Cocos2d-x vs Ren'Py

Cocos2d-x is a free, open-source C++ framework for building games, apps, and other interactive GUI programs. Developers can publish from one codebase to mobile, desktop, web, and console targets, using C++ or JavaScript and Lua bindings. The product page lists OpenGL ES 2.0 and Metal for graphics rendering and says Lua or JavaScript can be used for game hot updates. Its maker describes the C++ core as lightweight and optimized for devices including low-end Android systems. The community maintains the framework under the MIT license. The download page says version 4.0 uses CMake for all platforms, supports Metal on iOS and macOS, and removes the H5 engine and JSB. The product page lists version 3.17 support for iOS 8.0 and later, Android 3.0 and later, Windows 7/8.1/10, macOS 10.9 and later, and standard HTML5 browsers. Developer resources include documentation, tutorials, demos, an API reference, and forums.

Ren'Py is a free visual novel engine for making interactive stories and life simulation games with words, images, and sounds. Its script language handles visual-novel writing, while Python can be used for more complex game logic. Default games include menus, automatic saves, rollback, predictive image loading, and mouse, keyboard, or gamepad controls. Creators can customize screens and styles using the screen language and Python. The launcher builds Windows, Mac, and Linux games from any of those desktop systems. Ren'Py also supports Android export and can package games for WebAssembly browsers, though web support is beta and lacks networking and multithreading. It targets Windows 10 or later, macOS 10.10 or later, Linux x86_64 or Arm, Android 5.0 or later, and iOS 11 or later. Building for iOS requires a Mac and Xcode, and that support remains a work in progress. The engine is free for commercial and non-commercial use; most is MIT-licensed, with some LGPL components whose terms distributors must meet.