Software Alternatives & Startups

GDevelop VS shapez.io

Compare GDevelop VS shapez.io and see what are their differences

GDevelop

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

GDevelop Landing page
Rating
4.0 · 1 review
Pricing
Open source
shapez.io

shapez.io is a fun factory base building game about combining shapes

shapez.io Landing page
Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, shapez.io should be more popular than GDevelop. It has been mentioned 148 times since March 2021.

social mentions
78 vs 148
Game Development popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 57

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

GDevelop
shapez.io
Website gdevelop.io shapez.io
Pricing
Open source
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

GDevelop 6 features
shapez.io 5 features
  • User-Friendly Interface
    GDevelop provides a drag-and-drop interface, making it accessible for beginners who don't have prior coding experience.
  • Cross-Platform Export
    Games created with GDevelop can be exported to multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and the web.
  • Free and Open Source
    GDevelop is completely free and its source code is open for anyone to modify and improve.
  • Extensive Documentation
    The platform provides a wide range of tutorials, examples, and thorough documentation, making it easier for developers to learn and utilize the tool.
  • Vibrant Community
    An active community forum and resources are available, providing support and opportunities for collaboration.
  • No-Code Solution
    GDevelop allows game creation without any coding, making it highly suitable for rapid prototyping and educational purposes.

Possible disadvantages

  • Performance Limitations
    The engine may struggle with performance issues for more complex games, especially those with high-end graphics and intensive computations.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    While suitable for 2D game development, GDevelop lacks advanced features found in other engines, potentially limiting more experienced developers.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Usage
    Although easy for beginners, mastering the platform for more complex projects can have a steep learning curve.
  • Limited Integration
    Integration with third-party tools and services is not as extensive as in some other, more established game development engines.
  • Project Collaboration
    Collaborative features are relatively basic, potentially making it less ideal for larger, team-based projects.
  • 2D Only
    GDevelop focuses exclusively on 2D game development, which can be a downside for those looking to develop 3D games.
  • Creative Gameplay
    Shapez.io offers a unique and creative gameplay experience where players automate the production of different shapes, enhancing problem-solving and strategic thinking skills.
  • Incremental Complexity
    The game incrementally increases in complexity, which keeps players engaged and challenged as they progress by introducing new shapes and production techniques.
  • Relaxing Atmosphere
    With its simple graphics and soothing soundtrack, the game provides a relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere that can be a calming escape for players.
  • Automation and Efficiency
    The game encourages players to build efficient automation systems, which can be satisfying and rewarding as they optimize their production processes.
  • Wide Range of Content
    Shapez.io offers a wide range of content with various levels, challenges, and updates, providing players with long-term engagement and replayability.

Possible disadvantages

  • Repetitive Gameplay
    The gameplay can become repetitive over time, as players mainly focus on automating and optimizing processes, which might not appeal to everyone.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    New players may find the game’s mechanics and automation systems complex and challenging to master initially, leading to a steep learning curve.
  • Limited Endgame Content
    Some players may find that the endgame content lacks depth, potentially leading to decreased interest once they master the production challenges.
  • Resource Management
    Managing resources and balancing production chains can sometimes become tedious, especially for players who prefer less micro-management.
  • Basic Graphics
    The game features simple graphics that may not appeal to players seeking visually rich or more aesthetically advanced gaming experiences.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

GDevelop
shapez.io

Overall verdict

  • Yes, GDevelop is generally considered a good option for game development, especially for beginners.

Why this product is good

  • GDevelop is an open-source game development platform that provides an easy-to-use interface and a variety of features that allow for the creation of both 2D and 3D games without needing extensive programming knowledge. It offers a drag-and-drop interface, a robust set of pre-built behaviors, and extensive documentation and tutorials, making it accessible to new developers. Additionally, being free and supported by a community of developers, it constantly evolves with updates and new features.

Recommended for

  • Beginners who want to learn game development without extensive coding.
  • Independent developers looking for a free, open-source tool.
  • Educators teaching game development due to its user-friendly interface and ease of use.
  • Developers interested in rapid prototyping of game ideas.

No analysis of shapez.io yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

GDevelop 4 videos + Add
shapez.io 3 videos + Add

GDevelop 5 -- Ultimate Beginner Game Engine?

More videos

  • Review - Clickteam Fusion 2.5 Vs GDevelop 5 - (Game Engine REVIEW 2019 )
  • Review - Clickteam Fusion 2.5 Vs GDevelop 5 - (Game Engine REVIEW 2020 )
  • Tutorial - Beginner Multiplayer Tutorial

Shapez.io Review: Think You Can Bus?

More videos

  • Review - The Most Pure Logistics Game Ever! | Shapez.io gameplay (PC)
  • Review - Shapez.io 10 Top Tips - Things I Wish I Knew!

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
GDevelop
shapez.io
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
RTS
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using GDevelop and shapez.io. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

GDevelop 4.0 · 1 review
shapez.io no reviews yet
  • Rated 4/5 by kio
    SaaSHub review
    · Jun 2025

    awesome, but contains some bugs like frezees or editor view crash

  • 16 Scratch Alternatives

    Beginners who don’t have any programming skills but still want to create some games can quickly access one of the best platforms based on the open source network to help them develop games named the GDevelop. This...

  • 20 Best Scratch Alternatives 2023
    rigorousthemes.com · Jul 2022

    GDevelop is described as a “free and easy game-making app.” It’s similar to Scratch in that it’s a no-code platform; it doesn’t require using programming languages. GDevelop is also free and open source.

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We have no reviews of shapez.io yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

GDevelop 78 mentions
shapez.io 148 mentions
  • No-Code Game Development: Using AI to Build Your First Game
    GDevelop combines open-source flexibility with powerful no-code features. Their recent AI plugins provide remarkable capabilities:. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: Platform for 11 year old to create video games?
    Humble Bundle has a Godot bundle is available for the next day or so. That might be a good one to look at if you're ok with leaning into code a bit (gdscript is very very similar to python).... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Exploring Raylib and Open Source
    I selected this library as I normally use much higher-level tools to develop games such as p5.js, or GDevelop. Both these tools are amazing in their own right; however, I want to learn how these processes operate on a much lower level.... - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago

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  • Shapez2 Released
    You can play the demo version in a browser too: https://shapez.io/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • sharing my blueprint library .
    New to shapez.io , found it 2 day ago after 35 hours finished level 26 Thanks to the blueprint library I built . With them its just drag drop and arrange as stages so I end up with 100% efficiency . Source: over 3 years ago
  • Working on a texture overhaul mod: Making factorio look like spreadsheet software! (very much a WIP)
    Basically I want factorio to look like https://shapez.io. Source: over 3 years ago

View more

Alternatives to GDevelop and shapez.io

When comparing GDevelop and shapez.io, you can also consider the following products.