Software Alternatives & Startups

OpenMW VS CryENGINE

Compare OpenMW VS CryENGINE and see what are their differences

OpenMW

Open source Elderscrolls 3: Morrowind engine re-implementation.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
CryENGINE

The most powerful game development platform is now available to everyone. Full engine source code.

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, OpenMW seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 166 times since March 2021.

social mentions
166 vs 0
Action popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
88 vs 184

Base details

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

OpenMW
CryENGINE
Website openmw.org cryengine.com
Pricing
Open source
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

OpenMW 5 features
CryENGINE 6 features
  • Enhanced Graphics
    OpenMW provides improved graphics and rendering features compared to the original Morrowind engine, allowing for better visuals and support for modern graphical enhancements.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    OpenMW is compatible with multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, enabling a wider range of players to experience the game.
  • Modding Support
    OpenMW offers robust support for mods, including those for graphical enhancements and gameplay changes, providing a flexible platform for community-created content.
  • Stability and Performance
    The engine is designed for improved stability and performance, reducing bugs and crashes that were present in the original game.
  • Open Source Development
    As an open-source project, OpenMW benefits from continuous updates and improvements by a dedicated community, ensuring ongoing development and feature enhancement.

Possible disadvantages

  • Incomplete Features
    Some features from the original Morrowind engine are still being implemented, which may impact the game experience for players expecting full feature parity.
  • No Official Support
    Being a fan-developed project, OpenMW does not have official support from Bethesda, which may limit access to certain resources and official content.
  • Complex Installation Process
    Installing and setting up OpenMW can be more complex compared to the original game, requiring additional steps and configuration, particularly for novice users.
  • Hardware Compatibility
    Although it supports modern systems, OpenMW may not work perfectly on all hardware configurations, leading to potential performance issues for some users.
  • Potential Mod Incompatibility
    While OpenMW supports many mods, certain mods specifically designed for the original engine may not function correctly or at all without modification.
  • High-Quality Graphics
    CryENGINE is renowned for its cutting-edge graphics and rendering capabilities, enabling realistic environments and character models, which can significantly enhance visual appeal.
  • Real-Time Lighting
    The engine offers advanced real-time lighting features, including dynamic shadows and global illumination, which contribute to more immersive and visually stunning scenes.
  • Sandbox Editor
    CryENGINE’s Sandbox Editor is highly intuitive and user-friendly, offering a powerful WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) environment that speeds up the development process.
  • Integrated Physics Engine
    The engine comes with an integrated physics engine known for its realistic simulation of physical interactions, which is crucial for creating believable gameplay experiences.
  • Support for Multiple Platforms
    CryENGINE supports multiple platforms, including Windows, PlayStation, Xbox, and VR devices, making it versatile for various types of game development.
  • Strong Community and Resources
    There is a strong community of developers and comprehensive documentation available, providing ample resources for troubleshooting and learning.

Possible disadvantages

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Despite the user-friendly interface, CryENGINE has a steep learning curve, particularly for beginners, which can make it challenging to fully leverage its capabilities without significant time investment.
  • Performance Requirements
    The high-quality graphics and advanced features demand substantial hardware resources, which can limit accessibility and increase development costs.
  • Less Popularity
    Compared to other engines like Unreal Engine and Unity, CryENGINE is less popular, which means fewer plugins, third-party tools, and a smaller talent pool of experienced developers.
  • License Costs
    While the engine offers a free tier, commercial use can incur significant licensing costs, especially for large projects, which can be a barrier for indie developers or small studios.
  • Sparse Updates
    Updates and new features are not as frequent as other engines, which can result in longer periods before bugs are fixed or new functionalities are introduced.
  • Complex Scripting
    The scripting in CryENGINE can be complex and less intuitive compared to other engines, which may slow down development for programmers not familiar with its architecture or programming languages.

