jMonkeyEngine vs Stencyl

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.

Stencyl is game creation software for making mobile, web, and desktop games with visual logic or custom code. Its drag-and-drop designer uses snapping blocks and includes hundreds of ready-to-use blocks. Creators can also make and share blocks, import libraries, extend the engine with code, and write Haxe classes that work with block-based Behaviors. The Scene Designer provides selection, zooming, grid-snapping, and flood fill; the Actor Editor adjusts appearance, behaviors, and physical properties. Stencyl targets iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Linux, and HTML5. The free Starter edition publishes HTML5 games and lets users test games on paid target platforms, but cannot publish desktop, iOS, or Android games and displays Stencyl branding. Indie costs $99 a year and adds web and desktop publishing without watermarks. Studio costs $199 a year and includes publishing to iOS and Android, ads, leaderboards, in-app purchases, and third-party plugins. Publishing iOS games to the App Store requires an active Apple developer license and a Mac. Stencyl says it collects no royalties on games.