Free and Open Source
Note: The following list is not exhaustive. It mixes game engines with rendering engines as well as API bindings without any distinctions.
| Name | Primary programming language | Bindings | Cross-platform | SDL | 2D/3D oriented | Scripting | Notable games | License | Notes and references | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3D Rad | C++ | No | No | 3D | AngelScript | 3D, Physics based engine, very easy to learn, no scripting required. | ||||
| Adventure Game Studio | C++ | Yes | No | 2D | AGSScript | Chzo Mythos, The Blackwell Series | Artistic License 2.0 | Mostly used to develop third-person pre-rendered graphical adventure games, one of the most popular for developing amateur adventure games. | ||
| Aleph One | C++ | Yes | Yes | 2.5D | Lua, Marathon markup language | Aleph One (Marathon remake) | GPL | FPS engine | ||
| Allegro library | C | Ada, C++, C#, D, Lisp, Lua, Mercury, Pascal, Perl, Python, Scheme | Yes | Yes | 2D | zlib | Graphics and audio | |||
| Ardor3D | Java | Yes | No | 3D | zlib | Fork of jMonkeyEngine 2.0 | ||||
| Axiom Engine | C# | Yes | No | 3D | LGPL | |||||
| Blender | Python | Yes | No | 3D | Python | Yo Frankie!, ColorCube | GPL | 2D/3D game engine packaged in a 3D modeler for quick and intuitive use; fully integrated Bullet physics library | ||
| Box2D | C++ | Yes | Yes | 2D | Python | Angry Birds Sleepy Hollow | zlib License | Primarily a physics engine, but used in many games | ||
| Build engine | C | No | No | 2.5D | Duke Nukem 3D, Shadow Warrior, Blood | Custom | FPS engine, 2.5D (2D grid base geometry.) | |||
| PolyCode | C++ | Yes | Yes | 3D | Lua | MIT | A self-described "Framework for creative code" | |||
| BRGameEngine | C++ and Lua | No | No | 2.5D | Trem de DOido | GPL2 | Adventure engine, 2.5D (3D Ogre, OpenGL, OpenAL, Bullet.) | |||
| Cafu Engine | C++ | Yes | No | 3D | Lua | GPL or proprietary | Full game engine; graphics, audio, physics, scripting, networking, and map editor | |||
| ClanLib | C++ | Yes | Yes | 2.5D | Clanlib | Self-described "toolkit", provides most game engine functionality and extensive GUI programming | ||||
| Cocos2d | Python, Objective-C | C++, JavaScript, Java | Yes | No | 2D | MIT | Ported to Linux, Mac OS X, iOS, Windows. iOS port uses Objective-C and integrates with Box2D and Chipmunk physics engines. Android port binds to Java. Cocos2d-x is multi-platform and uses C++. | |||
| Construct Classic | Event Based | No | No | 2D | Minitroid | GPL/ BSD | ||||
| Crystal Space | C++ | Java, Perl, Python | Yes | Yes | 3D | LGPL | Graphics, audio, physics | |||
| Cube | C++ | Yes | Yes | 3D | zlib | Previous gen, 2d grid-based system, optimised for outdoor rather than indoor maps | ||||
| Cube 2 | C++ | Yes | Yes | 3D | Cubescript | zlib | Efficient 6 directional height-map based geometry (versus traditional Polygon soup model), hence the name Cube, FPS engine | |||
| Delta3d | C++ | Yes | No | 2.5D | Python | LGPL | Uses modular libraries. | |||
| DimensioneX Multiplayer Engine | Java | Java, VBscript | Yes | No | 2.5D | VBscript | GPL | Produces browser games with pseudo-3D views, sounds and music. Games can be turned into Facebook Apps. Intended for beginners. Free support and hosting. | ||
| ENIGMA | C++ | Yes | No | 2D | EDL | GPL | ||||
| Env3D | Java | Yes | No | 3D | GPL | 3D game engine that creates a simple interface for dynamically adding EnvObjects. Built on jMonkeyEngine 2.0. Intended for educational use in teaching computer science. | ||||
| Exult | C++ | Yes | Yes | 2D | GPL | Free software reimplementation of the Ultima VII game engine | ||||
| FLARE | C++ | Yes | Yes | 2D | GPL | RPG engine that supports isometric and orthogonal perspective | ||||
| FlashPunk | ActionScript | Yes | No | 2D | MIT License | |||||
| Flexible Isometric Free Engine | C++ | Yes | Yes | 2D | Python | Unknown Horizons | LGPL | 2d game engine optimised for RTS or RPG games | ||
| Flixel | ActionScript | Yes | No | 2D | Various games by Gregory Weir | MIT | Full boiler-plate code for flash games | |||
