{"data":[{"slug":"phaser","name":"Phaser","tagline":"MIT HTML5 2D game framework with scenes, physics, and tilemaps","category":"libraries","url":"https://phaser.io","github":"https://github.com/phaserjs/phaser","pricing":"open-source","hook":"Phaser is still the 2D browser-game framework a builder should start with.","whatsGood":"MIT (LICENSE.md). Phaser 4.2.1 Giedi. Scenes, Arcade + Matter physics, input, tilemaps, particles, cameras. Install the phaser package or pull jsDelivr. The framework stays OSS; named titles on phaser.io/games include Geometry Dash web demo and Stickforge.","theCatch":"Phaser 4 replaced the v3 renderer/FX/mask stack — v3 games need the migration guide. Phaser Editor is a separate commercial desktop product, not the OSS engine. The homepage can Cloudflare-gate a raw fetch; docs and GitHub are the source of truth.","verdict":"Default 2D HTML5 game framework. MIT engine; Editor is paid and optional.","addedAt":"2026-09-03","featured":false,"domain":"Graphics & 3D","subSpecialty":"Game Engines","subcategory":"Game Engines","tags":["sdk","self-host","permissive","graphics-3d","active"],"capabilities":["canvas","webgl","physics"],"surfaces":["Self-host"],"ecosystem":["Browser"],"licenseModel":"OSS/MIT","githubStars":40502,"starsPerWeek":57,"access":"free","archived":false,"repo":{"createdAt":"2013-04-12","pushedAt":"2026-08-21","license":"MIT","archived":false,"checkedAt":"2026-10-19"},"links":{"self":"/api/gems/phaser","html":"/gems/phaser","markdown":"/gems/phaser.md"}},{"slug":"playcanvas","name":"PlayCanvas","tagline":"MIT WebGL2/WebGPU engine plus an optional hosted Editor","category":"libraries","url":"https://playcanvas.com","github":"https://github.com/playcanvas/engine","pricing":"freemium","hook":"PlayCanvas is an OSS engine with a hosted Editor that charges for private projects.","whatsGood":"Engine MIT (Copyright 2011-2026 PlayCanvas Ltd.). WebGL2 + WebGPU, Gaussian splats. Registry package playcanvas, or self-host the engine. Hosted Editor Free is 0 USD/month: unlimited public projects, 1GB, download for self-hosting. README names King, Miniclip, Snap, Disney.","theCatch":"Do not conflate the MIT engine with the hosted Editor. Private cloud projects are the paid line (Personal 15 USD/month; Organization 50 USD per seat/month). Cancel and private projects lock until you resubscribe or make them public.","verdict":"OSS engine, optional Editor. Public projects are free; private cloud is not.","addedAt":"2026-09-03","featured":false,"domain":"Graphics & 3D","subSpecialty":"Game Engines","subcategory":"Game Engines","tags":["self-host","free-tier","permissive","graphics-3d","active"],"capabilities":["webgpu","webgl","canvas"],"surfaces":["Self-host","Hosted"],"ecosystem":["Browser"],"licenseModel":"Freemium","githubStars":17085,"starsPerWeek":26,"access":"free","archived":false,"repo":{"createdAt":"2014-05-12","pushedAt":"2026-10-19","license":"MIT","archived":false,"checkedAt":"2026-10-19"},"links":{"self":"/api/gems/playcanvas","html":"/gems/playcanvas","markdown":"/gems/playcanvas.md"}},{"slug":"kaplay","name":"KAPLAY","tagline":"MIT successor to Kaboom for playground-first 2D games","category":"libraries","url":"https://kaplayjs.com","github":"https://github.com/kaplayjs/kaplay","pricing":"open-source","hook":"KAPLAY is Kaboom, still alive, still MIT, still the 2D library when Phaser is too much surface.","whatsGood":"MIT. JS/TS 2D, component add() API, KAPLAYGROUND at play.kaplayjs.com. Site: open source, free and always will be. v3001 is the Kaboom-compatible line; v4000 is the future. Docs include a first-party Colyseus multiplayer guide.","theCatch":"Two lines: stable v3001 vs v4000 still alpha. Official host is kaplayjs.com, not kaboomjs.com. Named homepage titles are testimonials, not a studio showcase.","verdict":"The