CRYENGINE vs GameMaker

CRYENGINE is a game engine for building projects targeting PC, consoles, mobile, web and VR. Its offering includes full source code, engine features and access to supported platforms. Developers can use C++, Lua or Schematyc visual scripting, along with multiplayer tools and mobile export. The Sandbox Editor creates worlds without baking and exports them as they appear in the editor. Rendering includes dynamic global illumination and a physically based rendering workflow; physics simulations account for physical properties. The engine also includes particle tools, animation systems and a physics solution for dynamic destruction. CRYENGINE can be used for free under royalty-based licensing: a 5% royalty applies when a project ships, while the first $5K in annual revenue per project is royalty-free. Documentation includes guides and tutorials, and community channels include Discord and GitHub. The maker was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany.

GameMaker is game-development software with visual scripting, multiplayer tools, and export options for mobile and consoles. Projects can use GML Code or GML Visual. Listed targets include GX.games, Windows, macOS, Ubuntu, HTML5, Android, iOS, tvOS, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch. The free plan costs nothing and is limited to non-commercial use, without console exports. Professional is listed at $99.99 a month, with a commercial licence and desktop, web, and mobile exports; its billing note says one-time purchase. Enterprise is listed at $79.99 a month, billed monthly, and includes a commercial licence, console exports, and source code access. The pricing note says paid plans start at $79.99/mo. GameMaker’s source code model is listed as source available, and the maker is headquartered in Dundee, Scotland. The platform list also includes Linux, macOS, and Windows. Plan details distinguish non-commercial use from commercial licensing and specify export access, so intended use and target platforms are relevant when selecting a tier.