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Do you have an idea for a game that’s been brewing in your mind for years? What if I told you that you could make that idea come to life, even if you have no game development experience? These days, anyone can make a video game with a bit of elbow grease and perseverance.
Of course, that doesn’t mean game development is easy. Not by a long shot. Even something as simplistic as Flappy Bird or Tetris can take a lot of time and effort to make it look and feel good. But thanks to free game development software tools, a game that might’ve required one year can now be made in six months or faster — sometimes without any code!
Note that this list is ordered by least complex to most complex. The simpler free game development tools are easier to pick up but have limitations. As you go down the list, you gain more flexibility at the cost of a greater learning curve.
1. Construct 2
No programming needed. Construct 2 is the best option if you’ve never written a line of code in your life. This game development tool is completely GUI-driven, meaning everything is drag-and-drop. Game logic and variables are implemented using the design features provided by the app itself. Unfortunately, coding is unavailable even if you want to write code.
Create once, publish everywhere. The beauty of Construct 2 is that it can export to dozens of different platforms and formats, and you don’t have to change a single thing in you game to accommodate these various options. Once your game is done, you can export to HTML5, Windows Store, Chrome Web Store, or Facebook. With a paid copy, you can also export to Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, and more.
Lots of documentation. Construct 2 has some of the best and most comprehensive documentation I’ve ever seen for a game development tool. In addition, there are hundreds of tutorials that will help you understand concepts from basic to advanced, and the forum community is extremely active if you ever need assistance.
Asset Store. Most programmers have no skills in art, music, or animations. But that’s fine with Construct 2 because you can always browse and purchase ready-made assets from the Scirra Store. Most asset packs are just a few dollars, but the professional-grade stuff can price at $30 or beyond. You can also buy sample games with source, which can be helpful for studying and learning new tips and tricks.
Pricing. The free version has all of the core features but is limited to 100 events, 4 object layers, 2 simultaneous special effects, access to only a small portion of the included sample assets, and no permission to sell your games. The Personal license is $130 and lifts all of these restrictions.
Download — Construct 2
2. Game Maker: Studio
Drag-and-drop OR code. Like Construct 2, GM:S allows you to create entire games using nothing more than its drag-and-drop interface for variables and game logic. But unlike Construct 2, GM:S grants more power through its GameMaker Language, which is a C-like scripting language with a lot of flexibility.
Create once, publish everywhere. Once your game is done, you can export to any number of platforms and formats without having to adjust your code. The free version only allows Windows export while the Professional version can export to other platforms (like Android, iOS, and HTML5) using modules that must be purchased separately.
Long history. GM:S has been around since 1999, and it’s still more active than most other free game development engines out there. New versions with feature updates are released at regular intervals, and there’s even a brand new version called Game Maker Studio 2 in the works, which is being rewritte from scratch with even more power in mind.
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