living Kaboom successor. MIT, playground-first, not Phaser.","addedAt":"2026-09-03","featured":false,"domain":"Graphics & 3D","subSpecialty":"Game Engines","subcategory":"Game Engines","tags":["self-host","permissive","graphics-3d","active"],"capabilities":["canvas","2d"],"surfaces":["Self-host"],"ecosystem":["Browser"],"licenseModel":"OSS/MIT","githubStars":1813,"starsPerWeek":14,"access":"free","archived":false,"repo":{"createdAt":"2024-05-21","pushedAt":"2026-10-16","license":"MIT","archived":false,"checkedAt":"2026-10-19"},"links":{"self":"/api/gems/kaplay","html":"/gems/kaplay","markdown":"/gems/kaplay.md"}},{"slug":"melonjs","name":"melonJS","tagline":"MIT 2D engine: WebGPU to WebGL2 to Canvas AUTO, zero deps","category":"libraries","url":"https://melonjs.org","github":"https://github.com/melonjs/melonJS","pricing":"open-source","hook":"melonJS is the Canvas2D-shaped 2D engine when Phaser plugin zoo is too much.","whatsGood":"MIT forever $0. Renderer cascade WebGPU then WebGL2 then Canvas AUTO. Canvas2D-shaped API. Zero dependencies.","theCatch":"WebGPU to WebGL2 to Canvas AUTO and Canvas2D-shaped API — not Phaser scene/plugin ecosystem. W4 cut re-opened. Distinct from Phaser, KAPLAY, and PixiJS.","verdict":"MIT zero-dep 2D engine. Not Phaser.","addedAt":"2026-09-04","featured":false,"domain":"Graphics & 3D","subSpecialty":"Game Engines","subcategory":"Game Engines","tags":["self-host","permissive","graphics-3d","active"],"capabilities":["canvas","webgl","webgpu"],"surfaces":["Self-host"],"ecosystem":["Browser"],"licenseModel":"OSS/MIT","githubStars":6414,"starsPerWeek":8,"access":"free","archived":false,"repo":{"createdAt":"2011-04-11","pushedAt":"2026-10-18","license":"MIT","archived":false,"checkedAt":"2026-10-19"},"links":{"self":"/api/gems/melonjs","html":"/gems/melonjs","markdown":"/gems/melonjs.md"}},{"slug":"defold","name":"Defold","tagline":"Source-available Lua game engine; forever free, not OSI Open Source","category":"libraries","url":"https://defold.com","github":"https://github.com/defold/defold","pricing":"source-available","hook":"Defold is the forever-free Lua engine for HTML5 and native when Phaser is JS-only canvas.","whatsGood":"Defold License v1.0. Forever free, no royalty. Lua scripting, HTML5 and native targets. Source available to read and build games. Small runtime, editor included.","theCatch":"Source-available NOT OSI Open Source — §4a may not commercialize as a Game Engine Product. Forever free for making games; license is not MIT/Apache. Vs Phaser/melonJS/KAPLAY JS engines. Distinct from Phaser, melonJS, and KAPLAY.","verdict":"Forever-free Lua engine. Source-available — not OSI OSS; do not ship it as your own engine product.","addedAt":"2026-09-04","featured":false,"domain":"Graphics & 3D","subSpecialty":"Game Engines","subcategory":"Game Engines","tags":["source-available","license-unclear","graphics-3d","active"],"capabilities":["lua","html5","native"],"surfaces":[],"ecosystem":["Multi-platform","Browser"],"licenseModel":"Open-Core","githubStars":6398,"starsPerWeek":8,"access":"free","archived":false,"repo":{"createdAt":"2012-05-13","pushedAt":"2026-10-18","license":"NOASSERTION","archived":false,"checkedAt":"2026-10-19"},"links":{"self":"/api/gems/defold","html":"/gems/defold","markdown":"/gems/defold.md"}},{"slug":"cute-framework","name":"Cute Framework","tagline":"zlib/Unlicense C/C++ native-first framework + Emscripten","category":"libraries","url":"https://randygaul.github.io/cute_framework/","github":"https://github.com/RandyGaul/cute_framework","pricing":"open-source","hook":"Cute Framework is native-first C/C++ games when Phaser is JS canvas and Pixi is a renderer.","whatsGood":"zlib OR Unlicense. C/C++ native-first with Emscripten web path. Full framework (not just a renderer): windowing, input, audio, sprites. Permissive