CRYENGINE vs GameSalad

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.

GameSalad Creator is a visual programming tool for making mobile and web games. GameSalad describes its approach as no-code, and says creators and learners ages 12 and beyond can use it. Creator downloads are available for macOS and Windows; iOS and Android Viewer apps support native-device previews. Publishing depends on the plan: Basic subscribers can use Creator’s behaviors and functions, preview with Viewer, and publish to GameSalad Arcade. Pro subscribers get access to all publishing platforms, including iOS App Store, Android App Store and HTML5 publishing, as well as priority technical support. Plans include GameSalad Basic at $19 a month and GameSalad Pro at $29 a month. Education options include lesson plans, tutorials, classroom management and student progress views through a teacher dashboard. App store publishing requires separate store processes, credentials and fees, which are not included in the education license. GameSalad is based in Austin, Texas, and launched in 2010.