VB6 |
Windows |
Free |
2D+ via Direct3D |
Yes |
No |
No |
Automated Sprites, 2D Tile Map (Unlimited Layers), Collision Checking, Explosions, Basic Particle Engine, High Level |
dx_lib32 2.0
|
VB 6.0 (also VB.NET) |
Windows |
Free |
2D hardware via DirectGraphics (D3D8) |
Via DirectAudio (DSound8) for sound effects and DirectShow for music playback |
No |
No |
Draw 2D textures with isometric or caballera perspective in one call, support movie playback (include DivX formats), easy imput handling class, PAK File format support (Quake/Half-Life format), basic Timers counters, support for Timers Events for multithreaing routines (like Timer control of VB but without control interface and instance of this) and more... |
Single light DLL (VB6 Runtime and DirectX API only dependency), simple interface, easy to start, several layers of abstraction, automatic resources management, full documentation of all functions |
No full OOP interface, ActiveX DLL (need register in the system), all documentation and web site are in spanish (this a problem? maybe... if you aren't
spanish ;-) ) |
|
EasyWay Game Engine
|
Java |
Windows, Linux, Mac OS |
opensource GPL |
2D/3D via OpenGL |
OpenAL |
coming soon |
No |
Easily extendible, perfect pixel collision, PathFinding, special effects, automatic engine that don't draw what you don't see, engine anti bug |
very simple: you can write a game in very few lines of code; You can extend simply the game engine with your function |
the API documentation isn't completed yet |
|
ephLib
|
C++/Io |
OS X (Others in progress) |
GPL/Other |
2D/3D via OpenGL |
Soon, via OpenAL |
High level soon, sockets available |
Fully scriptable with Io |
Advanced particle physics |
Easily modifiable, suitable for prototypical development |
Under development, not yet feature-complete |
|
Espresso3D
|
Java |
Windows, Linux, MacOS X |
Free and Commercial |
3D via LWJGL |
2D and 3D via OpenAL |
Soon |
No |
Many
|
Fenix Project (beta) 
|
language hibrid between Pascal and C |
Windows, Linux, Mac OS, Solaris, BeOs, DreamCast, GP32X |
Open Source |
2D via SDL |
Via MikMod |
Via SDL_Net |
No |
Perfect Pixel collision, path finding routine, music modules and Ogg Vorbis Support, cross plataform, very similitudes with Div Game Studio: compatibility with more of file formats (FPG, MAP, PAL, etc...) and a few compatibility with the sintax and other functions of the Div language |
Very easy sintax, documentation and web site in english and spanish, a complete game of functions, easy for newbies, the evolution of Div Game Studio! |
No oficial IDE (but exists alternatives), 2D via software, no OPP language, few bugs |
|
FIFE - the Flexible Isometric Fallout-like Engine
|
C++ |
Win32, Linux, MacOS X, BSD |
Free (GPL 2.0) |
2D software renderer via SDL, hw-accelerated mode via OpenGL |
Yes (OpenAL audio backend) |
No (not planned!) |
Yes, Lua 5.1 |
Planned support for complex rulesets |
One of the few free 2D isometric engines available |
Work in progress, not fully usable yet |
|
FlatRedBall 2.5D
|
.NET |
Windows |
Free |
3D via DirectX |
Yes |
Soon |
No |
Template, Collision Detection, Physics, Skeletons |
|
G3D
|
C++ |
Linux, Windows, MacOS X |
Free (BSD) |
3D via OpenGL |
No |
No |
No |
|
|
Game Maker
|
Delphi |
Windows |
Free and Commercial |
2D/3D |
Yes |
Some |
Its own scripting language(GML) |
