Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Polycode VS GameMaker Studio

Compare Polycode VS GameMaker Studio and see what are their differences

Polycode logo Polycode

Polycode is a C++ and Lua framework for building interactive applications.

GameMaker Studio logo GameMaker Studio

Making top 2D games with the GameMaker: Studio game engine is easy. No code or programming required
  • Polycode Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-10-10
  • GameMaker Studio Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-21

Polycode features and specs

  • Cross-Platform
    Polycode supports multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, and Linux, allowing developers to write code once and deploy it across different operating systems.
  • Open Source
    Polycode is available under an open-source license, which means that developers can freely use, modify, and distribute the engine's code.
  • Multi-language Support
    Polycode supports both C++ and Lua, giving developers the flexibility to choose the programming language that suits their project best.
  • Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
    Polycode comes with its own IDE, which provides a user-friendly interface for managing assets, writing code, and debugging.
  • 2D and 3D Graphics
    Polycode offers robust support for both 2D and 3D graphics, making it suitable for a wide range of game development projects.

Possible disadvantages of Polycode

  • Limited Documentation
    While Polycode has some documentation available, it is not as comprehensive as more established engines, which can make the learning curve steeper for new users.
  • Smaller Community
    Polycode has a smaller user base compared to more popular game engines, which can make finding tutorials, forums, and community support more difficult.
  • Development Activity
    The development activity of Polycode is less frequent compared to leading game engines, which can result in slower updates and fewer new features.
  • Limited Built-in Features
    Polycode may lack some of the built-in features and tools that are available in more mature game engines (e.g., Unreal Engine, Unity), requiring developers to implement certain functionalities on their own.
  • Learning Curve
    Due to its less extensive documentation and smaller community, new users might find it harder to learn and master Polycode compared to other game engines.

GameMaker Studio features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    GameMaker Studio provides an intuitive drag-and-drop interface alongside its scripting language, GML, making it accessible for beginners and efficient for experienced developers.
  • Cross-Platform Export
    It supports exporting to multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and more, which simplifies the process of reaching broader audiences.
  • Robust Documentation and Community
    GameMaker Studio offers extensive documentation and has a large community, which is helpful for troubleshooting, learning, and accessing a wide array of tutorials and resources.
  • Powerful Built-In Features
    The engine has a range of built-in features like physics and pathfinding, which can help speed up game development.
  • Active Development and Updates
    GameMaker Studio is actively maintained with regular updates, ensuring compatibility with the latest platforms and adding new features.

Possible disadvantages of GameMaker Studio

  • Performance Limitations
    While suitable for 2D games, GameMaker Studio may struggle with performance and optimization for more complex or demanding projects.
  • Pricing Model
    It has a tiered pricing model, which might be costly for some developers who need to access all export options or advanced features.
  • 2D Focus
    The engine is primarily designed for 2D games, which might not be ideal for developers looking to create 3D games.
  • Limited Third-Party Integrations
    Compared to some other game engines, GameMaker Studio may have fewer integrations with third-party tools and services.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While beginner-friendly, utilizing more advanced functionalities can require a deeper understanding of GML and the engine's complex systems.

Polycode videos

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GameMaker Studio videos

A Closer Look At GameMaker Studio 2

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Polycode and GameMaker Studio)
Game Development
45 45%
55% 55
Game Engine
47 47%
53% 53
3D Game Engine
52 52%
48% 48
2D Game Engine
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 Polycode and GameMaker Studio

Polycode Reviews

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GameMaker Studio Reviews

Game Engines: A Comparative Analysis
GameMaker Studio, a versatile engine, has carved a niche for itself by specializing in 2D game development. Known for its user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, GameMaker Studio is favored by beginners and indie developers for its rapid prototyping capabilities and affordable pricing.
Source: medium.com
Best Game Engines for 2023 – Which Should You Use?
This popular video game engine created in 2017 is the newest version of GameMaker Studio, which has been around since 1999 through many iterations and names. GameMaker is widely supported across multiple platforms, even including the Nintendo Switch. It is also a very friendly choice for those who have no experience with coding, as it primarily uses a drag-and-drop visual...
Trending 10 BEST Video Game Design & Development Software 2021
Gamefroot is a great resource for making simple 2D games very quickly for free. GameMaker Studio has a very loyal fan base spanning two decades for several good reasons. You can expect awesome tools for 2D games and a responsive community to answer your issues.
Trending 7 Best Game Development Software 2021
The one frustration in GameMaker Studio 2 is, you cannot embed any videos within the games. If we leave this issue, then GameMaker Studio 2 is one of the most suitable game development software.
Source: vilesolid.com
The Top 10 Video Game Engines
GameMaker Studio 2 is an engine from Yoyo Games. It’s the second iteration of GameMaker Studio and comes with an import feature so your previous projects with the first one can be up and running in no time.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, GameMaker Studio seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 37 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.

Polycode mentions (0)

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

GameMaker Studio mentions (37)

  • Ask HN: Platform for 11 year old to create video games?
    Game maker studio might fit the bill: https://gamemaker.io/en. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Ask HN: Yo wants to build a game, I'm lost. What can I do?
    I am no game developer but have over the past few years played around with GameMaker and their studio software[0]. I would imagine it to be one of the easiest ways to get started with making a 2D game. Then there is also the option of not jumping directly into the coding bit, and rather cultivate in your son the ability to do on paper designs first. This is a skill that would probably benefit him later in life as... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: Yo wants to build a game, I'm lost. What can I do?
    My introduction to programming was when I was 10 with GameMaker. I found that the same company has a product with the same name that seems to be the spiritual succesor of it[0]. I allowed me to start with very simple no-code and move on to incrementaly add codes nipets here and there. Eventually I went crazy and tried to make a game fully with code, avoiding all the tools the engine gave me, just as an experiment... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • What programming language do the Battle Network games use?
    If you're looking for a tool that's fairly simple for a beginner, but has the flexibility to also offer more advanced features as you learns more, and has plenty of tutorials and learning resources available for a novice programmer starting out: it's worth noting that GameMaker has recently (i.e. 2 weeks ago) been made completely free for non-commercial users. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Having trouble logging in through GameMaker after the new update?
    Go to https://gamemaker.io/en, and accept the new TOS. You won't be able to log in through the software until you do. Source: over 1 year ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Polycode and GameMaker Studio, you can also consider the following products

Unreal Engine - Unreal Engine 4 is a suite of integrated tools for game developers to design and build games, simulations, and visualizations.

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

Unity - The multiplatform game creation tools for everyone.

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

Stencyl - Make iOS (iPhone/iPad), Android, Flash, Windows & Mac games without code using Stencyl.

Scratch - Scratch is the programming language & online community where young people create stories, games, & animations.