GameMaker vs jMonkeyEngine

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.

jMonkeyEngine is a free, open-source Java game engine for developers. It targets Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, with mobile export and multiplayer foundations. Rendering includes a GLES 3.0 backend and direct OpenGL support from versions 3.2 through 4.5. Java 11 through Java 21, Gradle builds, JVM tooling, and direct Java-library use are listed. Networking foundations cover TCP, UDP, RPC, and synchronization patterns. Physics options include rigid-body, soft-body, and vehicle simulation through Bullet, Box2D, or Jolt Physics integration. Graphics features include PBR, custom materials and shaders, bloom, FXAA, SSAO, and tone mapping. A glTF workflow is described for moving Blender materials, lighting choices, and scene setup. The BSD 3-Clause License includes no runtime fees, royalties, splash-screen requirement, or requirement to mention the engine. Setup uses an initializer, NetBeans-based SDK, or direct Java-library configuration. SDK integrations are maintained separately and may lag engine features.