GridCraft vs LDtk

GridCraft is a tile map editor for game developers, available in a browser and as a desktop app. It lets users paint tiles of different sizes from one atlas onto a map. Editing tools include brush, terrain, flood fill, shape, selection, stamp and object tools. GridCraft opens and saves Tiled.tmx and.tmj maps, with export targets including Godot 4, GameMaker, Defold, LDtk, LOVE2D, Lua and CSV. Live collaboration displays teammates’ cursors, selections and edits, synchronized through CRDT. The desktop app supports GitHub and GitLab for map-file commits, pushes and pulls. It can expose an open map to MCP clients for AI-agent access, but the server is off by default, binds to the local machine and does not yet edit infinite chunked maps. The free web editor includes all 19 tools and export formats without an account. Free accounts include three cloud maps, 25 MB total storage, one bound desktop device and collaboration for up to three people per map. Paid options include Cloud at $3.99 a month, Team at $13.99 a month and the desktop app at $19.99, paid once.

LDtk is a free, open-source 2D level editor for game developers, available for Linux, macOS, and Windows. It supports Grid-vania, linear, and free-world layouts, with levels rearranged by drag and drop. Its visual auto-layering editor lets users define rules for tile skinning, while custom entities can hold typed properties such as hit points, patrol paths, or inventories. LDtk exports PNGs and JSON entity data, with optional Tiled TMX export. It can load Aseprite files directly and reload them when saved. The editor focuses on platformer and top-down perspectives, rather than isometric 3D. Backups can restore unsaved changes after an application crash. The maker lists community importers and loaders for engines including Unity, MonoGame, Godot, Playdate, GameMaker Studio, Löve 2D, and Bevy. LDtk has no usage limitations stated, and content created with it may be used commercially. Documentation and an official Discord community are linked from its site.