Terrific for making quick 2d tile-based games with easy scripting interface, slow 3D support(via DirectX) |
|
Genesis3D
|
C++ |
Windows |
Free/Commercial |
3D via DirectX |
|
GhostEngine
|
C++, .NET |
Windows (Mac and Linux is on the works) |
Engine code is Zlib/libPNG-licensed, non-engine libraries use various licenses |
3D via OpenGL/DirectX, with DirectX in the works |
Yes (FMOD) |
Yes (TCP/IP, being rewritten at the moment, UDP planned for later) |
Lua Scripting Language |
None in particular |
|
Still under heavy development, not completely ready for use yet |
Goblin 2D+
|
C/C++ |
Windows |
Freeware, Shareware and Commercial |
Mainly 2D via D3D but has support for .X and .MD2 3D models |
Yes - Own |
No |
No |
Many. Small footprint and able to make standalone execuables. (no DLL) |
Active development - stable |
Windows platform only |
|
Golden T Game Engine
|
Java |
Windows, Linux, MacOS X |
Free |
2D via OpenGL |
Yes |
|
|
Gosu
|
C++, Ruby |
Windows, Mac, Linux |
Free |
2D via OpenGL/DirectX |
|
HGE (Haaf's Game Engine)
HGE at SourceForge
HGE
|
C++ |
Windows |
Open Source (Zlib/libpng license) |
2D via DirectX |
Yes, via BASS |
No |
No |
Authoring tools, lightweight |
Easy to start, good engine structure |
No multiplatform |
|
Irmo
|
C |
Linux |
Free |
|
|
Yes |
Ruby |
|
|
Irrlicht
|
C++/.NET |
Windows, Linux |
Free (zlib/pnglib) |
3D via DirectX(8,9), OpenGL or various software renderers |
No |
No |
Lua script |
Collision Detection, HDR, PARALLAX |
Big Community, a lot examples and tutorials |
Active development - Stable |
|
Ika Engine
|
C++ |
Windows, Linux |
Free (GPL) |
2D via OpenGL |
Yes |
No |
Python |
very low overhead... |
|
Jad Engine - C# + MDX Game Engine
|
C# |
Windows |
LGPL |
3D via Managed DirectX |
MDSound? And Vorbis .NET |
No |
No |
Focused to graphics cards that support shaders 2.0 or better, It uses Newton Physics Engine to generate realistic movements and responses, HDR support (the graphic card must support floating point blending), FirstPerson and SelfDriven (exported from 3D Studio Max) cameras support, Animation Skeletal animation using channels, Imports directly MD5 files..., Postproduction system integrated in the engine, AI Engine: Genetic Programming Framework |
Very more easy and intuitive interface, documentation and support are in english, a simple DLL |
No full documentation |
|
Jamagic 1.2
|
Jamascript |
Windows |
Commercial(Withdrawn from sale) |
3D |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Inbuilt editors |
Easy to Learn, online games like flash |
No longer supported |
|
JEngine SSE
|
C++ |
Windows, Linux |
Free (GPL) |
2D via OpenGL |
Yes |
Yes |
Lua |
Collision detection,Cg&GLS effects,GUI,etc. Contains full 2D open source framework with editor. |
|
Jet3D
|
C/C++ |
Windows |
Free |
3D via DirectX |
|
Yes |
|
|
|
jMonkey Engine
|
Java |
Windows, Linux, MacOS X |
Free (BSD) |
3D via LWJGL |
? |
No |
No |
|
JOGRE Engine
|
Java |
Windows, Linux, MacOS X |
Free (BSD) |
2D |
? |
No |
No |
Java Online Gaming Real-time Engine. |
|
Multimedia Fusion 2
|
Custom - none scripting |
Windows |
Commercial |
2D |
Yes |
Yes |
Lua |
ActiveX, Dll, many plug-ins, movement extensions |
Easy to Learn, a favourite with younger developers, online games like flash |
|
|
neabEngine
|
PHP |
Windows, Linux |
Commercial |