enough to ship without OSI drama.","theCatch":"C/C++ native-first + Emscripten — not Phaser/KAPLAY JS engines. Full framework — not Pixi/Babylon/PlayCanvas renderer-or-editor slots alone. Distinct from Phaser, KAPLAY, Pixi, Babylon, and PlayCanvas.","verdict":"Permissive C/C++ game framework. Native-first; web via Emscripten.","addedAt":"2026-09-04","featured":false,"domain":"Graphics & 3D","subSpecialty":"Game Engines","subcategory":"Game Engines","tags":["sdk","self-host","permissive","license-unclear","graphics-3d","active"],"capabilities":["native","emscripten","canvas"],"surfaces":["Self-host"],"ecosystem":["Multi-platform","Browser"],"licenseModel":"OSS/MIT","githubStars":852,"starsPerWeek":2,"access":"free","archived":false,"repo":{"createdAt":"2019-03-15","pushedAt":"2026-10-13","license":"NOASSERTION","archived":false,"checkedAt":"2026-10-19"},"links":{"self":"/api/gems/cute-framework","html":"/gems/cute-framework","markdown":"/gems/cute-framework.md"}},{"slug":"godot","name":"Godot","tagline":"MIT engine with HTML5/Wasm+WebGL2; Compatibility mode for embeds","category":"libraries","url":"https://godotengine.org","github":"https://github.com/godotengine/godot","pricing":"open-source","hook":"Godot is the MIT full engine on the web when Phaser is a JS framework and you want an editor too.","whatsGood":"MIT. Full 2D/3D engine, editor, GDScript/C#. HTML5/Wasm + WebGL2 export. Forever free, no royalty. Huge asset and learning ecosystem.","theCatch":"Compatibility/WebGL2 only for web; threaded export needs COOP/COEP — single-thread default since 4.3 for embeds. Not Phaser JS canvas. Distinct from Phaser.","verdict":"MIT Godot. Web works in Compatibility/WebGL2; plan COOP/COEP only if you need threads.","addedAt":"2026-09-04","featured":false,"domain":"Graphics & 3D","subSpecialty":"Game Engines","subcategory":"Game Engines","tags":["self-host","permissive","graphics-3d","active"],"capabilities":["2d","3d","webgl"],"surfaces":["Self-host"],"ecosystem":["Multi-platform","Browser"],"licenseModel":"OSS/MIT","githubStars":118646,"starsPerWeek":178,"access":"free","archived":false,"repo":{"createdAt":"2014-01-04","pushedAt":"2026-10-18","license":"MIT","archived":false,"checkedAt":"2026-10-19"},"links":{"self":"/api/gems/godot","html":"/gems/godot","markdown":"/gems/godot.md"}},{"slug":"bevy","name":"Bevy","tagline":"MIT/Apache Rust ECS engine with first-party Web","category":"rust","url":"https://bevyengine.org","github":"https://github.com/bevyengine/bevy","pricing":"open-source","hook":"Bevy is Rust ECS games on the web when Phaser and Pixi stay in JavaScript.","whatsGood":"MIT OR Apache-2.0. Data-driven ECS, Rust performance, first-party Web (Wasm) path. No royalties. Active engine and ecosystem.","theCatch":"Rust ECS + first-party Web — not Phaser/Pixi/Babylon/PlayCanvas JS engines. Steeper Rust learning curve. Distinct from Phaser, Pixi, Babylon, and PlayCanvas.","verdict":"MIT/Apache Rust game engine. Web via Wasm; not a JS canvas framework.","addedAt":"2026-09-04","featured":false,"domain":"Graphics & 3D","subSpecialty":"Game Engines","subcategory":"Game Engines","tags":["self-host","permissive","graphics-3d","active"],"capabilities":["ecs","rust","wasm"],"surfaces":["Self-host"],"ecosystem":["Rust","Browser"],"licenseModel":"Apache-2.0","githubStars":49123,"starsPerWeek":139,"access":"free","archived":false,"repo":{"createdAt":"2020-01-18","pushedAt":"2026-10-19","license":"Apache-2.0","archived":false,"checkedAt":"2026-10-19"},"links":{"self":"/api/gems/bevy","html":"/gems/bevy","markdown":"/gems/bevy.md"}},{"slug":"heaps","name":"Heaps","tagline":"MIT Haxe+HashLink engine; HTML5/WebGL; Dead Cells stack","category":"libraries","url":"https://heaps.io","github":"https://github.com/HeapsIO/heaps","pricing":"open-source","hook":"Heaps is the Haxe game