Game engines are the frameworks or environments that contain the relevant libraries for building games for computers, smartphones, and consoles. These game architectures serve as intermediaries, providing all the necessary systems for building a video game sandbox. A sandbox that’s complete with animations, sound, and more.
![Video Game Engines](https://player.me/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/image1-2-1024x682.jpg)
Benefits of Video Game Engines
Video game engines are useful for several reasons, which are highlighted below.
![Video Game Engines](https://player.me/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/image4-1-1024x819.jpg)
- Game engines save developers the hassle of building sound, collision detection, artificial intelligence, physics, and graphics from scratch.
- Engines make it easier for developers to port games to different gaming platforms.
Types of Video Game Engines
There are currently five types of video game engines, namely: 2D, 3D, Mobile, AR, and VR.
![Video Game Engines](https://player.me/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/image2-2-1024x682.jpg)
2D Game Engines
Picture side-scrolling games like Hollow Knight and Dead Cells when mentioning two-dimensional video game engines. These engines are built for making 2D games.
3D Game Engines
3D game engines are optimised for developing three-dimensional games like GTA V and The Last of Us. They’re more popular than 2D video game engines and are used across various game genres including Horror, Action-Adventure, and Racing.
Mobile Game Engines
Engineers use mobile game engines to simplify the process of creating mobile games. These engines are built to accommodate the nuances of mobile games, considering factors like limited processing power compared to consoles and PCs — Plus touchscreen functionality for in-game actions and movement.
AR Game Engines
AR game engines are frameworks that smoothen the creation of augmented reality games. They come with the necessary systems to create 3D games that interact with the real world using a camera, thus, offering a virtual experience.
VR Game Engines
VR game engines are resources that a developer can employ to ease the creation of virtual reality video games. Since VR games are fully 3D, VR game engines enable developers to rapidly construct 3D sandboxes with interactive assets.
Top 10 Video Game Engines
Our listicle combines in-house and public video game engines that meet our requirements for top-tier game engines. At Player.me, our criteria for picking the best video game engines are:
- High-quality physics.
- Immersive soundtrack.
- Support for 4K rendering.
- Great facial animations.
- Excellent collision system.
#1: Unity Engine
The Unity Engine is a flexible framework for developers to create superior and interactive video games. Its popularity stems from the fact that it can be used to create both 2D and 3D video games. One drawback is that it takes up a lot of storage space, especially for more complex assets. Games such as Cuphead, Hollow Knight, Among Us, and Genshin Impact are powered by Unity Engine.
#2: Godot Engine
Godot is an excellent option for Indie developers as it’s an open-source video game engine. It simplifies the process of creating 2D and 3D video games and is particularly popular among beginners due to its user-friendly interface. However, Godot lacks top-tier 2D physics capabilities.
#3: Unreal Engine
Unreal Engine is a feature-packed video game engine that’s flexible and easy to use. It smoothens the process of creating sleek animations, beautiful graphics, and many other assets. However, it uses C++, a more complex programming language than C# and JavaScript. Games using Unreal Engine are Deus Ex, Redfall, BioShock, Fortnite, and Black Myth: Wukong.
#4: Amazon Lumberyard Game Engine
The biggest advantage of using Amazon Lumberyard is its user-friendly nature, making the process of coding 3D and 2D assets easier for developers. To top it off, Amazon Lumberyard has VR capabilities. But its biggest drawback is the lack of substantial community support, which makes it an underdog among video game engines. Games that use Amazon Lumberyard are Star Citizen, New World, and Breakaway.
#5: Source Game Engine
Source Game Engine is one of the originators because of its unique advantages. It stands out as one of the best video game engines because of its facial animations, physics simulation, and smooth performance. Not only that, but the visuals are also more realistic compared to other game engines. Some games based on Source Game Engine are Half-Life 2, Titanfall 2, Apex Legends, Portal and Portal 2.
#6: CRYENGINE
CRYENGINE is a highly powerful game engine on our list, offering stunning visuals, detailed effects, and precise control of the assets during the development phase. Its ease of use further cements it as a top-tier video game engine. Some notable games based on CRYENGINE are Crysis, Far Cry, Prey, and Ryse: Son of Rome.
#7: Havok Game Engine
The Havok game engine is renowned for its realistic graphics and interactive environments, enabling crawling, running, crouching, and other actions. This middleware is particularly known for its real-time collisions. Games that are powered by Havok are Astro Boy, Assassin’s Creed Unity, and Alan’s Wake American Nightmare.
#8: Fox Engine
Fox Engine is best known for its exceptional capabilities in rendering light and geometry. Several notable games that were developed using the Fox Engine are Metal Gear Solid: The Phantom Pain, Pro Evolution Soccer 2016, and Playable Teaser (P.T.).
#9: Frostbite Game Engine
The Frostbite game engine is highly regarded for its regular updates, ensuring it stays updated with the latest graphical advancements. While it boasts user-friendly features, the learning curve for game developers can be quite steep, making it less ideal for some. Noteworthy games developed with the Frostbite Engine include Battlefield 3, NHL 22, and Mirror’s Edge Catalyst.
#10: GameMaker Studio
GameMaker Studio is an open-source framework from Yoyo Games. It’s known for its potent scripting and drag-and-drop feature for building 3D assets. But it still comes with a steep learning curve and a lack of high-quality facial animations. Some games powered by GameMaker Studio are Hotline Miami, Katana Zero, Forager, and Blackhole.
Other Notable Game Engines
Other potent video game engines available are the Naughty Dog Engine, Decima, and RAGE.
Conclusion
Video game engines are an integral part of game development that makes it easier for studios to complete their favourite games faster. Regardless of the size or budget of a game, there is always a game engine at its core.
![Video Game Engines](https://player.me/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/image3-2-1024x682.jpg)
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Best Video Game Engine?
The best video game engines for beginners are Unity, Unreal Engine, GameMaker, CRYENGINE, Phaser, and Godot. Of course, video game developers often create their in-house game engines just like the RAGE engine used in GTA V. Judging by the game’s sales and critical acclaim, it’s an outstanding video game engine.
Do All Game Engines Use C++?
No, although the majority of game engines in the industry use C++ due to versatility. Other programming languages used for game development are C, C#, and JavaScript.
What Does a Game Engine Do?
A game engine is a middleman between a developer and the core components of a video game. It provides all the necessary animations, sound, collision systems, AI, and other systems to make game development easier.
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