The core of a game lies in the engine. A good game engine can make the game work twice the result with half the effort, greatly improve the quality of the game, and improve the experience of game players. So, what are the good game engines on the market? Below, I will introduce you to several mainstream game engines, hoping to be helpful to you.
Unreal Engine (UNREAL ENGINE)
Although there are many game engines available in the market, one of the best is Unreal Engine. A multi-platform engine designed for game developers of all sizes to turn ideas into visual content. As one of the most popular and widely used game engines, it transforms technical creative ideas into engaging visual content in real-time.
The original version of Unreal Engine was released in 1998, and 19 years later it was used in some major games. Its strength lies in the ability to modify it enough to turn game production into a very unique experience. Therefore, it is suitable for experienced game developers.
ue 5 will be officially released in 2022, and it has already become a game changer. Powered by most next-gen consoles, including the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, UE is revolutionizing the gaming industry.
Advantages: Scalability, powerful functions, rich customization capabilities, 2D and 3D.
Amazon Lumberyard
As you can tell from the product name, Lumberyard is a comprehensive product from Amazon. It's a 3D game engine designed to build gaming and fan communities. It offers VR preview mode, visual scripting tools, and Twitch integration.
CryENGINE
CryENGINE is a free-to-use platform where you get full engine source code and all engine functionality without paying any licensing fees. This is also a great option for purchasing in-game assets.
CryEngine also offers a wealth of free learning resources that, although their effectiveness is short-lived, are really useful for beginners in game development.
Pros: Solid interface, stunning visual capabilities, impressive VR support.
Unified Engine (UNITY)
Unity is a multi-platform game engine that makes it easy to create interactive 3D content. It is the choice of many game development companies today because of its excellent features, high-quality content, and ability to be used for any type of game. It supports 2D and 3D content. With its all-in-one editor, Unity is compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, IOS, Android, Switch, Xbox, PS4, Tizen and other platforms. A friendly editing interface makes development easier and reduces the need for training.
Advantages: Free, multi-platform support, suitable for teams of all sizes, 2D and 3D.
Game Worker-Studio (GameMakerP)
GameMaker has been widely used because it does not require programming knowledge to use. Instead, users can "click" to create games, which is much faster than coding in local languages. Suitable for some game developers who are just getting started.
The problem with GameMaker and other point-and-click engines is that developers are more limited than other engines.
GODOT
Godot is free to use and open source under the MIT license. No royalties, no subscription fees, no hidden strings. The Godot engine is ideal for making 2D and 3D games. The engine provides a wealth of common tools so you can focus on making your game without reinventing the wheel.
Godot has a community that is constantly fixing bugs and developing new features. An active community means answers to your most specific Godot-related questions. It also links to other Internet HUBS, including Reddit forums, Facebook groups, Steam communities, Godot forums, and more.
Cocos2d
All versions of Cocos2d work using a basic primitive called sprites. A sprite is considered a simple 2D image, but can also be a container for other sprites. Sprites are arranged together to form a scene, such as a game level or menu, and the sprites are then coded to operate based on events, actions, or animations.
Cocos2d-x supports iOS, Android, Tizen, Windows, Linux and MacOS, and API languages include C++, Lua and Javascript
The disadvantage is that it has limited functions and is limited to 2D, so it is not the best choice for large-scale game development.