engine behind Dead Cells when Phaser is JS and Godot is GDScript.","whatsGood":"MIT. Haxe + HashLink with HTML5/WebGL targets. Proven on shipped titles (Dead Cells and friends). Cross-compile without a JS-only canvas story.","theCatch":"Haxe+HashLink HTML5/WebGL — not Phaser/Godot/Defold/Cute Framework/melonJS/Bevy. Different language/runtime bet. Distinct from Phaser, Godot, Defold, Cute Framework, melonJS, and Bevy.","verdict":"MIT Haxe engine. HTML5/WebGL path; not a JS canvas framework.","addedAt":"2026-09-04","featured":false,"domain":"Graphics & 3D","subSpecialty":"Game Engines","subcategory":"Game Engines","tags":["self-host","permissive","graphics-3d","active"],"capabilities":["haxe","webgl","html5"],"surfaces":["Self-host"],"ecosystem":["Multi-platform","Browser"],"licenseModel":"OSS/MIT","githubStars":3510,"starsPerWeek":5,"access":"free","archived":false,"repo":{"createdAt":"2012-09-25","pushedAt":"2026-10-16","license":"MIT","archived":false,"checkedAt":"2026-10-19"},"links":{"self":"/api/gems/heaps","html":"/gems/heaps","markdown":"/gems/heaps.md"}},{"slug":"raylib","name":"raylib","tagline":"zlib/libpng C game library + Emscripten web","category":"libraries","url":"https://www.raylib.com","github":"https://github.com/raysan5/raylib","pricing":"open-source","hook":"raylib is simple C gamedev with an Emscripten web path when you refuse a JS engine.","whatsGood":"zlib/libpng. Batteries-included C API: windowing, input, audio, 2D/3D helpers. Emscripten builds for the browser. Tiny learning curve for native-first games.","theCatch":"C+Emscripten web — not Phaser/Pixi/KAPLAY/melonJS JS engines. Lower-level than Godot/Defold/Bevy full engines. Distinct from JS canvas engines.","verdict":"zlib C game library. Web via Emscripten; not a JS framework.","addedAt":"2026-09-04","featured":false,"domain":"Graphics & 3D","subSpecialty":"Game Engines","subcategory":"Game Engines","tags":["sdk","self-host","permissive","graphics-3d","active"],"capabilities":["c","emscripten"],"surfaces":["Self-host"],"ecosystem":["Multi-platform","Browser"],"licenseModel":"Zlib","githubStars":35301,"starsPerWeek":52,"access":"free","archived":false,"repo":{"createdAt":"2013-10-24","pushedAt":"2026-10-18","license":"Zlib","archived":false,"checkedAt":"2026-10-19"},"links":{"self":"/api/gems/raylib","html":"/gems/raylib","markdown":"/gems/raylib.md"}},{"slug":"rpg-js","name":"RPG-JS","tagline":"MIT browser RPG/MMORPG TypeScript framework; Free Engine $0","category":"libraries","url":"https://rpgjs.dev","github":"https://github.com/RSamaium/RPG-JS","pricing":"freemium","hook":"RPG-JS is the TypeScript RPG kit when Phaser alone is not enough MMORPG shape.","whatsGood":"MIT. Free Engine at $0. Same codebase for solo and networked play. Browser RPG/MMORPG framework in TypeScript. Studio is $99 lifetime optional — pitch the MIT engine / Free Engine only.","theCatch":"Browser RPG/MMORPG TypeScript framework (same code solo + networked) — not Phaser scenes, not Colyseus rooms alone, not GDevelop no-code, not Godot/Heaps. Studio is not the free path.","verdict":"MIT Free Engine for browser RPGs. Studio is optional paid; engine is free.","addedAt":"2026-09-04","featured":false,"domain":"Graphics & 3D","subSpecialty":"Game Engines","subcategory":"Game Engines","tags":["sdk","free-tier","permissive","graphics-3d","active"],"capabilities":["rpg","mmorpg","typescript"],"surfaces":["Hosted"],"ecosystem":["Browser","Node.js"],"licenseModel":"Freemium","githubStars":1672,"starsPerWeek":2,"access":"free","archived":false,"repo":{"createdAt":"2011-04-10","pushedAt":"2026-10-14","license":"MIT","archived":false,"checkedAt":"2026-10-19"},"links":{"self":"/api/gems/rpg-js","html":"/gems/rpg-js","markdown":"/gems/rpg-js.md"}},{"slug":"galacean","name":"Galacean Engine","tagline":"MIT Ant Group TypeScript