# Excalibur.js

> BSD-2 TypeScript 2D HTML5 game engine; free forever

**Category:** Libraries  
**Pricing:** open-source  
**URL:** https://excaliburjs.com  
**GitHub:** https://github.com/excaliburjs/Excalibur  
**Added:** 2026-09-04

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## The Hook

Excalibur is the batteries-included TypeScript 2D engine when Phaser is the bigger ecosystem and KAPLAY is the playground cousin.

## What's Good

BSD-2-Clause. Scenes, actors, physics, tilemaps, loaders, TypeScript-first. Vite/Webpack templates. Commercial-friendly — no engine royalty. Active docs and samples.

## The Catch

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.