Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Phaser VS Crafty.js

Compare Phaser VS Crafty.js and see what are their differences

Phaser logo Phaser

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

Crafty.js logo Crafty.js

Crafty is a JavaScript game library that can help you create games in a structured way…
  • Phaser Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-12
  • Crafty.js Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-12-20

Phaser features and specs

  • Open Source
    Phaser is an open-source game framework, which means it's free to use and has a large community contributing to its continuous improvement.
  • Cross-Platform
    Phaser allows developers to create games that run smoothly on both desktop and mobile browsers, enabling a broad reach to different audiences.
  • Rich Documentation
    Phaser offers extensive documentation and a plethora of tutorials, examples, and community support, making it easier for new developers to get started.
  • Built-in Physics
    Phaser includes several physics engines like Arcade Physics, helping developers add complex physics interactions to their games without extra dependencies.
  • Asset Management
    Phaser provides robust asset management capabilities, simplifying the process of loading and managing game assets like images, audio, and spritesheets.

Possible disadvantages of Phaser

  • Learning Curve
    While Phaser is powerful, it might have a steeper learning curve for complete beginners compared to other more beginner-focused frameworks.
  • Performance
    Games developed with Phaser may sometimes face performance bottlenecks, especially on lower-end devices, depending on the game's complexity.
  • JavaScript-Based
    As a JavaScript-based framework, Phaser might not appeal to developers who prefer strongly typed languages or are not comfortable with JavaScript.
  • Limited 3D Support
    Phaser is predominantly a 2D game framework, offering only limited support for 3D games, which might not be suitable for developers looking to create 3D content.
  • Dependence on Community Contributions
    Being open-source, the framework’s growth and support heavily depend on community contributions, which can be less predictable compared to commercial frameworks.

Crafty.js features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Crafty.js provides a simple and intuitive API that is beginner-friendly. It allows developers to create games with less complexity, making it an excellent choice for those new to game development.
  • Component-Based Architecture
    Crafty.js uses a component-based system, which encourages reusability and modular design. Developers can easily create and manage game elements through components, leading to cleaner and more organized code.
  • Lightweight
    The library is relatively small and lightweight, making it fast to load and suitable for web-based games. This can lead to better performance, particularly on low-end devices or slower networks.
  • Active Community
    Crafty.js has a supportive community that contributes to its development. There are numerous tutorials, documentation, and forums available to help developers troubleshoot and learn.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    Crafty.js is designed for web applications and works across all modern browsers, providing developers with the ability to reach a wide audience without worrying about compatibility issues.

Possible disadvantages of Crafty.js

  • Limited Advanced Features
    While Crafty.js is great for simple 2D games, it lacks some of the advanced features found in more robust game engines. This can be a limitation for developers looking to create more complex games with 3D graphics or advanced physics.
  • Smaller Ecosystem
    Compared to larger game development frameworks, Crafty.js has a smaller ecosystem with fewer third-party plugins and tools, which may limit expansion or integration options for developers seeking more specialized features.
  • Performance Constraints
    As a JavaScript-based engine running in the browser, Crafty.js may face performance challenges with very resource-intensive games. This can lead to slower execution in larger or highly detailed game environments.
  • Less Frequent Updates
    Crafty.js’s development updates are less frequent compared to some major game engines, potentially leading to slower adoption of the latest web technologies and bug fixes.

Analysis of Phaser

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Phaser is considered a good choice for game development, especially for developers interested in creating 2D games. Its combination of simplicity, power, and flexibility make it a compelling option for both beginners and experienced developers alike.

Why this product is good

  • Phaser is a popular open-source HTML5 game framework that is widely praised for its ease of use, powerful features, and extensive documentation. It allows developers to create both 2D and 3D games with rich graphics and responsive gameplay. The framework is also known for its large community, which provides ample support and plenty of plugins and resources to help speed up the game development process.

Recommended for

  • Indie game developers
  • Beginner developers learning game development
  • Developers looking to create 2D games
  • Developers interested in HTML5 and web-based games
  • Educational purposes for teaching game design and programming

Phaser videos

Phaser | Tower Reviews | Tower Battles [ROBLOX]

More videos:

  • Tutorial - Phaser.io Tutorial - Pros and Cons of Phaser and How It Works
  • Review - TC Electronic Helix - Phaser Review

Crafty.js videos

Установка Crafty.js

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Phaser and Crafty.js)
Game Development
89 89%
11% 11
Game Engine
89 89%
11% 11
3D Game Engine
89 89%
11% 11
Javascript UI Libraries
100 100%
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 Phaser and Crafty.js

Phaser Reviews

Best Game Engines for 2023 – Which Should You Use?
If you’re ready to expand your HTML5 game development skills with Phaser, check out these courses! Alternatively, you might also like these completely free Phaser tutorials, as well as our free Phaser ebook. There are also some courses on HTML5 and Phaser offered as part of Zenva Schools, a platform made for easy classroom learning and teaching for schools.
The Best Gaming Engines You Should Consider for 2023
Another open-source platform, Phaser is a HTML5 game dev framework designed for creating 2D games and interactive experiences.

Crafty.js Reviews

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

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Phaser seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 124 times 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.

Phaser mentions (124)

  • Dev Log #14 - Phaser.js and game dev
    I've started working on a simple interactive version of my portfolio using Phaser.js. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Ask HN: Platform for 11 year old to create video games?
    Https://phaser.io/. It’s more of a game framework in JavaScript with built in libraries for collision. The getting started tutorial is decent/short and gives a good idea of what is going on. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Mundane Blaster - Web Game Challange 👽
    This is first time I used Phaser for making a game but it's a very nice and easy HTML5 framework and I follow tutorial to use phaser and after few of them, I tried to add few things and make the gameplay how I would enjoy, so I learn about spritesheets and audios and then how many states we have to keep in mind while building a game, like preload(), create() and update() and how to manage these before adding... - Source: dev.to / 8 months ago
  • Achieving Success in Online Learning: A Practical Guide
    Phasor which uses TypeScript or JavaScript. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • 3 years of fulltime Rust game development, and why we're leaving Rust behind
    If you're targeting the browser first why not use a browser first library like PhaserJS [0]?. I don't see a reason to work around with WASM; HTML5 canvas might be everything that you need. [0] https://phaser.io/. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
View more

Crafty.js mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Crafty.js yet. Tracking of Crafty.js recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Phaser and Crafty.js, you can also consider the following products

Unity - The multiplatform game creation tools for everyone.

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

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

PixiJS - Fast and flexible WebGL-based HTML5 game and app development library.

Babylon.js - A complete JavaScript framework for building 3D games with HTML5, WebGL and Web Audio

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