Analysis

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

OpenMW
CryENGINE

Overall verdict

  • If you're a fan of Morrowind or interested in experiencing it with modern enhancements, OpenMW is a strong choice. It offers a faithful recreation of the original game with additional benefits that enhance the overall experience.

Why this product is good

  • OpenMW is considered good because it is an open-source reimplementation of the game engine for The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, offering improved stability, performance, and compatibility with modern systems. It includes features such as an enhanced graphics engine, cross-platform support, modding capabilities, and an active development community that continually updates and improves the project.

Recommended for

  • Fans of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
  • Players wanting to experience Morrowind on modern systems
  • Modders looking for an open and flexible engine
  • Users interested in an open-source gaming project
  • Gamers seeking improved graphics and performance enhancements

Overall verdict

  • CryENGINE is a solid choice for developers focused on creating graphically intensive and immersive games. However, it may have a steeper learning curve compared to some other game engines and could require more system resources due to its high-performance features. It's particularly effective for developers who prioritize visual fidelity and have the technical expertise to leverage its advanced features.

Why this product is good

  • CryENGINE, developed by Crytek, is renowned for its high-quality graphics and powerful rendering capabilities. It provides realistic lighting, detailed environments, and complex particle effects, which make it a preferred choice for developers aiming to create visually stunning games. The engine also offers tools for AI, physics, and animation, making it versatile for various game development needs. CryENGINE has been used in popular games like the Crysis series, highlighting its ability to handle large, open-world environments efficiently.

Recommended for

    CryENGINE is recommended for experienced game developers and studios that aim to produce high-end, visually impressive games and have the resources to invest in powerful hardware and learning the engine's more complex systems. It's also suitable for projects that demand advanced rendering and graphics capabilities, such as first-person shooters or open-world exploration games.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

OpenMW 3 videos + Add
CryENGINE 3 videos + Add

OpenMW - Elder Scrolls: Morrowind with New Graphics Engine

More videos

  • - OpenMW 0.46.0 Release Commentary
  • - Why I left the OpenMW Community

CryEngine 5.6 Released

More videos

  • - The Future Of CryEngine
  • - CRYENGINE 5.6 Tech Trailer

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
OpenMW
CryENGINE
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
CMS
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using OpenMW and CryENGINE. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

Log in or Post with

Reviews and articles

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

OpenMW no reviews yet
CryENGINE no reviews yet

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

  • Game Engines: A Comparative Analysis
    medium.com · Jan 2024

    CryEngine, developed by Crytek, is synonymous with cutting-edge graphics and realism. It has been the engine of choice for visually stunning games like the Crysis series. Offering real-time dynamic lighting and...

  • The Best Gaming Engines You Should Consider for 2023
    www.incredibuild.com · Feb 2023

    CryEngine also provides plenty of free learning resources, although their effectiveness is debatable. Gaming giant Ubisoft maintains an in-house modified version of CryEngine from the original Far Cry called the Dunia...

  • What Are the Best Game Engines?
    www.perforce.com · Jan 2023

    CryEngine is a cross-platform engine. You can use it to create photorealistic first-person games, especially shooters. CryEngine is used in all games from CryTek, as well as other studios. As mentioned above,...

View more

Social recommendations and mentions

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

OpenMW 166 mentions
CryENGINE 0 mentions
  • Stop Killing Games
    Yes! And there are many other re-implementation projects, like OpenMW, OpenGothic, fheroes2, and others, which allow you to play the games if you can provide the original assets. Largely for older games, but the point stands.... - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Steam can't escape the fallout from its censorship controversy
    +1 - I used GOG for the first time the other week to get a copy of Morrowind so I could see how https://openmw.org/ was these days, and it was a really good experience. I did have to use some obscure tool to extract it being on Linux but... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Bethesda announces remastered version of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
    I think https://openmw.org/ is much better than anything that Bethesda could produce. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago

View more

Tracking CryENGINE since Mar 2021.

Alternatives to OpenMW and CryENGINE

When comparing OpenMW and CryENGINE, you can also consider the following products.