Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Construct 2 VS LOVE 2D

Compare Construct 2 VS LOVE 2D and see what are their differences

Construct 2 logo Construct 2

Scirra Construct is a 2D game development engine with a focus on building games visually.

LOVE 2D logo LOVE 2D

Hi there! LÖVE is an *awesome* framework you can use to make 2D games in Lua.
  • Construct 2 Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-21
  • LOVE 2D Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30

Construct 2 features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Construct 2 offers a drag-and-drop interface, making it accessible for users without programming skills to create games.
  • Fast Prototyping
    The visual scripting system allows for quick iteration and experimentation, enabling rapid development and testing of game concepts.
  • Cross-Platform Export
    Games developed in Construct 2 can be exported to multiple platforms including HTML5, Android, iOS, Windows, and more.
  • Extensive Documentation and Community Support
    Construct 2 has comprehensive documentation and an active community, which provides tutorials, forums, and asset stores that help in learning and improving game development skills.
  • Performance Optimization
    Construct 2 is built to optimize the performance of games running on various devices, ensuring smoother gameplay experience.

Possible disadvantages of Construct 2

  • Limited 3D Support
    Construct 2 is primarily a 2D game engine and lacks the capability to handle 3D game development efficiently.
  • Licensing Cost
    While there is a free version, more advanced features and export options require purchasing a license, which can be costly for some users.
  • Performance Overhead
    Games built with Construct 2 can have performance overhead compared to those developed with native code, which can affect the performance on less powerful devices.
  • Limited Customization
    While the visual scripting language is powerful, it can be restrictive for advanced users who need more control and customization over their game logic and performance.
  • Dependency on HTML5
    Construct 2’s primary export format is HTML5, which may not be suitable for all types of games, particularly those that require high-performance or native features.
  • Secondary Focus on Newer Engine
    Construct 2 is not the latest engine from Scirra; Construct 3 is its successor. Newer updates and features are likely to prioritize Construct 3, potentially slowing down the development and support for Construct 2.

LOVE 2D features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    LOVE 2D uses the Lua scripting language, which is known for its simplicity and ease of learning, making it accessible for beginners.
  • Lightweight
    The framework itself is lightweight and requires minimal resources, ensuring fast performance even on older hardware.
  • Cross-Platform
    LOVE 2D supports multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux, enabling developers to easily port their games across different platforms.
  • Community and Documentation
    LOVE 2D boasts a supportive and active community, alongside comprehensive and well-maintained documentation, facilitating problem-solving and learning.
  • Flexibility
    The framework provides a lot of flexibility for developers, allowing them to create a wide variety of 2D games without being constrained by preset functionalities.
  • Open-Source
    LOVE 2D is open-source, which allows developers to freely inspect, modify, and enhance the codebase according to their needs.

Possible disadvantages of LOVE 2D

  • Limited 3D Support
    LOVE 2D is designed primarily for 2D game development and has limited support for 3D graphics, making it less suitable for projects requiring complex 3D elements.
  • Lack of Built-in Tools
    The framework does not come with built-in editors or tools for asset management, level design, or visual scripting, which can pose challenges for developers coming from more fully-featured game engines.
  • Manual Resource Management
    Developers are often required to manage game resources such as textures, sounds, and memory manually, adding extra complexity to the development process.
  • Lua Language Limitations
    While Lua is powerful, it is not as widely used as other scripting languages like Python or JavaScript, which might limit the availability of external libraries and resources.
  • Smaller Ecosystem
    Compared to larger game development environments like Unity or Unreal Engine, LOVE 2D has a smaller ecosystem of plugins, assets, and third-party tools.

Analysis of LOVE 2D

Overall verdict

  • Yes, LOVE 2D is considered a good framework for 2D game development.

Why this product is good

  • LOVE 2D is praised for its simplicity, ease of use, and active community support. It is built on the Lua programming language, which is lightweight and easy to learn, making it accessible for beginners. The framework offers powerful features for game development, such as excellent graphics capabilities, sound support, and robust tools to handle game physics. Additionally, the open-source nature of LOVE 2D allows for continuous improvements and updates driven by community contributions.

Recommended for

  • Beginners in game development who want a simple and straightforward tool to start with.
  • Indie game developers looking for a lightweight and flexible framework for creating 2D games.
  • Developers who prefer a Lua-based environment for game creation.
  • Game developers who appreciate an active community where they can find support and resources.

Construct 2 videos

Construct 2 - How To Make a Game - Review

More videos:

  • Review - Construct 2 = Easiest Game Maker EVER!

LOVE 2D videos

JRM - "Love (2015)" Movie Review

More videos:

  • Review - Love review the series Ep1
  • Review - LOVE Season 1 Review - Netflix Original

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Construct 2 and LOVE 2D)
Game Development
39 39%
61% 61
Game Engine
40 40%
60% 60
3D Game Engine
39 39%
61% 61
Gaming
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Construct 2 and LOVE 2D

Construct 2 Reviews

The Top 10 Video Game Engines
What better than an HTML-based engine to wrap up the list? Construct 2 doesn’t hinge on your ability to code. Sign me up!
The Best 15 Mobile Game Engines / Development Platforms & Tools in 2020
Construct 2 is a HTML5 platform for creating 2D games. It is very easy to use as coding is not required and it has many features that will help you in developing visually appealing games in a short time. It also allows for multiplatform export so your project will be ready to be launched in different devices at once.
Source: thetool.io

LOVE 2D Reviews

We have no reviews of LOVE 2D yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, LOVE 2D seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 190 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.

Construct 2 mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Construct 2 yet. Tracking of Construct 2 recommendations started around Mar 2021.

LOVE 2D mentions (190)

  • The Level Design Book
    Look into learning LÖVE[1] and the Lua[2] programming language [1] https://love2d.org/ [2] https//lua.org. - Source: Hacker News / 9 days ago
  • Free high-performance cross-platform game engine
    How does it compare to Löve 2D, other than shipping with a IDE? Looks like Defold supports more platforms, but I guess there are some strings attached since packaging games for various consoles usually come with very non-open dependencies. https://love2d.org/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
  • What ((programming) language) should I learn this year, 2025 ?
    Reignite my Lua skills with Love2D, and maybe a little bit into [Luanti][launti]. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • Spirit Hunter - Post-Mortem
    Early this year, I did game development with Love2D engine (relies on Lua language) and was inspired by its approach, so decided to make something similar myself for the competition. - Source: dev.to / 8 months ago
  • RPG Maker and Engine for Clojure
    I recently learned that the popular game Balatro was made in LÖVE. I had never heard of it until then. But looks interesting. https://love2d.org. - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Construct 2 and LOVE 2D, you can also consider the following products

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

GDevelop - GDevelop is an open-source game making software designed to be used by everyone.

Unity - The multiplatform game creation tools for everyone.

Unreal Engine - Unreal Engine 4 is a suite of integrated tools for game developers to design and build games, simulations, and visualizations.

TIC-80 - TIC-80 is a fantasy computer where you can make, play and share tiny games.

Defold Engine - Defold lets you quickly build high performing, cross-platform games together with your team.