| GameKit (OgreKit) | C++ | Yes | No | 3D | Lua | MIT/zlib/ BSD | Has Blender integration similar to BGE. Fully integrated Bullet physics library | |||
| gameplay | C++ | Yes | No | 3D | Lua | Apache 2.0 | Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Blackberry, Playbook | |||
| Gamvas | JavaScript | Yes | No | 2D | JavaScript | MIT license | Html5 canvas game engine with Box2D integration | |||
| Grit | C++ | Yes | No | 3D | Lua | MIT | Optimised for Open world games like GTA | |||
| Haaf's Game Engine (HGE) | C++ | C, Go | No | No | 2D | Hammerfight | zlib | Hardware accelerated 2D library with particle effects, sprite & animation handling, GUI controls, distortion, font, and resource handling. Original Windows version lacks cross platform support. API compatible with hge-unix. C binding. Go binding | ||
| Haaf's Game Engine(HGE) for UNIX (hge-unix) | C++ | C, Go | Yes | Yes | 2D | Hammerfight (OS X & Linux port) | zlib | A fork of HGE to provide OS X & Linux support and thus API compatible with HGE. Hardware accelerated 2D library with particle effects, sprite & animation handling, GUI controls, distortion, font, and resource handling. C binding. Go binding | ||
| Horde3D | C++ | Yes | Yes | 3D | EPL | |||||
| HPl 1 engine | C++ | Yes | Yes | 3D | AngelScript | Penumbra: Overture, Penumbra: Black Plague, Penumbra: Requiem | GPLv3 | HPL is a cross-platform game engine which is compatible with the OpenGL, OpenAL, and Newton Game Dynamics libraries.One of the engine's defining features is its ability for advanced object interaction through the use of Newton's physics code. | ||
| id Tech 1 | C | Yes | No | 2.5D | ACS | Doom, Doom II, HeXen, Heretic, Strife | GPL | 2D based geometry, sprite and particles, uses clever methods to emulate 3D graphics | ||
| id Tech 2 | C | Yes | No | 3D | C | Quake II | GPL | Full game engine, better known as the Quake II engine. | ||
| id Tech 3 | C | Game Data {PK3 } | Yes | No | 3D | C | Quake III Arena | GPL | Full game engine, better known as the Quake III engine. | |
| id Tech 4 | C++ | Game Data {PK4 } | Yes | No | 3D | via DLLs | Doom 3, Doom 3: BFG Edition, Quake 4 | GPL | Full game engine, better known as the Doom 3 engine with a set of good tools and MegaTexture. | |
| Indielib | C++ | No | Yes | 2.5D | LGPL | 2d game engine in C++. Includes entity system, sprite animations, collision detection, bitmap/TTF fonts, parallax scrolling, 3d objects, cameras, timers, alpha blending, shaders and image filters. | ||||
| ioquake3 | C | Yes | Yes | 3D | Urban Terror | GPL | ||||
| Ignifuga Game Engine | Python/Cython | Yes | Yes | 2D | Python | Modified BSD/Commercial | Win/Linux/Mac/Android/iOS 2D engine, entity/component based, fully data driven, supports animated sprites, fonts, parallax scrolling. HTML/CSS GUIs via transparent integration with libRocket. Dynamic development and fully static binary only deployment to targets. Simple building and packaging for all targets using the Schafer tool. Actively developed. | |||
| IwGame Engine | C++ | Yes | No | 2D | GPL | Seamless support for iPhone, iPad, Android (phone and tablet), Samsung Bada, Blackberry BB10 (inc. Playbook), Symbian, WebOS, Windows Mobile, Mobile Linux, LG-TV, Windows Desktop and Mac OS. IwGame is built on top of the Marmalade SDK. | ||||
| Irrlicht Engine | C++ | Java, Perl, Ruby, Python, FreeBASIC, Lua, Delphi, C#, Game Maker, AutoIt | Yes | Yes | 3D | Squirrel, AutoIt | H-Craft Championship, Gekkeiju Online, Star Sonata | zlib | ||
| Jake2 | Java | Yes | No | 3D | GPL | |||||
| JGame | Java, Actionscript 3 | Yes | No | 2D | BSD | Also runs on J2ME and Android | ||||
| jMonkeyEngine | Java | Yes | No | 3D | BSD | |||||
| K-Grunt | C++ | Lua | Yes | No | 3D | MIT | ||||
| Jogre | Java | Yes | No | 2D | GPL | |||||
| Kobold2D | Objective-C | Yes | No | 2D | Lua | MIT | Supports cross-development of iOS and Mac OS X apps. Based on Cocos2d with integrated Lua, Wax, cocos2d-iPhone-extensions, cocos3d, Box2D, Chipmunk, Chipmunk SpaceManager, Google AdMob and ObjectAL libraries. | |||
| Lavgine | Lua, C++ | Yes | Yes | 2D | Lua | Zlib/libpng | ||||
