We all have played 2D games at some point just to kill time. Though the concept of 2D games is getting older, developing two-dimensional games is NEVER easy. However, if you are a fan of 2D and want to be one of the 2D game makers, you will need some 2D game engines to help you through the ride.
So what’s the best game engine for 2D games?
In the current times, you will find various game engines for 2D games, but if you are looking for the best of the best, we have you covered. Here we will cover some of the best game engines for 2D games. Let’s get started!
1. Unity
When talking about 2D game engines, one can not miss out on Unity. The engine offers much to 2D game makers and serves game developers with an ideal tool.
What types of games have been developed with Unity so far?
Hollow Knight and Cuphead are two examples of the many 2D games developed through Unity. The engine is available on Windows and MacOS. And with Unity, you can create it all, from 2D and 3D games to making them for various platforms like mobile, desktop, and virtual reality.
2. Paper 2D – Unreal Engine
If you have been following Unreal Engine, you must have heard about Paper 2D. Unreal Engine is a sprite-based system that can be used to create 2D games and 2D hybrid games. Though the engine is free to use, they charge a royalty fee of 5% after the first $3000 is made through gross revenue per product.
The Unreal Engine offers different features which can ease the process of 2D game makers, though when compared to Unity, Unreal Engine does lack behind in some ways. Nonetheless, both engines are free to start with, and it’s recommended to try both before you decide which 2D game engine is the best.
3. GoDot Engine
If you are looking for an open-source engine that offers you the freedom to creativity in 2D games, then GoDot Engine is the one for you. The engine is open source under the MIT license, and with GoDot your game is solely yours; you don’t have to pay royalties or deal with anything else.
With the GoDot Engine, you won’t need to upgrade your license to sell games. Furthermore, the engine is available on various platforms, like Linux, MacOS, Windows, and BSD. And the best part about this engine is that the game development possibilities are numerous.
What’s so special about GoDot Engine?
The rendering engine offers 2D nodes and real 2D pixel coordinates. With this engine, you can work on pixels as your units and scale to any aspect ratio and screen size. GoDot also offers a tile map editor with rotation, auto-tiling, multiple layers, and custom grid shapes. You will also find features like 2D lights and normal maps, which give games a more realistic look.
Conclusion
Getting the best game engine for yourself comes down to your requirements. The game engines we have discussed in this article are some of the best ones that can help you create all sorts of 2D games. Nonetheless, starting with a new interface is always tricky, but if you practice enough, you can achieve phenomenal 2D games in no time. Once you have something you’re proud of and ready to commercialize, pitch us!
