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MonoGame VS ImpactJS

Compare MonoGame VS ImpactJS and see what are their differences

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MonoGame logo MonoGame

MonoGame is an open source implementation of the Microsoft XNA 4 Framework.

ImpactJS logo ImpactJS

HTML5 canvas and JavaScript game engine.
  • MonoGame Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-01
  • ImpactJS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-25

MonoGame features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Support
    MonoGame allows developers to create games that run on multiple platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and more) from a single codebase.
  • Open Source
    Being open-source, MonoGame is free to use and has a community-driven development process. Developers can contribute to its growth and adapt it to their needs.
  • Familiarity
    MonoGame retains the XNA framework's API, which is familiar to many game developers who have previously worked with Microsoft's XNA.
  • Extensive Documentation
    The MonoGame community has created extensive documentation, tutorials, and examples, making it easier for new developers to get started.
  • High Performance
    MonoGame is built with performance in mind, enabling developers to create games that run efficiently across different devices.

Possible disadvantages of MonoGame

  • Manual Resource Management
    Developers need to handle resource management manually, including loading and unloading assets, which can be cumbersome and error-prone.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    While it offers extensive support, new developers may find MonoGame's learning curve steep, especially those unfamiliar with game development or the XNA framework.
  • Lacks Built-in Editors
    Unlike some game engines, MonoGame does not come with built-in level or asset editors. Developers must rely on third-party tools or create their own.
  • Limited High-Level Features
    MonoGame offers a more low-level framework compared to some other engines like Unity or Unreal Engine, lacking advanced built-in features such as physics engines or advanced AI systems.
  • Community Dependency
    As an open-source project, MonoGame's development and support heavily depend on its community. This can result in slower updates and potentially less reliable support compared to commercial engines with dedicated support teams.

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.

Analysis of MonoGame

Overall verdict

  • MonoGame is a solid choice for game developers who wish to create cross-platform games with a minimal learning curve. Its compatibility with the XNA Framework makes it particularly appealing to those migrating old XNA projects to modern platforms. While it may lack some advanced features found in other engines like Unity, its lightweight nature and focus on code-oriented game development make it well-suited for many types of indie and hobbyist projects.

Why this product is good

  • MonoGame is a popular open-source framework for creating cross-platform games. It is based on Microsoft's XNA Framework, which many developers are familiar with. MonoGame supports multiple platforms like Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS, Android, and consoles, allowing developers to reach a wide audience. It also has a large and active community, providing plenty of resources and support. The framework is known for its simplicity, ease of use, and flexibility, making it a good choice for both beginners and experienced developers aiming to develop 2D and basic 3D games.

Recommended for

  • Developers familiar with XNA seeking a modern alternative
  • Indie game developers focusing on 2D or basic 3D games
  • Hobbyists and those new to game development
  • Developers looking for a lightweight and code-focused game framework
  • Cross-platform game creators targeting multiple operating systems and devices

MonoGame videos

+ Add

MonoGame 3.7 Released

More videos:

  • Review - Why I use Monogame, and why I do what I do - Game Dev Talks 2

ImpactJS videos

+ Add

impactjs deep-map plugin demo

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to MonoGame and ImpactJS)

MonoGame

ImpactJS

Game Development
87 87%
Game Development
13% 13
Game Engine
84 84%
Game Engine
16% 16
3D Game Engine
85 85%
3D Game Engine
15% 15
Java
100 100%
Java
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 MonoGame and ImpactJS

MonoGame Reviews

The Best Gaming Engines You Should Consider for 2023
MonoGame is a game development framework that allows developers to create games for multiple platforms using C#. It provides a unified API for accessing graphics and audio, making it far easier for developers to create games that work across mobile, desktop, and web without having to rewrite any code.
Source: www.incredibuild.com
20 Best Scratch Alternatives 2023
However, MonoGame takes an edge over Scratch with support for 3D. In addition, MonoGame works with codes, not just objects. It supports mainly C#, in addition to other .NET languages.
Source: rigorousthemes.com
Top 10 Mobile Game Development Tools For Intellectual Games
MonoGame toolkit used to develop multi-platform games. It is a C# framework that implements the API of XNA (Microsoft’s late-game development toolset, which is alive through MonoGame and other smaller open-source frameworks) and also supports all .Net languages. So if developers have C# and .Net knowledge, it would not be difficult to develop games with MonoGame for them.
Source: unaryteam.com
The Best 15 Mobile Game Engines / Development Platforms & Tools in 2020
MonoGame is also a multi-platform game engine that uses class architecture and works with C and Net languages. You can find many tutorials in their website helping you in creating your product.
Source: thetool.io

ImpactJS Reviews

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

Social recommendations and mentions

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

MonoGame mentions (5)

  • Rust Dependencies Scare Me
    To be fair, there is no language that has a framework that contains all of these things... Unless you're using one of the game engines like Unity/Unreal. If you're willing to constrain yourself to 2D games, and exclude physics engines (assume you just use one of the Box2D bindings) and also UI (2D gamedevs tend to make their own UI systems anyway)... Then your best bet in the C# world is Monogame... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
  • Free high-performance cross-platform game engine
    Defold has been there for a while, not sure of why this in on the front page right now. Anyways, Defold is good, the community, docs etc. Are on the lower side as compared to Godot. The other options include MonoGame https://monogame.net/ (Stardew Valley was written in it) and of-course the biggies like Unity or Unreal. A lot depends on how much investment in learning one wants to make, what is the feature set one... - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
  • New Year, New Game Engine - Nikola Engine Devlog 0
    You see, for the past several years I have used many programming languages and many more game frameworks and libraries. Programming languages like Java, C#, C++, and even, sadly, JavaScript (I know...). Game frameworks like LWJGL, SDL2, Raylib, MonoGame, SFML, and many more. Essentially, I have seen it all. Out of all of them, I think SDL2 was closer to what I was looking for, though, Raylib was the one I used the... - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Can't make my mind about which engine to use
    LibGDX is great, but I can understand if it's not for some people. This also applies to love2d, raylib and Monogame. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Errors on installing monogame
    I followed the Getting Started instructions on monogame.net. Source: over 3 years ago

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
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing MonoGame and ImpactJS, you can also consider the following products

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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