2D (AJAX) |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Comes with the full source code, allows to add/edit modules. |
|
NeL
|
C/C++ |
Windows, Linux |
Free/Commercial |
3D via DirectX or OpenGL |
Yes |
Yes |
|
CEGUI Integration
|
|
NemoX 3D Engine
|
VB/Delphi/.NET |
Windows |
Free |
3D via DirectX |
DirectX |
Yes |
easy to use |
|
|
NeoEngine
|
C++ |
Windows, Linux |
Free (MPL) |
3D via DirectX or OpenGL |
Yes |
Yes |
Lua |
|
|
OGE - Open Game Engine
|
C++ |
Windows (mingw, VC), Linux (gcc) |
Free (LGPL) / Commercial |
3D (OGRE hence DX + OpenGL) |
OpenAL |
RakNet |
Squirrel |
Multithread design, GUI (CEGUI), Physics (ODE), Unicode, OGEd - Game Editor |
Multithread, Clean OO, Early stage of development |
Early stage of development |
OGRE
|
C++ |
Windows, Linux, MacOS X |
Free (LGPL) |
3D via Directx or OpenGL |
No |
No |
No |
Super 3D Engine, Support All HighEnd 3D Technologies, Plugin structure |
Big Community, A lot examples and tutorials, made severals big games (like as air simulation, 3d adventure, 3d action), Open Source |
too big source code |
|
ORE
|
VB6 |
Windows |
Free |
2d via DirectX7 / DirectX8 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Ovorp Engine
|
.NET |
Windows |
Free |
2D via DirectX |
|
Yes |
|
PAB game engine
|
VB |
Windows |
|
Panda3D
|
C++ |
Windows, Linux |
Free |
3D |
Yes, via FMOD |
|
Python |
|
|
Photon
|
C++ |
Linux, Windows |
zlib |
2D via OpenGL |
Yes, with OpenAL |
No |
No |
State, Resource Management, Math Routines |
Good License, Great C++ API, Good Documentation |
Early in development, uncertain future |
|
PLib
|
C++ |
Linux, UNIX, Windows, MacOSX, MacOS9 |
Free (LGPL) |
2D and 3D via OpenGL |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
Popcap Framework
|
c ++ |
Windows |
Free |
2D |
yes |
N/A |
N/A |
Super Game Engine for developing super games like as Zuma |
have great game ZUMA |
not 3D |
|
PowerRender
|
C++ |
Windows, XBox |
Commercial |
3D via DirectX |
Yes |
No |
Custom C++ Script scripting language |
Physics, Collision Detection, HDR |
Easy to start, flexible engine |
Bad working with shadowing |
|
PTK Engine
|
C++ |
Windows, Mac |
Free and Commercial |
2D |
Yes |
No |
No |
Font, TTF, Spline, Tar files |
Lightweight and Crossplatform |
|
PPTactical Engine For RTS games |
C++ |
Windows, Linux |
Free (LGPL) |
2D |
|
PureBasic
|
Basic |
Mac OS X, Linux, Windows |
Commercial |
|
|
Quake Engine
|
C |
DOS & Windows |
GPL, Commercial |
Software, OpenGL |
Yes |
Yes |
QuakeC |
|
|
Quake II Engine
|
C |
Windows, Linux |
GPL, Commercial |
OpenGL |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
|
Quake III Arena Engine
|
C |
Windows, Linux, Mac OS |
GPL, Commercial |
OpenGL |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
|
Raydium 3D
|
C |
Windows, Linux |
Free (GPL) |
3D via OpenGL |
Yes, via OpenAL |
Yes |
embedded PHP, Python bindings |
Physics via ODE |
|
Ray Game Designer 2
|
None needed |
Windows |
Free |
3D via OpenGL or Direct3D |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Collision Detection, Translucency, Lighting |
Requires no programming, very easy to use, includes most needed tools |
Very limited gameplay options, outdated graphics engine, very small community |
|
Reality Factory
|
None needed |
Windows |
|
3D via Genesis3D (DirectX) |
Yes |
Yes? |
Yes |
|
|
RealmForge
|
.NET |
|
|
3D via Axiom (OpenGL) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
RetinaX
