Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

ImpactJS VS Pixi.js

Compare ImpactJS VS Pixi.js and see what are their differences

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.

ImpactJS logo ImpactJS

HTML5 canvas and JavaScript game engine.

Pixi.js logo Pixi.js

Fast lightweight 2D library that works across all devices
  • ImpactJS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-25
  • Pixi.js Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-14

ImpactJS features and specs

  • User-friendly
    ImpactJS provides a user-friendly structure for developing games, making it accessible for beginners and simplifying the development process.
  • Level Editor
    It includes a built-in level editor called Weltmeister, which allows developers to create and manage game levels easily without external tools.
  • JavaScript-Based
    Being JavaScript-based, it allows developers to leverage their existing web development skills and integrates well with other web technologies.
  • Broad Browser Support
    ImpactJS games run in the browser, which means they are cross-platform and can be played on any device with a modern browser.
  • Active Community
    There is an active community around ImpactJS that offers support, plugins, and resources, which is beneficial for problem-solving and enhancing projects.

Possible disadvantages of ImpactJS

  • Paid License
    Unlike some other open-source game engines, ImpactJS requires a paid license, which might be a barrier for hobbyists and small developers with limited budgets.
  • Not as Feature-Rich
    Compared to some other game engines, ImpactJS might lack certain advanced features and tools that are available in competitors like Unity or Unreal Engine.
  • Limited 3D Capabilities
    ImpactJS is primarily a 2D engine, so developers looking to create 3D games will find its capabilities limited.
  • Less Modern Frameworks
    With the rise of more modern game development frameworks and libraries, some developers might find ImpactJS a bit outdated in terms of technology stack and capabilities.

Pixi.js features and specs

  • High Performance
    Pixi.js utilizes WebGL to deliver high-performance rendering, which is ideal for building fast and responsive web applications and games.
  • Cross-Platform
    It supports multiple platforms, allowing developers to build applications that work seamlessly across different devices, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones.
  • Extensive Documentation
    Pixi.js has comprehensive and well-documented resources that help developers understand how to use the library effectively, including tutorials and examples.
  • Rich Feature Set
    The library comes with a wide range of features such as textures, sprites, and filters, enabling developers to create visually complex and appealing content.
  • Active Community
    Pixi.js benefits from a large and active community, which means frequent updates, a wealth of plugins, and abundant community support.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source library, Pixi.js is free to use and modify, making it accessible to developers with different levels of expertise and budgets.

Possible disadvantages of Pixi.js

  • Learning Curve
    Despite its extensive documentation, beginners may find Pixi.js challenging to learn and integrate into their projects because of its extensive feature set.
  • WebGL Dependencies
    While WebGL provides high performance, it can also cause compatibility issues on older devices or browsers that do not fully support WebGL.
  • Limited 3D Capabilities
    Pixi.js is primarily a 2D rendering engine, so it may not be suitable for projects that require advanced 3D graphics and interactions.
  • Size
    Compared to simpler libraries, Pixi.js can be relatively large in terms of file size, which could impact the loading times of web applications, especially on slower networks.
  • Complex Debugging
    Debugging issues in Pixi.js can be complex, especially in large applications, as it often involves low-level graphics operations and WebGL debugging tools.

Analysis of Pixi.js

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Pixi.js is generally considered a good choice for 2D graphics rendering on the web.

Why this product is good

  • Performance: Pixi.js is known for its fast 2D rendering performance, leveraging WebGL and falling back to HTML5 Canvas when necessary.
  • Ease of Use: It has a straightforward API, which makes it accessible for both beginners and experienced developers.
  • Community: There's a strong and active community around Pixi.js, providing plenty of resources, plugins, and support.
  • Features: It offers a robust set of features for 2D graphics, including support for sprites, text, animation, and interaction.
  • Cross-Platform: Pixi.js works across different devices and browsers, ensuring broad compatibility.

Recommended for

  • Game Developers: Those looking to create 2D games with efficient rendering.
  • Web Developers: Developers needing to incorporate graphics or animations into their web projects.
  • Digital Artists: Artists wanting to create interactive experiences or digital art pieces.
  • Educators: Those educating others in graphics programming or web development.

ImpactJS videos

impactjs deep-map plugin demo

Pixi.js videos

PixiJS Crash Course

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to ImpactJS and Pixi.js)
Game Development
100 100%
0% 0
Javascript UI Libraries
0 0%
100% 100
Game Engine
100 100%
0% 0
Development
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

ImpactJS might be a bit more popular than Pixi.js. We know about 7 links to it since March 2021 and only 5 links to Pixi.js. 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.

ImpactJS mentions (7)

  • Anyone managed to successfully deploy three.js software to another platform?
    PhobosLab had ImpactJS and created Ejecta, which was a stripped down JS VM for just the audio/video stuff. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Full gamedev environment running on Dex: http://game.new
    Check his game development and engine: https://impactjs.com/. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Best practices for developing larger JavaScript applications [closed]
    I'm also curious how projects like JavaScript PC Emulator and JavaScript Game Engine handled those issues in case some of you know. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Web developer here thinking about developing a game with HTML5, any thoughts?
    One game which kind of is in the same ballpark as the game you are describing (minus the online part) is CrossCode which is also developed in HTML5 with https://impactjs.com/. Which handles audio, rendering and a bunch of other things for you so you can focus on making the game. Source: about 3 years ago
  • What is JavaScript used for?
    JavaScript has become so powerful that we can use it to build games. There are a lot of libraries on the market like melonJS and impactJS. - Source: dev.to / over 3 years ago
View more

Pixi.js mentions (5)

  • Release Radar • March 2024 Edition
    If you're into video game dev, then PixiJS is something you need to know about. It's a HTML5 game engine that provides a lightweight 2D library across all devices. This latest update has a new package structure, custom builds, graphics API overhaul, and lots more. You can read about all these changes in the PixiJS Migration Guide. Also big congrats to PixiJS for being part of the open source community for ten... - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Advice about useful libraries to create a 2D car game (hill climb racing style)
    I would need a renderer to display the graphics of my calculations on the "backend". After some research I think pixijs which is written in TS could be a great tool. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Is programming just not for me?
    And if that seems to up your alley you could look into Javascript game/renderer frameworks. They have 2D engines like https://github.com/photonstorm/phaser or https://github.com/pixijs/pixijs . Or my personal choice A-Frame which is a 3D, AR and VR engine (XR) https://github.com/aframevr/ . Source: over 2 years ago
  • Pixie – A full-featured 2D graphics library for Nim
    This has a high risk of being confused with pixi.js: https://github.com/pixijs/pixijs. - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago
  • Custome game engine: what stack ?
    WebGL, I hear, has a similar API to OpenGL. (Also, WebGPU is coming at some point.) Or, you could use a thin library that handles the WebGL drawing of sprites for you. I prefer that option over using a full game engine: I find it's better to only include dependencies when they become necessary. I recently tried a web rendering library called PixiJS, and it seemed like a pretty clean and nice-sized API, and... Source: almost 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing ImpactJS and Pixi.js, you can also consider the following products

Phaser - Desktop and Mobile HTML5 game framework. A fast, free and fun open source framework for Canvas and WebGL powered browser games.

Anime.js - Lightweight JavaScript animation library

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

p5.js - JS library for creating graphic and interactive experiences

Crafty.js - Crafty is a JavaScript game library that can help you create games in a structured way…

D3.js - D3.js is a JavaScript library for manipulating documents based on data. D3 helps you bring data to life using HTML, SVG, and CSS.