The console and mobile game market is growing, and therefore finding the right engine is not as easy a task as it may seem. Technology platforms that have already proven their effectiveness “in the field” will be the obvious favourites of many developers. However, the market is volatile, and therefore the question of engine selection will not lose its relevance in the near future. Let me show you the top ten best ones.
Unity3D
Unity3D is an excellent engine available. It has a number of undeniable advantages over its competitors and perhaps the key one is that you only pay for the license once. No matter how popular a game becomes, if you choose Unity, you won’t have to pay that one more time. Financially, it’s a good decision, especially for start-ups and aspiring developers.
Pros:
Advantageous licensing policy;
ease of use;
compatibility with any platform;
excellent community;
low entry threshold;
popular with developers (which means bugs are quickly found and fixed).
Cons:
Limited toolset (you’ll probably have to develop some of them yourself);
the process of making a game is time consuming.
Unreal Engine
Unreal Engine is one of the most popular engines for AAA game development. Gears of War, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Mass Effect – all of these hits were made on it.
Pros:
Since plenty of developers use it, Unreal Engine has arguably the best community among the competition. Several hours of video tutorials confirm this;
excellent tech support and update mechanism;
new tools are released with every update
Wide range of tools for different purposes (some are so easy to use that even a schoolboy can operate them)
compatible with various platforms (iOS, Android, Linux, Mac, Windows and most others)
new licensing policy includes a $19/month subscription and 5% royalty if the game earns more than $5,000, making the engine much more attractive to developers than before.
Cons:
Subjective. Some developers complain that certain tools are difficult to get used to
CryEngine 3
If the game’s visuals are your thing, it is the CryEngine 3 that you need.
Pros:
The Flowgraph feature will help embellish your game with great graphics;
Fmod feature set to create a powerful soundtrack;
the easiest AI creation process in the segment;
it will be easy for a novice developer to make a UI.
Cons:
Relatively sloppy tech support for the free version;
since the engine is relatively new to the industry, it has yet to build a strong community;
a relatively high threshold of entry.
HeroEngine
Has a proven track record in multiplayer games – take Star Wars: The Old Republic. The license is quite expensive and unlikely to suit aspiring developers, but if your project is ambitious, I would advise considering this option.
Pros:
There are several maps available to create an open world. There’s an option to connect them “seamlessly”;
fabulously powerful AI!
handy set of tools for modelling maps;
suitable for creating complex missions, crafting and gathering resources;
tech support via HeroCloud, which is very handy.
Cons:
The scripting engine is powerful, but awkward to manage;
HeroEngine along with the HeroCloud customer support service is too expensive and unlikely to be available to novice developers;
high entry threshold.
Rage Engine
Few can compete with the wide range of features that the Rage Engine provides. Grand Theft Auto V, Red Dead Redemption and many other acclaimed projects are made with this engine.
Pros:
Ample opportunities to create large worlds and weather effects;
powerful AI;
multiple gameplay styles to choose from;
fast network code.
Cons:
The engine interface is relatively awkward;
controls are poorly optimised for keyboard and mouse.
Project Anarchy
This powerful game engine is loved by many developers for its clear and straightforward documentation. However, it also has its shortcomings.
Pros:
If you plan to develop games on iOS, Android and Tizen platforms, the license is free;
powerful bugfinding and troubleshooting tools;
strong community;
the publisher provides clear, understandable documentation and samples;
Fmod for audio support;
Powerful Havok AI.
Cons:
No ability to develop the game on Mac and Linux;
No introductory tutorial for novice developers;
If the game is for PC, it will cost you a pretty penny to license.
GameSalad
The creators of this popular game engine promise that you won’t have to write a single line of code. Generally speaking, this is true. But you have to pay for all the good stuff: the engine has a number of significant drawbacks. If you’re going to develop an iPhone game on your own, this is your choice.
Pros:
Free license (you will only be charged for the PRO version);
active community;
Excellent engine for rapid prototyping;
Compatibility with popular mobile platforms such as Cocona and Moai.
Cons:
limited set of development tools;
no access to most features of the iOS platform.
GameMaker: Studio
If you’re a novice developer looking for a simple and straightforward development engine, GameMaker: Studio is the right one for you.
The pros:
Simple and intuitive operation;
Proprietary Game Maker Language (GML);
Steam integration;
cross-platform.
Cons:
Relatively difficult to troubleshoot the game;
you will have to pay a hefty fee to export your game to popular platforms.
App Game Kit
App Game Kit is a cross-platform software for developers. Appreciated for its versatility and ease of use.
Pros:
Allows you to write code for major platforms: Android iOS, Windows, Mac and Linux;
comes bundled with an IDE, which allows you to test games on any device;
already includes IAP, AdMob and Push without additional installation;
has powerful scripts for 2D graphics, physics and networking.
Cons:
as few people work with this engine, the software’s shortcomings take a long time to fix (relatively weak tech support);
lots of bugs (which organically follows from the previous point).
Cocos2D
Many designers consider Cocos2D as one of the few engines with high adaptability and at the same time perfectly adapted for novice developers.
Pros:
Perfectly integrated into the iOS platform;
free and open source;
wide range of development tools;
strong community support.
Cons:
More complex to use than most peers;
high entry threshold;
“Specifically designed for Mac or iOS. No cross-platform.
In conclusion, I say: people play games on consoles, mobile devices, PCs, and even on TV – so a developer can always find an engine that suits their purposes. I hope my article will help you make your choice and successfully enter the ever-growing game industry.