|
Completelty .NET 2.0 (C#). No wrapped C++ Libraries. |
|
Free (BSD) |
3D via Managed DirectX |
Yes |
No |
No |
User Interface |
Easy to start programming DirectX. Framework is well structured and you can modify it to your liking. |
|
Revolution3D
|
VB/C++/.NET |
Windows |
Free |
3D via DirectX |
Yes |
No |
No |
|
|
RPG Maker XP
|
C/Delphi |
Windows |
Shareware |
2D |
Yes via DirectX |
Yes |
Ruby |
Level Editor |
Easy to use |
Not open source |
|
PTK Engine
|
C++ |
Windows, Mac |
Free and Commercial |
2D |
Yes |
No |
No |
Font, TTF, Spline, Tar files |
Lightweight and Crossplatform |
|
Saq2D
|
C# |
Windows |
Free |
2D engine via Direct3D |
Soon |
Maybe |
Not Yet |
|
|
|
|
Sprite Craft
|
VB/C++/Delphi |
Windows |
Free |
2D |
|
|
VBScript/JavaScript |
|
Source Engine
|
C++ |
Windows, Linux (server-side) |
Commercial |
Direct3D |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Havok Physics, Valve Faceposer Technology, VGUI, HDR |
|
|
The Nebula Device 2
|
C++ |
Windows |
Free |
3D via DirectX |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
TNT Basic
|
Basic |
MacOSX |
Free (GPL) |
2D |
Yes |
No |
No |
|
|
Torque
|
C++ |
Windows, Linux, MacOS X |
Commercial |
3D via OpenGL |
OpenAL |
Yes |
Custom Torque Script |
Mission Editor, Terrain Editor, Mac and Linux Support, WYSIWYG GUI Editor, Particle Engine, Theora Video, Multiple Language Support |
Source Code Included, Large Community, Many 3D modeling exporters |
|
|
Torque2D
|
C++ |
Windows, Linux, MacOS X |
Commercial |
2D |
OpenAL |
Yes |
Custom Torque Script |
|
Truevision3D
|
VB/Delphi/C++/.NET |
Windows |
Free for learning/Commercial |
3D via DirectX |
DirectX |
Yes |
VBscript, Python, Java Script |
Physics, Plugins for popular modeling packages, Active user base, Normal Mapping, Relief Mapping, and complex shaders |
|
UnrealEngine2 / 2X / 3
|
C++ |
Windows, Linux, MacOS X, PS2, Xbox, PS3, XBOX 360 |
Commercial |
3D |
Yes |
Yes |
UnrealScript |
Physics, HDR (UE3) |
|
high cost |
|
Unigine
|
C++ |
Windows, Linux |
Commercial |
3D |
Yes |
Yes |
UnigineScript lika C++ |
Physics, HDR, PRT, Pixel and Vetex Shaders (3.0) , soft shadows |
Great 3D Engine, image quality like as Doom3, Unreal, small cost, more tools, gui |
not stable |
|
vbGORE
|
VB6 |
Windows |
Free (Limited) (Open Source) |
2D via 3D |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Multiplayer game engine, low bandwidth usage, fast |
Free (more expandability when purchased for tiny cost), open source, one of the most powerful VB ORPG engines around to make your ORPG/MMORPG |
|
|
Visual3D.NET
|
.NET 2.0 (C#) |
Windows, Xbox 360 |
Commercial, Free Student Commercial & Non-commercial |
3D via DirectX or XNA |
Yes |
Yes |
C#, VB.NET, C++.NET, J# (Java), JScript.NET (JavaScript), IronPython, Visual Programming/Modeling |
Visual Development and Prototyping, Rag-doll Physics, Normal-mapping, Shaders (3.0), HDR, Integrated Runtime Design Toolset, Skinnable Rendered GUI |
|
YAKE Engine
|
C++ |
Windows, Linux |
Free |
3D via OGRE (OpenGL), Direct3D9 |
OpenAL |
Yes |
Lua |
GUI via CEGUI, physics via ODE |
|
Yage
|
D |
Windows, Linux |
Free (LGPL) |
3D via OpenGL |
OpenAL |
No |
No |
|
Panda 3D
|
C++, Python |
Windows, Linux |
Free |
3D |
Yes |
Yes |
C++ and Python |
Free models, documentation, simple instillation |
Used by disney to make ToonTown, Easy Learning, Very stable |