Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Open RPG Maker VS BYOND

Compare Open RPG Maker VS BYOND and see what are their differences

Open RPG Maker logo Open RPG Maker

Open RPG Maker is a free and open source clone of features from the RPG Maker series (i.e.

BYOND logo BYOND

BYOND is the premier community for making and playing online multiplayer games.
  • Open RPG Maker Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-14
  • BYOND Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30

Open RPG Maker features and specs

  • Open Source
    Open RPG Maker is free and open-source, allowing users to modify the source code to suit their needs and contribute to the project’s development.
  • Platform Availability
    It is available on multiple platforms, which increases accessibility for users on different operating systems.
  • Customization
    With access to the source code, users can create custom features and tailor the engine to better fit their specific game design goals.
  • Community Driven
    Being open-source, the project benefits from community contributions, potentially leading to quicker updates and more diversified feature inputs.

Possible disadvantages of Open RPG Maker

  • Limited Documentation
    The documentation for Open RPG Maker may not be as comprehensive as some commercial products, potentially making it harder for new users to learn.
  • Development Pace
    As with many open-source projects, development may be slower due to reliance on volunteers, leading to longer times between updates.
  • Learning Curve
    The flexibility offered by open-source software may come with a steeper learning curve, especially for those unfamiliar with coding or game development.
  • Feature Set
    Compared to commercial game development platforms, Open RPG Maker might have a more limited feature set or lack certain advanced functionalities.

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.

Open RPG Maker videos

OpenRPGMaker Tutorial 1: Layers

BYOND videos

My History with BYOND

More videos:

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

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Open RPG Maker and BYOND)
Game Development
22 22%
78% 78
Game Engine
27 27%
73% 73
3D Game Engine
37 37%
63% 63
2D Game Engine
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, BYOND seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 1 time 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.

Open RPG Maker mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Open RPG Maker yet. Tracking of Open RPG Maker recommendations started around Mar 2021.

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: almost 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Open RPG Maker and BYOND, you can also consider the following products

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!

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

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

RPG Paper Maker - Website

Solarus Action-RPG game engine - Solarus is a free and open-source Action-RPG game engine.

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