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Stencyl

stencyl.com

From $8.25/mo Free plan WebWindowsmacOSLinuxiOSAndroid
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Spec score 8.9 #9 of 92 in Game Engine Software

What it is

Stencyl is game creation software for making mobile, web, and desktop games with visual logic or custom code. Its drag-and-drop designer uses snapping blocks and includes hundreds of ready-to-use blocks. Creators can also make and share blocks, import libraries, extend the engine with code, and write Haxe classes that work with block-based Behaviors. The Scene Designer provides selection, zooming, grid-snapping, and flood fill; the Actor Editor adjusts appearance, behaviors, and physical properties. Stencyl targets iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Linux, and HTML5. The free Starter edition publishes HTML5 games and lets users test games on paid target platforms, but cannot publish desktop, iOS, or Android games and displays Stencyl branding. Indie costs $99 a year and adds web and desktop publishing without watermarks. Studio costs $199 a year and includes publishing to iOS and Android, ads, leaderboards, in-app purchases, and third-party plugins. Publishing iOS games to the App Store requires an active Apple developer license and a Mac. Stencyl says it collects no royalties on games.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Stencyl is game creation software for making mobile, web, and desktop games without code.Read 3 Oct 2026 · stencyl.com
Free plan
YesRead 24 Sep 2026 · stencyl.com
Trial
The pricing FAQ describes the free edition as a way to test games on paid target platforms before purchase; it does not specify a trial period in days.Read 3 Oct 2026 · stencyl.com
Support
Subscriptions include no support contract; the pricing FAQ describes informal support through a customer-only discussion board.Read 3 Oct 2026 · stencyl.com
Company
Stencyl's homepage identifies the maker as Stencyl, LLC; its LinkedIn company profile lists Cupertino as headquarters and 2008 as its founding year.Read 3 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Custom code
Users can create and share blocks, extend the engine with code, import libraries, and write custom classes that work with block-based Behaviors.Read 3 Oct 2026 · stencyl.com
Extensions
The extensions market lists integrations such as AdMob, Firebase, and Colyseus, and warns that listed extensions are not developed by Stencyl and are used at the user's risk.Read 3 Oct 2026 · stencyl.com
Free edition limits
Starter can publish HTML5 games and test games on paid target platforms, but cannot publish to desktop, iOS, or Android and displays Stencyl branding before games.Read 3 Oct 2026 · stencyl.com
Mobile export
YesRead 24 Sep 2026 · stencyl.com
Monetization
Stencyl describes support for in-game purchases, mobile ads including iAds and AdMob, and Newgrounds ads for web games.Read 3 Oct 2026 · stencyl.com
Publishing requirement
Publishing iOS games to the App Store requires an active Apple developer license and a Mac.Read 3 Oct 2026 · stencyl.com
Royalties
Stencyl says it collects no royalties on games and claims no ownership over them, so developers keep their games' profits.Read 3 Oct 2026 · stencyl.com
Scripting languages
HaxeRead 24 Sep 2026 · stencyl.com
Source code model
open_sourceRead 24 Sep 2026 · stencyl.com
Target platforms
iOS,Android,Windows,Mac,Linux,HTML5Read 24 Sep 2026 · stencyl.com
Visual logic
Its drag-and-drop designer extends Scratch-style block snapping with hundreds of ready-to-use blocks.Read 3 Oct 2026 · stencyl.com
Visual scripting
YesRead 24 Sep 2026 · stencyl.com
World and actor editors
The Scene Designer includes selection, zooming, grid-snapping, and flood fill, while the Actor Editor adjusts actors' appearance, behaviors, and physical properties.Read 3 Oct 2026 · stencyl.com

Plans and prices

Indie $99 a year Annual subscription Publish to Web & Desktop · Windows, Mac & Linux · No watermarks · Customer-only forums Read 3 Oct 2026 · stencyl.com
Studio $199 a year Annual subscription Publish to iOS, Android, Web & Desktop · Ads · Leaderboards · In-app purchases · Third-party plugins Read 3 Oct 2026 · stencyl.com
Starter Free Publish to Web/HTML5 · Stencyl branding splash screen · Individual personal use Read 3 Oct 2026 · stencyl.com

Every Stencyl plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Visual designer includes hundreds of ready-to-use blocks.
  • Custom Haxe classes can work with block-based Behaviors.
  • Scene and Actor Editors provide game-building tools.
  • Studio includes iOS and Android publishing.
  • Stencyl says it collects no royalties on games.

Limits

  • Starter cannot publish desktop, iOS, or Android games.
  • Starter games display Stencyl branding.
  • Indie costs $99 a year.
  • App Store publishing requires an Apple developer license and a Mac.

Who it suits

Stencyl suits people making games for web, desktop, or mobile who want to build with visual blocks and optionally add Haxe code. The Starter edition is suited to HTML5 publishing or testing on paid targets; publishing to desktop or mobile requires a paid plan.

Verdict

Stencyl offers a block-based route into game creation with options for custom code. Check the edition limits and publishing requirements against the platforms you plan to target.

Where Specifiction places it

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