Choosing an engine for a 2D or 3D game

Pick an engine around the game you need to ship, not a popularity score.

Compare your options

For a 2D project, compare eight engines by license cost and project fit: https://ziva.sh/blogs/best-2d-game-engines 

For a 3D project, check shipped Godot games and the limits around rendering, console exports, assets, the editor and threading: https://ziva.sh/blogs/godot-3d 

Test before committing

Build one small scene using your target art style. Run it on the weakest device you intend to support. Try exporting it - making a version players can run without the editor - for your launch platforms, and check commercial-license eligibility. Godot console releases need a third-party porting solution.

If the scene runs poorly, ask Ziva: “Check why this simple scene runs slowly on my target device. Is it drawing the scene, handling movement and collisions, or something else? Explain before changing it.” If your required export is unavailable, check the engine’s platform documentation and license requirements before building more of the game.