Best Game Engine Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Construct 3 is ranked #1 of 91 as of 5 October 2026, ahead of Godot Engine and CRYENGINE. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Godot Engine. The lowest first paid tier on this page is PlayCanvas at $15/mo.
The game engine that suits a project depends in part on what you want to build and where you want it to run. Compared on target platforms, mobile and console export, scripting languages, and visual scripting, these options expose different development and release considerations. Multiplayer tools and source code model add further points to weigh, alongside free-plan availability and paid-from pricing. Construct 3, Godot Engine, and Defold are among the named engines. Consider your preferred way to build, the platforms you need to target, and which listed capabilities matter for your project.
91 game engine software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
91ranked
14free plans on this page
$15/molowest paid tier
5 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Game Engine Software 25 channels on this page · 146 of 200 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromSource code modelVisual scriptingMultiplayer toolsMobile exportConsole exportTarget platforms Spec sheet Score
01 Construct 3 Free planYesPaid from$9.99/user/moSource code modelnot statedVisual scriptingYesMultiplayer toolsYesMobile exportYesConsole exportnot statedTarget platformsweb, Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux 6/8spec lines stated 9.7
02 Godot Engine Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSource code modelopen sourceVisual scriptingNoMultiplayer toolsYesMobile exportYesConsole exportYesTarget platformsWindows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Web, consoles via third-party providers 7/8spec lines stated 9.3
03 CRYENGINE Free planYesPaid fromFreeSource code modelsource availableVisual scriptingYesMultiplayer toolsYesMobile exportYesConsole exportYesTarget platformsWindows, Linux, macOS, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS, Web, VR 8/8spec lines stated 9.3
04 Defold Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSource code modelsource availableVisual scriptingNoMultiplayer toolsYesMobile exportYesConsole exportYesTarget platformsWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, HTML5, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 7/8spec lines stated 9.1
05 GDevelop Free planYesPaid fromFreeSource code modelopen sourceVisual scriptingYesMultiplayer toolsYesMobile exportYesConsole exportnot statedTarget platformsweb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android 7/8spec lines stated 9.1
06 Flax Engine Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSource code modelsource availableVisual scriptingYesMultiplayer toolsYesMobile exportYesConsole exportYesTarget platformsWindows, Linux, Android, iOS, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series, Nintendo Switch 7/8spec lines stated 9.0
07 GameMaker Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSource code modelsource availableVisual scriptingYesMultiplayer toolsYesMobile exportYesConsole exportYesTarget platformsGX.games, Windows, macOS, Ubuntu, HTML5, Android, iOS, tvOS, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch 7/8spec lines stated 8.9
08 Stencyl Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSource code modelopen sourceVisual scriptingYesMultiplayer toolsNoMobile exportYesConsole exportNoTarget platformsiOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Linux, HTML5 7/8spec lines stated 8.8
09 Felgo Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSource code modelnot statedVisual scriptingnot statedMultiplayer toolsnot statedMobile exportnot statedConsole exportnot statedTarget platformsnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 8.8
10 libGDX Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSource code modelopen sourceVisual scriptingNoMultiplayer toolsYesMobile exportYesConsole exportNoTarget platformsWindows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS, Web 7/8spec lines stated 8.7
11 Armory3D Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSource code modelopen sourceVisual scriptingYesMultiplayer toolsYesMobile exportYesConsole exportYesTarget platformsWindows, Linux, macOS, iOS, Android, Web 7/8spec lines stated 8.5
12 PlayCanvas Free planYesPaid fromFreeSource code modelOpen source on GitHub under the MIT licenseVisual scriptingYesMultiplayer toolsYesMobile exportnot statedConsole exportnot statedTarget platformsWebGL2, WebGPU, WebXR, browser, mobile devices, VR headsets 6/8spec lines stated 8.4
13 GameSalad Free planNoPaid fromnot statedSource code modelclosed sourceVisual scriptingYesMultiplayer toolsnot statedMobile exportYesConsole exportnot statedTarget platformsweb, iOS, Android, HTML5, desktop 5/8spec lines stated 8.3
14 Solar2D Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSource code modelopen sourceVisual scriptingnot statedMultiplayer toolsYesMobile exportYesConsole exportnot statedTarget platformsiOS, tvOS, Android, Android TV, macOS, Windows, Linux, HTML5 5/8spec lines stated 8.3
15 Clickteam Fusion 2.5 Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSource code modelclosed sourceVisual scriptingYesMultiplayer toolsnot statedMobile exportYesConsole exportYesTarget platformsWindows, macOS, iOS, Android, HTML5 6/8spec lines stated 8.3
