Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

BYOND VS Babylon.js

Compare BYOND VS Babylon.js and see what are their differences

BYOND logo BYOND

BYOND is the premier community for making and playing online multiplayer games.

Babylon.js logo Babylon.js

A complete JavaScript framework for building 3D games with HTML5, WebGL and Web Audio
  • BYOND Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30
  • Babylon.js Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-30

BYOND features and specs

  • Community and Collaboration
    BYOND has a strong community of developers and players which encourages collaboration and sharing of resources, ideas, and feedback.
  • Ease of Use
    The platform provides a relatively easy-to-use development environment with its proprietary programming language, DM (Dream Maker), making it accessible to beginners.
  • Multiplayer Support
    Built-in multiplayer support simplifies the process of developing networked multiplayer games, which is often a complex task in game development.
  • Resource Library
    BYOND offers an extensive library of resources, including tutorials, assets, and code snippets that can accelerate the game development process.
  • Free to Use
    The platform is free to download and use, lowering the barrier to entry for aspiring game developers.

Possible disadvantages of BYOND

  • Limited Graphics Capabilities
    The graphics capabilities are relatively outdated compared to modern game engines, which can limit the visual appeal of games developed on the platform.
  • Proprietary Language
    The use of the proprietary programming language, DM, may be a barrier for developers familiar with more widely-used languages like C++ or JavaScript.
  • Performance Issues
    Performance may degrade with more complex or graphically intensive games, making BYOND less suitable for high-performance game projects.
  • Platform Dependency
    BYOND games typically need to be played through the BYOND client, which can limit the reach and accessibility compared to standalone game executables.
  • Niche User Base
    The user base, while supportive, is relatively small and niche compared to larger game development communities, which can limit exposure and potential player base.

Babylon.js features and specs

  • Comprehensive Feature Set
    Babylon.js offers a wide range of features that support 3D rendering, physics, animations, and more, making it a complete framework for developing advanced 3D applications.
  • WebGL Support
    It is built on top of WebGL and provides powerful tools to create stunning graphics that can run directly in web browsers without additional plugins.
  • Open Source
    Babylon.js is open source and freely available under the Apache License 2.0, allowing for community contributions and use in both personal and commercial projects.
  • Active Community
    There is a vibrant and supportive community around Babylon.js, offering a wealth of resources, tutorials, and forums for troubleshooting and development advice.
  • Ease of Use
    The framework is designed to be beginner-friendly, with extensive documentation and an intuitive API, which facilitates learning and adoption.
  • Cross-Platform
    Babylon.js applications can run on various devices and platforms including desktops, tablets, and smartphones, ensuring broad user reach.

Possible disadvantages of Babylon.js

  • Performance Limitations
    While Babylon.js is powerful, applications might encounter performance bottlenecks with very complex scenes due to the limitations inherent to JavaScript and WebGL.
  • Learning Curve
    For developers who are new to 3D graphics or WebGL, there can be a steep learning curve to effectively utilize all features of Babylon.js.
  • Browser Dependency
    As a JavaScript framework reliant on WebGL, Babylon.js applications can be affected by differences in browser support and performance.
  • Limited Offline Capability
    Since Babylon.js is designed for the web, developing applications with full offline functionality can be challenging compared to native applications.

BYOND videos

My History with BYOND

More videos:

  • Review - Byond B63 unboxing and review - dual core handset

Babylon.js videos

Learn the Basics of Babylon.js in 35 MINUTES

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to BYOND and Babylon.js)
Game Development
67 67%
33% 33
Game Engine
63 63%
37% 37
3D Game Engine
64 64%
36% 36
Gaming
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using BYOND and Babylon.js. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Babylon.js should be more popular than BYOND. It has been mentiond 6 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

BYOND mentions (1)

  • "I have a great idea"
    I fell for this when I was a kid on Byond. The idea guy thought he was J. R. R. Tolkien. My sprite artist friend joined me. He was vague about what he wanted and even though we had been making everything he asked of us he brought another coder in, a couple years younger than me, I was a teen and he was 13. When he was given my code he called me boring and started throwing together some stuff. He ended up writing... Source: about 4 years ago

Babylon.js mentions (6)

  • [AskJS] Is it advisable to use Unity to develop games using JavaScript?
    Take a look at babylonjs.com it's a full game engine javascript/typescript with lots of great tutorials. Electron + babylonjs for a standalone installable game if you like, otherwise web distribution is great. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Loading maps and other elements in html5
    Most game engines translate very poorly to the web. Use a game engine specifically made for the web instead. For example babylon.js. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Made a WebGL gallery to show off some shaders and my new song. Built w/ Babylon.js
    All in all it's taken me three years to build this haha. But I actually built the tool itself that others can use to build galleries like this. My dream is for non-technical people to be able to make this kind of stuff. That tool is called Frame (learn.framevr.io) and it's built with babylon.js. These shaders shown here can also be coded from scratch (not easy) or built with a tool from babylon.js called the Node... Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Game engine for a 3D multiplayer browser game
    BabylonJS (https://babylonjs.com/, free): powerful, less close to the metal, used by famous companies for famous games (https://www.babylonjs.com/games/). Source: over 3 years ago
  • Resizing a Godot HTML5 game to fit screens such as mobile.
    I don't know your programming and web developing skills but another option would be using a web rendering engine like Pixie or Babylon. Then you can use html/css combined with the provided browser api's to handle your ui and user input. Source: almost 4 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing BYOND and Babylon.js, you can also consider the following products

ct.js - ct.js is a 2D game editor (desktop app) based on web technologies.

PlayCanvas - PlayCanvas is an open-source game engine built on WebGL and WebVR.

Godot Engine - Feature-packed 2D and 3D open source game engine.

RPG Maker - Make your own PC game with RPG Maker. Our easy to use tools are simple enough for a child, and powerful enough for a developer. Try it free today!

Tombstone Engine - A direct successor to the C4 engine.

AppGameKit - AppGameKit is a game development platform for mobile devices.