Have you been nurturing a game idea for years, but don't have the development experience to bring it to life? No problem! Today, anyone can create a video game, even without programming skills. The main thing is to choose the right software.
However, this does not mean that the development process will be easy. Even a simple game like Flappy Bird or Tetris will take a lot of time and effort to create. However, thanks to special software, what used to take years now takes a matter of months or even days.
The article below covers the best game development software, ranked from easiest to hardest. The further down the list, the more features you get.
Construct 3
Construct 3 – the best choice if you have never written a line of program code in your entire life. This program is completely controlled through a graphical interface. That is, all elements are easily created and dragged with the mouse using the drag-and-drop principle. Game logic and variables are implemented using design features provided by the application itself.
One of the main advantages of Construct 3 is that the result can be exported to dozens of different platforms and in dozens of different formats. You don’t have to change anything to transfer the finished game to another platform or convert it to another format. Export to HTML5, Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, Xbox One, Microsoft Store and many more are supported.
The program comes with hundreds of reference materials that explain the concept of game creation in an accessible language from the very basics to the advanced level. The online Construct 3 community is also very active. You can always turn to experienced developers for advice if you need help.
Most programmers don't have the skills to create graphics, music, or animation. But that's not a problem if you're working with Construct 3. You can always find and buy ready-to-use assets from the Scirra Store. Most of them cost a few dollars, but professional game assets can cost up to thirty dollars or more. You can also buy ready-made open-source games to get some ideas.
However, the free version is limited to 25 events, two layers, two simultaneous special effects, one font. Also, the free version does not support the functionality of the multi-user mode and the result of the work is saved only in HTML5. All these restrictions are not available in the paid version, which costs $ 99 per year.
GameMaker Studio 2
GameMaker Studio 2 is a rewritten and extensively improved application created back in 1999. Today it is one of the most popular game development engines, which is regularly updated.
As in Construct 3, GameMaker Studio 2 You can create entire turnkey games using only a drag-and-drop interface for variables and game logic. However, unlike Construct 3, GameMaker Studio 2 also allows you to write scripts using Game Maker Language, a fairly flexible scripting language similar to C.
GameMaker Studio 2's popularity is largely due to its many interesting features, such as in-app purchases, real-time analytics, version control, multiplayer, and third-party extension integration. It also has built-in image, animation, and shader editors.
The result of the work can be easily exported to any platform and translated into any format. Export to HTML5 and to Windows, Linux, Mac, iOS, Android, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and many more platforms is supported. Unfortunately, the free version does not support export to any of the platforms.
The free version can be used indefinitely, but has limitations on the complexity of the games you can create. The Creator version costs $39 per year and supports export to Windows and Mac. You can unlock the export function to a particular platform directly from the free version instead of buying the package.
Unity
Development environment Unity was originally a 3D engine, but eventually, in 2013, 2D support was added. You can create 2D games, but there are still potential bugs and glitches, since the 2D environment is heavily tied to the 3D system. This also means that 2D games have a lot of unnecessary bells and whistles that can impact performance.
Component design wasn't invented by Unity developers, but they did a lot to popularize it. In short, everything in a game is an object, and each object can be linked to different components, each of which will be responsible for certain aspects of that object's behavior and logic.
To get the most out of this tool, you need to know how to program in C#. The good news is that Unity is used by a huge number of users, both amateurs and professional developers. As a result, you can find thousands of tutorials on how to work in Unity and write code in C# online. The application comes with video tutorials for beginners, and the text documentation can be described in one word - "excellent".
Unity has more export options than any other game engine: Windows, Linux, Mac, iOS, Android, HTML5, all kinds of virtual reality systems like Oculus Rift and Steam VR, support for Xbox One, PlayStation4, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Wii U game consoles.
The Personal version is completely free and fully functional until you start making more than $100,000 a year playing the game.
Godot Engine
Like Unity, Godot Engine supports the development of both 2D and 3D games. However, unlike Unity, this support is implemented at a much better level. The 2D engine was originally created as an independent system. This means that games created with Godot have higher performance and fewer errors.
The Godot Engine's game architecture is unique. Everything is divided into scenes. But not the "scenes" you just thought of. In Godot, a scene is a collection of elements like sprites (graphic objects), sounds, and scripts. Scenes can be combined into larger ones, and those, in turn, into even larger ones. The hierarchical approach to design makes it easy to organize and modify individual elements.
Godot uses drag-and-drop to control game elements, but most elements can be modified using the Python-like scripting language GDScript. It's easy to learn and easy to use. Give it a try even if you've never programmed before.
There is at least one new release of the program every year, which explains why this development environment has so many useful features: physics, post-processing, network play, all kinds of built-in editors, real-time debugging, fast restart, version control and much, much more.
Godot is the only completely free "engine" from our list. It is free from A to Z and is protected by the MIT license, which allows not only development, but also the sale of a finished game product without restrictions. Games made in Godot can be exported to Windows, Linux, Mac, iOS, Android, in HTML5. No additional payments or licenses are required.
Unreal Engine 4
Unreal Engine 4 – the most powerful game engine and the most professional tool of those listed in our rating. It was created by specialists who participated in the development of the popular shooter Unreal. They knew exactly what they were doing.
One of the key principles of UE4 is high speed of work. Everything is aimed at this, including the functionality of real-time debugging, quick restart of the application, remote preview, as well as hundreds of assets and systems based on AI algorithms, post-effects and much more.
UE4 has a unique Blueprint system that allows you to create game logic without writing code. The system is advanced enough to be used to develop games from A to Z, even complex ones, without launching a source code editor. At the same time, programming is also supported.
Unreal Engine 4 has its own YouTube channel with 800 videos covering all aspects of working with the engine. Most of the videos are between 20 and 60 minutes long. This is more information than you could get in a semester of studying at a university if they taught UE4. If you need step-by-step guides for every occasion, Unreal Engine 4 has them.
Export to: Windows, Linux, Mac, iOS, Android, HTML5, Xbox One, PlayStation4, Oculus VR and more is supported. The free version has all the functionality and comes with open source code. You only need to pay 5% of profits quarterly if the game sales bring you more than $3,000.