Phaser
Phaser is a fast, free, and fun open source HTML5 game framework that offers WebGL and Canvas rendering across desktop and mobile web browsers. It has been actively developed for over 10 years. Phaser is built on and around web standards and puts the browser first. Web export isn't an afterthought or checkbox on a feature list; it's our home. Phaser is fully open source, and you have unrestricted access to every last line of code in the core library. Phaser has more ready-made templates than any other game framework and is a great CLI tool. Games made with Phaser have been used as the cornerstone for marketing campaigns for years. They've been deployed everywhere, including as prominent features on sites for major Hollywood film blockbusters, massive brand promotional campaigns, educational content, interactive experiences, TV shows, news reports, charity fund-raising broadcasts, live events marketing, and so many more.
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Defold
Defold is a free and open source game engine designed for high-performance cross-platform game development. It comes fully featured out of the box, requiring no setup or configuration, allowing developers to simply download the editor and start creating. The engine includes a visual editor, code editor, Lua scripting, Lua debugger, scene editor, particle editor, and tilemap editor, and supports both 2D and 3D game development. With a single codebase and no need for external tools, Defold enables publishing to major platforms such as PlayStation5, PlayStation4, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS, macOS, Linux, Windows, Steam, HTML5, and Facebook. It offers a component-based system for building games, allowing the use of basic building blocks to create complex behavior, and supports writing game logic using Lua. Developers can add new functionality from the asset portal, set up their own local build environment, and write native code to extend the engine.
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RPG Maker
RPG Maker is a series of game development engines that enable users to create their own role-playing games without prior programming experience. Each version of RPG Maker offers unique features and improvements to cater to different development needs. The latest installment, RPG Maker MZ, includes enhancements to the map editor, character generator, database, animations, and plug-ins, allowing for more customization than ever before. RPG Maker MV expands platform support to include MacOSX, Android, and iOS, with improvements to the map editor, higher resolution, and easy-to-use plug-ins. RPG Maker VX Ace is known for its intuitive interface and extensive library of assets and scripts, making it a great starter engine for beginners while still powerful enough for developers. The RPG Maker series provides a comprehensive set of tools, including a versatile map editor for designing environments, a character generator for creating original characters, and more.
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Scratch
Scratch is a free visual programming language and online community where anyone can create their own stories, games, and animations. Developed by the MIT Media Lab, Scratch is designed primarily for users aged 8–16, but it is used by all ages and has a sizeable adult user base. The platform utilizes a block-based interface, allowing users to drag and connect code blocks to create programs, making it accessible for beginners. Scratch is used in many different settings, schools, museums, libraries, community centers, and homes. The platform supports over 70 languages, enabling a global community of users to share and remix projects. As of February 2023, the Scratch community has more than 103 million users and over 123 million shared projects. The website offers resources for parents and educators, including guides and tutorials to support learning and teaching. Scratch is taught and used in after-school centers, schools, and colleges, as well as other public knowledge institutions.
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