16 Cocos Creator Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSource code modelsource availableVisual scriptingYesMultiplayer toolsnot statedMobile exportYesConsole exportnot statedTarget platformsweb, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android 5/8spec lines stated 8.2
17 jMonkeyEngine Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSource code modelopen sourceVisual scriptingnot statedMultiplayer toolsYesMobile exportYesConsole exportnot statedTarget platformsWindows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS 5/8spec lines stated 8.1
18 Bevy Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSource code modelopen sourceVisual scriptingNoMultiplayer toolsnot statedMobile exportYesConsole exportnot statedTarget platformsWindows, macOS, Linux, Web, iOS, Android 5/8spec lines stated 8.0
19 LayaAir Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSource code modelopen sourceVisual scriptingYesMultiplayer toolsnot statedMobile exportYesConsole exportnot statedTarget platformsHTML5 web; Android; iOS; macOS; Windows; Linux; WeChat, ByteDance, Alipay, OPPO, vivo and Xiaomi mini-game platforms 5/8spec lines stated 8.0
20 CopperCube Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSource code modelclosed sourceVisual scriptingYesMultiplayer toolsnot statedMobile exportYesConsole exportnot statedTarget platformsWindows, WebGL, Android 5/8spec lines stated 8.0
21 Phaser Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSource code modelopen sourceVisual scriptingNoMultiplayer toolsNoMobile exportYesConsole exportNoTarget platformsweb, iOS, Android, Steam 7/8spec lines stated 7.9
22 Stride Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSource code modelopen sourceVisual scriptingYesMultiplayer toolsNoMobile exportYesConsole exportnot statedTarget platformsWindows, Linux, Android, iOS 6/8spec lines stated 7.9
23 Ren'Py Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSource code modelopen sourceVisual scriptingnot statedMultiplayer toolsnot statedMobile exportYesConsole exportnot statedTarget platformsWindows 10+, macOS 10.10+, Linux x86 64/Arm, Android 5.0+, iOS 11+, HTML5/WebAssembly (beta) 4/8spec lines stated 7.9
24 MonoGame Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSource code modelopen sourceVisual scriptingNoMultiplayer toolsnot statedMobile exportYesConsole exportYesTarget platformsWindows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, iPadOS, Xbox, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 6/8spec lines stated 7.9
25 Evergine Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSource code modelclosed sourceVisual scriptingnot statedMultiplayer toolsYesMobile exportYesConsole exportnot statedTarget platformsWindows, Web, UWP, Linux, Android, iOS 5/8spec lines stated 7.9
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Source code model | Visual scripting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Construct 3 | 9.7 | Free plan | — | Yes | $9.99/user/mo | — | Yes |
| 2 | Godot Engine | 9.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | open_source | No |
| 3 | CRYENGINE | 9.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Free | source_available | Yes |
| 4 | Defold | 9.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | source_available | No |
| 5 | GDevelop | 9.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | Free | open_source | Yes |
| 6 | Flax Engine | 9.0 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | source_available | Yes |
| 7 | GameMaker | 8.9 | Free plan | $79.99/mo | Yes | — | source_available | Yes |
| 8 | Stencyl | 8.8 | Free plan | — | Yes | — | open_source | Yes |
| 9 | Felgo | 8.8 | Free plan | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 10 | libGDX | 8.7 | No | — | Yes | — | open_source | No |
| 11 | Armory3D | 8.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | open_source | Yes |
| 12 | PlayCanvas | 8.4 | Free plan | $15/mo | Yes | Free | Open source on GitHub under the MIT license | Yes |
| 13 | GameSalad | 8.3 | No | — | No | — | closed_source | Yes |
| 14 | Solar2D | 8.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | open_source | — |
| 15 | Clickteam Fusion 2.5 | 8.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | closed_source | Yes |
| 16 | Cocos Creator | 8.2 | No | — | Yes | — | source_available | Yes |
| 17 | jMonkeyEngine | 8.1 | No | — | Yes | — | open_source | — |
| 18 | Bevy | 8.0 | No | — | Yes | — | open_source | No |
| 19 | LayaAir | 8.0 | No | — | Yes | — | open_source | Yes |
| 20 | CopperCube | 8.0 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | closed_source | Yes |
| 21 | Phaser | 7.9 | No | — | Yes | — | open_source | No |
| 22 | Stride | 7.9 | No | — | Yes | — | open_source | Yes |
| 23 | Ren'Py | 7.9 | No | — | Yes | — | open_source | — |
| 24 | MonoGame | 7.9 | No | — | Yes | — | open_source | No |
| 25 | Evergine | 7.9 | No | — | Yes | — | closed_source | — |
Is your tool on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which game engine software is ranked first on Specifiction?
Construct 3 is ranked #1 of 91 with a score of 9.7. Godot Engine is second and CRYENGINE third.
How many of these have a free plan?
14 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, PlayCanvas has the lowest first paid tier we found: $15/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing.
More in Design, Video & Audio
All design, video & audio listsVideo Editing Software 161Photo Editing Software 160Digital Asset Management Software 151Graphic Design Software 1503D modeling software 148Video Downloaders 137Live Streaming Software 136Screen Recording Software 133Audio Editing Software 130Animation Software 108Image Upscaling Software 100Data Visualization Software 98