| Linderdaum Engine | C++ | C#, LinderScript | Yes | No | 3D | LinderScript | Linderdaum Puzzle | MIT (for non-commercial), commercial | Android, Windows and MacOS. Prototyping can be done on Windows. Supports advanced 3D features on Android (mesh skinning, raycasting) | |
| LÖVE | Lua | Yes | Yes | 2D | Lua | Mari0, Journey to the Center of Hawkthorne | Zlib/libpng | |||
| LWJGL | Java | Yes | Yes | 3D | Minecraft | The Lightweight Java Game Library | ||||
| Maratis | C++ | Yes | No | 3D | Lua | Save Our Souls | zlib/libpng/GPL | Editor based environment. Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS and Android support. | ||
| Moai SDK | C++ | Lua | Yes | Yes | 2D | Lua | Crimson Steam Pirates | CPAL | iOS, Android, Windows, Mac OS X and Chrome browser compatible | |
| Nebula Device | C++ | Java, Python | Yes | No | 2.5D | Lua, Tcl/Tk | MIT | |||
| Multiverse Platform | Python and Java | No | No | 3D | Python | MIT | Open source MMO and Virtual World Development Platform. Download includes starter assets and fully functional online world to play around with. Currently optimised for third-person RPG games. | |||
| nxPascal | Object Pascal | Delphi, Lazarus | Yes | No | 3D | MIT License | ||||
| OpenSimulator | C# | Yes | No | 3D | LSL | BSD | ||||
| ORX | C/C++ | Yes | Yes | 2D | zlib | 3D accelerated, supports Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, iPhone, iPad and Android | ||||
| Panda3D | Python | C++ | Yes | No | 3D | Python | Toontown Online, Pirates of the Caribbean Online | BSD | ||
| PixelLight | C++ | Yes | No | 3D | AngelScript, Lua, Python, Javascript/V8 | LGPL | OpenGL & ES 2 and D3D 9 & 11 renderers, OpenAL & FMOD sound, physics, Database, & GUI. | |||
| PLIB | C++ | Yes | Yes | 3D | LGPL | |||||
| PushButton Engine | C++ | Yes | No | 2D | ActionScript, JavaScript, Python | LGPL | No longer being developed | |||
| Pyrogenesis | C++ | Yes | Yes | 3D | JavaScript | 0 A.D. | GPL | Specifically designed for flexibility and ease of modification. Game logic, artwork, and data can easily be changed through data files. The engine itself is modular in design to provide maximal flexibility while still remaining efficient. | ||
| Quake engine | C | Yes | No | 3D | QuakeC | Quake | GPL | Full game engine, first true 3D id tech engine. | ||
| Retribution Engine | C++ | No | No | 3D | GPL | |||||
| SFML-Fork | C++ | Yes | No | 2.5D | Lua | LGPL | Game engine tool kit providing access to graphics, audio, scripting, networking | |||
| Sge2d | C | Yes | Yes | 2D | MIT | |||||
| Sphere | C++ | Yes | No | 2D | JavaScript | GPL | ||||
| Spring | C++ | C, C++, Java/JVM, Lua, Python | Yes | Yes | 3D | Lua | Balanced Annihilation, Zero-K | GPL | RTS, simulated events, OpenGL | |
| Storymoto | JavaScript | JavaScript | Yes | No | 3D | JavaScript | Adslife | MIT | Runs on any JavaScript-enabled browser, client side. Full sources on GitHub | |
| Stratagus | C | Yes | Yes | 2D | Lua | GPL | ||||
| Torque3D | C++ | No | No | 3D | TorqueScript | MIT | ||||
| URGE | C++ | Yes | No | 3D | Freeware/Custom | First or Third Person 3D Computer Games Engine, created with OpenGL and its own physics engine. | ||||
| Eclipse Origins | Visual Basic 6 | Windows only | No | 2D | Crystalshire | GPL | A free and stable 2D MMORPG engine with a very large community. Includes NPCs, maps, resources, dynamic sprites, animations, skills, a bank, player chat, items, and more. | |||
| Wire3D | C++ | Yes | No | 3D | LGPL | Currently supports Wii and Windows. | ||||
| WorldForge | C++ | Yes | Yes | 3D | Lua(client), Python(server) | GPL | MMORPG framework consisting of Libraries, Server, Client, and Media. | |||
| ZenGL | Pascal | C, C++ | Yes | No | 2D | zlib | Cross-platform(GNU/Linux, Windows, MacOS X, iOS, Android) game development library written in Pascal, designed to provide necessary functionality for rendering 2D-graphics, handling input, sound output, etc. | |||
| Name | Primary programming language | Bindings | Cross-platform | SDL | 2D/3D oriented | Scripting | Notable games | License | Notes and references |
Read more about this topic: List Of Game Engines
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