WebGL engine + browser Editor","category":"libraries","url":"https://galacean.com/engine","github":"https://github.com/galacean/engine","pricing":"open-source","hook":"Galacean is the Ant Group TypeScript WebGL engine when Babylon or PlayCanvas is the wrong cultural fit.","whatsGood":"MIT. TypeScript WebGL engine with a browser Editor. Mobile-first interactive apps; WeChat minigame / Alipay mini-program export paths in the Editor story. Free to use per the site.","theCatch":"Vs Babylon/PlayCanvas: Ant Group TS WebGL + browser Editor + WeChat minigame lane — not Microsoft Babylon docs gravity, not PlayCanvas hosted-Editor freemium. Editor cloud pricing isn’t covered here.","verdict":"MIT Ant Group WebGL engine. Editor + minigame path, not Babylon.","addedAt":"2026-09-04","featured":false,"domain":"Graphics & 3D","subSpecialty":"Game Engines","subcategory":"Game Engines","tags":["self-host","permissive","graphics-3d","active"],"capabilities":["webgl","typescript","editor"],"surfaces":["Self-host"],"ecosystem":["Browser"],"licenseModel":"OSS/MIT","githubStars":5902,"starsPerWeek":19,"access":"free","archived":false,"repo":{"createdAt":"2020-12-08","pushedAt":"2026-10-18","license":"MIT","archived":false,"checkedAt":"2026-10-19"},"links":{"self":"/api/gems/galacean","html":"/gems/galacean","markdown":"/gems/galacean.md"}},{"slug":"excalibur","name":"Excalibur.js","tagline":"BSD-2 TypeScript 2D HTML5 game engine; free forever","category":"libraries","url":"https://excaliburjs.com","github":"https://github.com/excaliburjs/Excalibur","pricing":"open-source","hook":"Excalibur is the batteries-included TypeScript 2D engine when Phaser is the bigger ecosystem and KAPLAY is the playground cousin.","whatsGood":"BSD-2-Clause. Scenes, actors, physics, tilemaps, loaders, TypeScript-first. Vite/Webpack templates. Commercial-friendly — no engine royalty. Active docs and samples.","theCatch":"Still pre-1.0 API caution. Vs Phaser/melonJS/KAPLAY: smaller plugin marketplace than Phaser; not a 3D/WebGPU-first engine. You bring art pipeline and multiplayer.","verdict":"BSD-2 TS 2D engine. Free forever; pre-1.0, Phaser still wins ecosystem size.","addedAt":"2026-09-04","featured":false,"domain":"Graphics & 3D","subSpecialty":"Game Engines","subcategory":"Game Engines","tags":["self-host","permissive","graphics-3d","active"],"capabilities":["canvas","2d","typescript"],"surfaces":["Self-host"],"ecosystem":["Browser"],"licenseModel":"BSD-2-Clause","githubStars":2355,"starsPerWeek":3,"access":"free","archived":false,"repo":{"createdAt":"2013-01-05","pushedAt":"2026-10-18","license":"BSD-2-Clause","archived":false,"checkedAt":"2026-10-19"},"links":{"self":"/api/gems/excalibur","html":"/gems/excalibur","markdown":"/gems/excalibur.md"}},{"slug":"ebitengine","name":"Ebitengine","tagline":"Apache-2.0 dead simple 2D game engine for Go","category":"libraries","url":"https://ebitengine.org","github":"https://github.com/hajimehoshi/ebiten","pricing":"open-source","hook":"Ebitengine (formerly Ebiten) is a simple 2D game engine for Go: implement Update and Draw, and ship the same game to desktop, mobile, the web via WebAssembly and even Nintendo Switch.","whatsGood":"Apache-2.0 (hajimehoshi/ebiten), release v2.10.5 (2026-10-09), developed since 2013. Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD, Android, iOS, WebAssembly, Nintendo Switch and (limited) Xbox. Matrix-based geometry and color transforms, offscreen rendering, text, automatic batching and texture atlases, custom shaders, plus audio and input for keyboard, mouse, gamepad and touch. ★~13.6k.","theCatch":"2D only, with no editor, scene system or physics built in, so you assemble those yourself. Mobile and console builds need Cgo. Xbox support is limited and not available to everyone. Mostly led by one core maintainer.","verdict":"The nicest way to make 2D games in Go — a library, not an engine with an editor.","addedAt":"2026-10-18","featured":false,"domain":"Libraries","subSpecialty":"Libraries","subcategory":"Game Engines","tags":["desktop-app","self-host","permissive","graphics-3d","active"],"capabilities":[],"surfaces":["Self-host"],"ecosystem":["Node.js"],"licenseModel":"Apache-2.0","githubStars":13569,"starsPerWeek":19,"access":"free","archived":false,"repo":{"createdAt":"2013-06-16","pushedAt":"2026-10-19","license":"Apache-2.0","archived":false,"checkedAt":"2026-10-19"},"links":{"self":"/api/gems/ebitengine","html":"/gems/ebitengine","markdown":"/gems/ebitengine.md"}},{"slug":"flame","name":"Flame","tagline":"MIT game engine built on Flutter and Dart","category":"libraries","url":"https://flame-engine.org","github":"https://github.com/flame-engine/flame","pricing":"open-source","hook":"Flame is a 2D game engine built on Flutter, so you write games in Dart with a component system, game loop, sprites, collisions and effects, and ship them wherever Flutter runs.","whatsGood":"MIT (flame-engine/flame), developed since 2017 by the Blue Fire community, with packages for Forge2D physics, Tiled maps, audio, Rive animations and an experimental 3D package (flame_3d v0.3.2, 2026-10-02). You can mix game screens with normal Flutter widgets for menus and HUDs. Browser-runnable examples, tutorials and an awesome-flame list. ★~10.8k.","theCatch":"Performance and tooling are below dedicated engines for anything graphics-heavy, and there is no visual editor. The 3D package is early. You need to be comfortable with Flutter and Dart.","verdict":"Ideal for Flutter teams adding a casual game or game-like screen to an app.","addedAt":"2026-10-18","featured":false,"domain":"Libraries","subSpecialty":"Libraries","subcategory":"Game Engines","tags":["self-host","permissive","graphics-3d","active"],"capabilities":[],"surfaces":["Self-host"],"ecosystem":["Node.js"],"licenseModel":"OSS/MIT","githubStars":10790,"starsPerWeek":23,"access":"free","archived":false,"repo":{"createdAt":"2017-10-22","pushedAt":"2026-10-16","license":"MIT","archived":false,"checkedAt":"2026-10-19"},"links":{"self":"/api/gems/flame","html":"/gems/flame","markdown":"/gems/flame.md"}},{"slug":"stride","name":"Stride","tagline":"MIT C# game engine with an editor, rendering and VR","category":"libraries","url":"https://stride3d.net","github":"https://github.com/stride3d/stride","pricing":"open-source","hook":"Stride (formerly Xenko) is an open-source C# game engine for realistic rendering and VR, with a visual editor called Game Studio and a modular architecture.","whatsGood":"MIT (stride3d/stride), release 4.4.1 (2026-10-17). Physically based rendering, a scene editor, scripting in C# on modern .NET, VR support, and a new Stride CLI tool that creates and manages projects from the command line without the editor. A good fit for teams leaving Unity who want to stay in C#. ★~7.9k.","theCatch":"The editor is Windows-only; runtime targets are wider but the workflow assumes Windows. Smaller community, fewer assets and less documentation than Godot or Unity. Mobile and console paths are less mature.","verdict":"The most Unity-like open engine for C# developers on Windows.","addedAt":"2026-10-18","featured":false,"domain":"Libraries","subSpecialty":"Libraries","subcategory":"Game Engines","tags":["self-host","permissive","graphics-3d","active"],"capabilities":[],"surfaces":["Self-host"],"ecosystem":["Node.js"],"licenseModel":"OSS/MIT","githubStars":7891,"starsPerWeek":18,"access":"free","archived":false,"repo":{"createdAt":"2018-06-08","pushedAt":"2026-10-17","license":"MIT","archived":false,"checkedAt":"2026-10-19"},"links":{"self":"/api/gems/stride","html":"/gems/stride","markdown":"/gems/stride.md"}},{"slug":"redot-engine","name":"Redot