{"data":{"slug":"libgdx","name":"libGDX","tagline":"Apache-2.0 cross-platform Java game framework","category":"libraries","categoryName":"Libraries","url":"https://libgdx.com","github":"https://github.com/libgdx/libgdx","pricing":"open-source","hook":"libGDX is a cross-platform Java game development framework built on OpenGL (ES) that targets Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, browsers and iOS from one codebase.","whatsGood":"Apache-2.0 (libgdx/libgdx), release 1.14.2 (2026-06-05), around since 2012. It does not force an architecture on you and comes with 2D and 3D rendering, input, audio, physics bindings (Box2D, Bullet), UI widgets, asset management and a project generator. A large third-party ecosystem and many shipped commercial games. Works with Kotlin too. ★~25.5k.","theCatch":"It is a framework, not an editor-driven engine like Godot, so you build your own tooling. Web export relies on GWT or newer third-party backends, which adds friction. Releases are a few a year, and iOS support depends on RoboVM forks.","verdict":"Still the go-to for Java and Kotlin game developers who like code over editors.","addedAt":"2026-10-18","featured":false,"domain":"Libraries","subSpecialty":"Libraries","subcategory":"Runtimes & Frameworks","tags":["sdk","self-host","permissive","active"],"capabilities":["browser"],"surfaces":["Self-host"],"ecosystem":["Node.js"],"licenseModel":"Apache-2.0","githubStars":25451,"starsPerWeek":34,"access":"free","archived":false,"repo":{"createdAt":"2012-08-10","pushedAt":"2026-10-14","license":"Apache-2.0","archived":false,"checkedAt":"2026-10-19"}},"related":[{"slug":"hono","name":"Hono","tagline":"Tiny TypeScript web framework that runs on every runtime"},{"slug":"phaser","name":"Phaser","tagline":"MIT HTML5 2D game framework with scenes, physics, and tilemaps"},{"slug":"pixijs","name":"PixiJS","tagline":"MIT 2D WebGPU/WebGL renderer, not a game engine"},{"slug":"babylonjs","name":"Babylon.js","tagline":"Apache-2.0 3D engine for the web, now on v9"},{"slug":"playcanvas","name":"PlayCanvas","tagline":"MIT WebGL2/WebGPU engine plus an optional hosted Editor"}],"links":{"self":"/api/gems/libgdx","html":"/gems/libgdx","markdown":"/gems/libgdx.md","category":"/api/gems?category=libraries","categoryPage":"/stacks/libraries"}}