Engine","tagline":"MIT community fork of Godot for 2D and 3D games","category":"libraries","url":"https://redotengine.org","github":"https://github.com/Redot-Engine/redot-engine","pricing":"open-source","hook":"Redot Engine is a community-driven, MIT-licensed fork of Godot: a 2D and 3D cross-platform game engine with a unified editor and one-click export to desktop, mobile and web.","whatsGood":"MIT (Redot-Engine/redot-engine), release redot-26.3-stable (2026-10-15). It keeps Godot's feature set and workflow, including GDScript, scenes and nodes, and exports for Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, iOS and the web. Development is independent of the Godot Foundation. ★~6.1k.","theCatch":"It is a fork, so most features, docs and plugins come from upstream Godot and compatibility can drift over time. The community is a fraction of Godot's. Unless you have a specific reason to prefer its governance, Godot itself is the safer default.","verdict":"A real Godot fork with its own releases — choose it for governance reasons, not features.","addedAt":"2026-10-18","featured":false,"domain":"Libraries","subSpecialty":"Libraries","subcategory":"Game Engines","tags":["desktop-app","self-host","permissive","graphics-3d","active"],"capabilities":[],"surfaces":["Self-host"],"ecosystem":["Node.js"],"licenseModel":"OSS/MIT","githubStars":6140,"starsPerWeek":13,"access":"free","archived":false,"repo":{"createdAt":"2017-10-13","pushedAt":"2026-10-19","license":"MIT","archived":false,"checkedAt":"2026-10-19"},"links":{"self":"/api/gems/redot-engine","html":"/gems/redot-engine","markdown":"/gems/redot-engine.md"}},{"slug":"littlejs","name":"LittleJS","tagline":"MIT tiny fast HTML5 game engine","category":"libraries","url":"https://littlejsengine.com","github":"https://github.com/KilledByAPixel/LittleJS","pricing":"open-source","hook":"LittleJS is a tiny, fast, open-source HTML5 game engine with 2D and 3D rendering, physics, particles, sound and input packed into a very small footprint.","whatsGood":"MIT (KilledByAPixel/LittleJS), release v1.27.1 (2026-10-14). Clean, well-documented code with many examples, an arcade of sample games, an npm package and a yearly game jam (the third runs Oct 2 to Nov 2). Good for size-constrained jams and small web games where Phaser feels heavy. ★~4.3k.","theCatch":"Mostly a one-person project, so long-term support depends on its author. No editor or big plugin ecosystem. For larger 2D games, Phaser or Godot give you more structure.","verdict":"A lovely engine for jam-sized browser games.","addedAt":"2026-10-18","featured":false,"domain":"Libraries","subSpecialty":"Libraries","subcategory":"Game Engines","tags":["self-host","permissive","graphics-3d","active"],"capabilities":[],"surfaces":["Self-host"],"ecosystem":["Node.js"],"licenseModel":"OSS/MIT","githubStars":4303,"starsPerWeek":16,"access":"free","archived":false,"repo":{"createdAt":"2021-09-23","pushedAt":"2026-10-15","license":"MIT","archived":false,"checkedAt":"2026-10-19"},"links":{"self":"/api/gems/littlejs","html":"/gems/littlejs","markdown":"/gems/littlejs.md"}},{"slug":"gdevelop","name":"GDevelop","tagline":"MIT event/no-code engine + HTML5; Pro required above $50k revenue","category":"libraries","url":"https://gdevelop.io","github":"https://github.com/4ian/GDevelop","pricing":"freemium","hook":"GDevelop is event-sheet games with HTML5 export when you want no-code scenes instead of Phaser code.","whatsGood":"MIT engine. Event/no-code + JS extensibility. HTML5 export. Free for most indie use via the account tiers.","theCatch":"companies >$50k revenue must use Pro if using a GDevelop account. Event/no-code+HTML5 — not Phaser code-first or Godot editor. Distinct from Phaser and Godot.","verdict":"MIT no-code/HTML5 engine. 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